Big Girls Don't Cry (Lynn Anderson album)

Big Girls Don't Cry was recorded in March 1968 at the RCA Victor Studio, which was located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions for the album were produced by Slim Williamson.{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Lynn |title=Big Girls Don't Cry (Liner Notes & Album Information) |journal=Chart Records |date=July 1968}} It was Williamson who discovered Anderson and signed her to the Chart label in 1966. He had previously produced her studio albums Ride, Ride, Ride and Promises, Promises.{{cite web |last1=Hollabaugh |first1=Lorie |title=LifeNotes: Bradley 'Slim' Williamson |url=https://musicrow.com/2013/12/bradley-slim-williamson/ |website=Music Row |accessdate=28 May 2020}}

The album was a collection of 12 tracks. Five of the album's tracks were composed by her mother and Nashville songwriter, Liz Anderson. Liz Anderson had also composed material for her daughter's previous studio releases. While the 12 tracks included original recordings, some of the songs were cover versions. Among the album's cover tunes was Merle Haggard's "Strangers," Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and Margie Singleton's "Wanderin' Mind."

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev2 = Billboard

| rev2Score = Favorable

}}

Big Girls Don't Cry was released in July 1968 on Chart Records, becoming her third studio album issued. It was issued as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on each side of the record.{{cite web |title=Lynn Anderson -- Big Girls Don't Cry (1968, Vinyl) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Lynn-Anderson-Big-Girls-Dont-Cry/release/8542597 |website=Discogs |accessdate=28 May 2020}} Upon its release, Big Girls Don't Cry charted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It spent a total of 18 weeks on the list before reaching number 11 in September 1968.{{cite magazine |title=Big Girls Don't Cry chart history |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lynn-anderson/chart-history/clp/ |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=28 May 2020}} The album was reviewed positively by music writers and publications. Following its release, Billboard magazine gave the album a positive response. "The material which includes her fine renditions of 'Honey' and 'Ring of Fire' is diversified and has appeal for all buyers," the publication wrote.{{cite magazine |title=Album Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=July 20, 1968 |volume=80 |issue=28 |page=73}} In later years, Allmusic gave the project three out of five possible stars.

The album's title track was the only single released from the project. It was also released in July 1968.{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Top Country Albums: 1967-1997 |date=1997 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0898201241}} Spending 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, the title track reached number 12 by September, becoming her fourth major hit.{{cite magazine |title="Big Girls Don't Cry" [single] chart history |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lynn-anderson/chart-history/csi/ |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=28 May 2020}} In Canada, the song became a larger hit. The title track became Anderson's first to reach the number one position on the Canadian RPM Country Songs chart. It was also her second single to chart on the list.{{cite magazine|title=Results under "Country Singles" for Lynn Anderson|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=Lynn+Anderson&q2=Country+Singles&interval=20|magazine=RPM|accessdate=4 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021045054/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=Lynn+Anderson&q2=Country+Singles&interval=20|archive-date=21 October 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Big Girls Don't Cry

| writer1 = Liz Anderson

| length1 = 2:26

| title2 = Pick of the Week

| writer2 = Anderson

| length2 = 2:16

| title3 = Honey

| writer3 = Bobby Russell

| length3 = 4:20

| title4 = Just Between the Two of Us

| writer4 = Anderson

| length4 = 2:51

| title5 = I Live to Love You

| writer5 = Glenn Sutton

| length5 = 2:53

| title6 = Strangers

| writer6 = Anderson

| length6 = 2:33

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = The Pillow That Whispers

| writer1 = Cal Veale

| length1 = 2:42

| title2 = Ring of Fire

| writer2 = {{hlist|June Carter|Merle Kilgore}}

| length2 = 1:42

| title3 = Come on Home

| writer3 = {{hlist|Jack Rhodes|George Richey}}

| length3 = 2:32

| title4 = Wandering Mind

| writer4 = {{hlist|Leon Ashley|Kilgore|Margie Singleton}}

| length4 = 2:22

| title5 = You Mean the World to Me

| writer5 = {{hlist|Billy Sherrill|Glenn Sutton}}

| length5 = 2:23

| title6 = I Keep Forgetting (That I Forgot About You)

| writer6 = Anderson

| length6 = 1:51

}}

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Big Girls Don't Cry.

Musical and technical personnel

• Lynn Anderson – lead vocals
• Lloyd Green – arrangement
• Jim Malloy – engineering
• Tom Pick – engineering
• Bill Vandevort – engineering
• Slim Williamson – producer

{{reflist}}

{{Lynn Anderson}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1968 albums

Category:Albums produced by Slim Williamson

Category:Chart Records albums

Category:Lynn Anderson albums