From This Pen

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = Record Mirror

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite magazine |last1=Jones |first1=Peter |author-link1=Peter Jones (journalist) |last2= Jopling |first2= Norman |date=19 February 1966 |title=Bill Anderson: From This Pen |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-02-19.pdf |magazine=Record Mirror |issue=258 |page=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401225635/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-02-19.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2022|access-date=22 August 2022}}

}}

From This Pen was Anderson's first compilation (and album overall) to feature entirely self-composed material. The album's title was derived from this idea. Although many of these songs were recorded by other artists, Anderson also cut them. This occurred in a series of sessions that took place in his early years at Decca (between 1958 and 1965). All of the sessions were produced by Anderson's long-time studio producer, Owen Bradley. The recording sessions were held at the Bradley Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, which changed ownership and were renamed Columbia Studios over the course of the recording of the songs included on the album.{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Bill |title=From This Pen (Liner Notes and Album Information) |journal=Decca Records |date=June 1965}} The album contained a total of 13 tracks. This included the lead track, which served as a spoken introduction to the album. Only two tracks were co-written with other songwriters. The remaining tracks were entirely self-composed. Several of these compositions were pitched to other country artists and became major hits during this time. These former hits include Connie Smith's "Once a Day," Lefty Frizzell's "Saginaw, Michigan," Ray Price's "City Lights" and Charlie Louvin's "I Don't Love You Anymore."

From This Pen was released in June 1965 on the Decca label. It was Anderson's second compilation released in his music career. The record was issued as a vinyl LP, containing seven track on side one and six tracks on side two.{{cite web |title=Bill Anderson – From This Pen (1965, Vinyl) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Bill-Anderson-2-with-The-Jordanaires-From-This-Pen-/release/6919095 |website=Discogs |accessdate=July 10, 2020}} From This Pen spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and peaked at number seven in October 1965.{{cite web |title=From This Pen chart history |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bill-anderson/chart-history/clp/ |website=Billboard |accessdate=July 10, 2020}} It became Anderson's third album to chart on the Billboard country albums survey.{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Top Country Albums: 1967–1997 |date=1997 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0898201241}} From This Pen received positive reception from Allmusic, who rated the record three out of five stars.

All songs composed by Bill Anderson, except where noted.

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Introduction

| writer1 =

| length1 = 1:00

| title2 = Saginaw, Michigan

| writer2 = {{hlist|Anderson|Don Wayne}}

| length2 = 3:12

| title3 = City Lights

| writer3 =

| length3 = 3:00

| title4 = Once a Day

| writer4 =

| length4 = 2:35

| title5 = I Missed Me

| writer5 =

| length5 = 2:45

| title6 = Mama Sang a Song

| writer6 =

| length6 = 3:27

| title7 = That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome

| writer7 =

| length7 = 2:30

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = Riverboat

| writer1 =

| length1 = 2:24

| title2 = The Tip of My Fingers

| writer2 =

| length2 = 2:29

| title3 = I've Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can Stand

| writer3 = {{hlist|Anderson|Jeannie Seely}}

| length3 = 2:32

| title4 = Po' Folks

| writer4 =

| length4 = 2:50

| title5 = I Don't Love You Anymore

| writer5 =

| length5 = 2:28

| title6 = Still

| writer6 =

| length6 = 2:45

}}

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of From This Pen.

Musical personnel

• Bill Anderson – lead vocals
• Harold Bradley – banjo, guitar
• Floyd Cramer – piano, vibes
• Jimmy Day – steel guitar
• Pete Drake – steel guitar
• Buddy Emmons – steel guitar
• Buddy Harman – drums
• Tommy Jackson – fiddle
• Bob Moore – bass
• Morris Palmer – drums
• Jimmy Riddle – harmonica
• The Anita Kerr Singers – background vocals
• Joe Zinkan – bass

Technical personnel

• Owen Bradley – producer

{{reflist}}

{{Bill Anderson}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1965 albums

Category:Albums produced by Owen Bradley

Category:Bill Anderson (singer) compilation albums

Category:Decca Records albums