Once a Day
Smith became the first female artist to have a debut single peaking at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart – thanks to “Once a Day,” a song written by Bill Anderson that tells the story of a woman who has not gotten over her previous lover.
What’s even more amazing is that the poignant ballad stayed atop the country chart for eight consecutive weeks, a time when few other women were even reaching the top spot. She held that record for almost fifty years until Taylor Swift surpassed her in 2012.
In 2020, “Once a Day” was chosen for preservation in the National Recording Registry and was regarded as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress.
Just One Time
“Just One Time” first reached No. 2 with its original recording in 1960 by country singer Don Gibson. A little over a decade later, Smith released her version and brought the song back to the second spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
It also ranked No. 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, making it her first single to reach the chart in seven years.
Then and Only Then
Here’s one of a series of hit songs written by Anderson for Smith. In “Then and Only Then,” Smith sings about her lover, who left her in haste but promised her that he would come back. However, the sorrowful woman forgot to ask him when – so she’s left counting the hours and hoping every minute for his return.
I Can’t Remember
This is the third single Anderson wrote for Smith – however, he’s joined by his wife Bette Anderson this time. “I Can’t Remember” tells the narrative of a woman explaining how her lover called her late at night to tell her he must leave town. Though he had clearly told her where he was going, the woman is having a hard time recalling. All she remembers is nothing but tears and the fact that he’s gone.
If I Talk to Him
This is the first single Smith recorded that was not written by Anderson. It was instead written by songwriter Dolores Edgin and Jerry Reed’s wife Priscilla Mitchell, where Smith finds herself describing her fear of receiving a call from her former lover. This is because she’s afraid she might fall with his sweet talking and that he might change her mind about taking him back again.
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Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You)
Smith showcased how fierce she was as she sang hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. The song tells the story of a woman enraged by how her lover has cheated on her. So, she furiously told him, “Nobody but a fool would love you after the way you’ve done me.”
Cincinnati, Ohio
Smith reached peak career success several years after making her debut. So, she made sure to record an album dedicated to Bill Anderson, who helped her sign a recording contract and wrote most of her earlier singles.
The album contains a number of songs made famous by Anderson, along with various popular tracks by other performers. It also included the newly- recorded “Cincinnati, Ohio,” which tells the story of a woman trying to move from Louisville, Kentucky, to her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. The song has since become one of Smith’s signature hits.
(Till) I Kissed You
The song was originally recorded by The Everly Brothers in 1959 and became one of the duo’s biggest hits – with Chet Atkins on the guitar. Nearly two decades later, Smith released her version and brought the song once again to the country chart, where it peaked at No. 10.
A Far Cry from You
In 1979, Smith took a semi-retirement from the music industry until country singer Ricky Skaggs convinced her to return. And she did! She recorded “A Far Cry from You,” showing she never lost touch with music. It received a positive critical response and has since been her final single to enter Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
The Song We Fell in Love To
After Smith enjoyed a series of commercial country hits at her original label, she switched to Columbia Records in 1973. This was one of the first songs she recorded with the label, which finds Smith reminiscing about a love that has since been gone.
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