Still (Bill Anderson album)

By 1963, Bill Anderson had been recording for Decca Records for five years. He signed with the label in 1958 and recorded several hits, including "The Tip of My Fingers" and "Mama Sang a Song".{{cite web |last1=Huey |first1=Steve |title=Bill Anderson: Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-anderson-mn0000057923/biography |website=Allmusic |accessdate=April 9, 2020}} However, a proper debut studio album by Anderson had not yet been released. With the success of the title track in 1963, Decca decided to release his first full-length studio effort. The album's recording sessions were compiled from 1961. Further sessions were added on through early 1963. Sessions were first held at the Columbia Recording Studio in 1961 and were later held at Bradley's Barn, all located in Nashville, Tennessee. The album's recordings were produced by Owen Bradley, whom Anderson had been working with since his original signing.{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Bill |title=Still (Liner Notes and Album Information) |journal=Decca Records |date=June 17, 1963}}

Still consisted of 12 tracks. Five of the album's songs were written or co-written by Anderson, including the title track. Additional tracks were composed by other artists and songwriters. Further writers on the project included Ned Miller, Ernest Tubb and Fred Rose.{{cite web |title=Bill Anderson – Still (1963, Vinyl) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Bill-Anderson-Still/release/6009997 |website=Discogs |accessdate=April 9, 2020}} Also included were cover versions of songs first recorded by others. These tracks were "From a Jack to a King", "Take These Chains from My Heart", "Little Band of Gold", "The Reverend Mr. Black", "It's Been So Long Darling" and "Down Came the Rain".

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

}}

Before the album's release the first single was issued in February 1962. The single, "Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands", peaked at number 14 on the Billboard country singles chart.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc.|year=2008|isbn=0-89820-177-2}} The second single issued was the title track in February 1963. It became Anderson's second single to reach number one on the Billboard country singles chart, reaching the top spot in April 1963.{{cite web |title="Still" chart history: Country Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bill-anderson/chart-history/csi/ |website=Billboard |accessdate=April 9, 2020}} It also crossed over to the Hot 100 where it became a major hit and peaked at number eight in June 1963.{{cite web |title="Still" chart history: Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bill-anderson/chart-history/hsi/ |website=Billboard |accessdate=April 9, 2020}} It also reached a top ten position on the Billboard adult contemporary chart, peaking at number three.{{cite web |title="Still" chart history: Adult contemporary |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bill-anderson/chart-history/asi/ |website=Billboard |accessdate=April 9, 2020}}

Still was later given 3.5 stars from Allmusic in their review of the album. Still was originally released on June 17, 1963 via Decca Records. The album was first issued as a vinyl record, containing six songs on side one and six songs on side two. Upon its release, Still peaked at number ten on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, becoming his first album to place on this chart. It also reach a peak position on the Billboard 200 album chart, reaching number 36 in September 1963. It would be Anderson's only studio release to make an appearance on the latter chart.{{cite web |title=Still chart history: Billboard 200 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bill-anderson/chart-history/tlp/ |website=Billboard |accessdate=April 9, 2020}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Still

| writer1 = Bill Anderson

| length1 = 2:45

| title2 = Little Band of Gold

| writer2 = James Gilreath

| length2 = 2:38

| title3 = Down Came the Rain

| writer3 = Eddie Miller

| length3 = 2:14

| title4 = From a Jack to a King

| writer4 = Ned Miller

| length4 = 2:14

| title5 = Molly

| writer5 = Steve Karliski

| length5 = 2:55

| title6 = Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands

| writer6 = Anderson

| length6 = 2:47

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Side two

| title1 = Restless

| writer1 = {{hlist|Anderson|Skeeter Davis}}

| length1 = 2:44

| title2 = It's Been So Long Darling

| writer2 = Ernest Tubb

| length2 = 2:45

| title3 = The Reverend Mr. Black

| writer3 = {{hlist|Billy Edd Wheeler|Jerry Leiber|Mike Stoller}}

| length3 = 3:18

| title4 = Take These Chains from My Heart

| writer4 = {{hlist|Hy Heath|Fred Rose}}

| length4 = 2:45

| title5 = Happiness

| writer5 = Anderson

| length5 = 2:12

| title6 = I Wish I Was Mine

| writer6 = Anderson

| length6 = 2:31

}}

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Still.

Musical personnel

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Bill Anderson – lead vocals
• Brenton Banks – strings
• Harold Bradley – guitar
• George Brinkley – strings
• Cecil Brower – strings
• Howard Carpenter – strings
• Martin Catahn – strings
• Floyd Cramer – piano
• Pete Drake – steel guitar
• Ray Edenton – guitar
• Sofie Fott – strings

{{col-2}}

• Buddy Harman – drums
• Lillian Hunt – strings
• Tommy Jackson – fiddle
• The Jordanaires – background vocals
• Jerry Kennedy – guitar
• The Anita Kerr Singers – background vocals
• Grady Martin – guitar
• Bill McElhiney – trumpet
• Bob Moore – bass
• Morris Palmer – drums
• Joe Zinkan – bass

{{col-end}}

Technical personnel

• Owen Bradley – record producer
• Hal Buksbaum – photography

{{reflist}}

{{Bill Anderson}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1963 albums

Category:Albums produced by Owen Bradley

Category:Bill Anderson (singer) albums

Category:Decca Records albums