Bobbie Gentry - The Girl From Chickasaw County

Bobbie Gentry The Girl From Chickasaw County

The complete double LP!

Bobbie Gentry is notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material. During her five-year tenure at Capitol, she penned at least two songs that have become certified classics, "Ode To Billie Joe" and "Fancy" among dozens of original compositions.

Gentry released eight Capitol albums in total, heralded by the smash hit debut Ode To Billie Joe (which displaced Sgt. Pepper's Lonely-Hearts Club Band from the top of the charts in the U.S.). Delta Sweete, her third, is another highlight. Mojo Magazine listed it in their Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time and memorably described her as the "J.D. Salinger of rock 'n' roll."

Gentry also teamed up with Glen Campbell later that year (1968) for an album of duets that earned her another gold record and spawned three hit singles, including a cover of The Everly Brothers hit "All I Have To Do Is Dream," which rose to No. 3 on the U.K. and No. 27 on The Billboard Hot 100. The pair also toured briefly together and performed on a number of American and British television programs and specials.

Gentry enjoyed four U.K. hits with "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," topping the charts in 1969. In the U.S.A. she notched 11 hits and was nominated for a Grammy for Album Fancy, largely produced by Rick Hall in Muscle Shoals.

Gentry had her own BBC show for three seasons, serving as program host, performing her own material, and introducing guests such as Elton John, James Taylor, and Donovan. She also headlined her nightclub in Vegas.

This is the first ever large-scale retrospective containing the first U.K. reissues of her albums in their entirety — supplemented by 76 previously unreleased demos, outtakes and alternate takes from all Gentry's Capitol albums.  Included are beautiful acoustic demos of songs such as "Refractions," "Courtyard" and "Seasons Come Seasons Go," alternate takes of "Sunday Best," "Sweet Peony" and "Benjamin," and previously unheard originals such as "Morning To Midnight," and "Joanne."

In addition Gentry recorded some great cover versions that were never published including "Conspiracy Of Homer Jones" by Dallas Frazier, "Spinning Wheel" by Blood, Sweat and Tears, "Salome Smith and Her Amazing Dancing Bear" by Randy Newman, plus blues songs such as "Seventh Son" by Willie Dixon. And much more!

 

Side A

1. Ode to Billie Joe

2. Chickasaw County Child

3. Hurry, Tuesday Child [demo]

4. Sunday Best [alternate take]

5. Mississippi Delta [alternate version]

6. Okolona River Bottom Band

7. Refractions

8. Courtyard

Side B

1. Mornin' Glory

2. Sweete Peony [alternate Version]

3. Casket Vignette

4. Recollection

5. Sittin’ Pretty

6. Hushabye Mountain

7. Conspiracy of Homer Jones

8. Sunday Mornin' [alternate version]

9. Let It Be Me (duet with Glen Campbell) [without strings]

Side C

1. God Bless The Child

2. This Girl’s In Love With You

3. Touch 'Em with Love [stereo version]

4. Seasons Come, Seasons Go [demo]

5. Glory Hallelujah, How They'll Sing [alternate take]

6. Fancy

7. He Made A Woman Out of Me

8. Rainmaker

9. Circle ‘Round the Sun

Side D

1. Apartment 21 [Stereo version]

2. Benjamin

3. But I Can't Get Back

4. Lookin' In

5. Smoke

6. Joanne

7. The Girl from Cincinnati

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