Maps of Music

God Bless America Again (1972)

Where the lyrics of God Bless America Again take you, and where it was really made.

Despite its patriotic-sounding title, this album is a gospel record, and some critics have mislabeled it as a collection of patriotic songs.

Key places

Recording began at Bradley's Barn (1970)

Recording site Bradley's Barn — The first recording session for the album took place on April 8, 1970 at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. The point is shown at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• God Bless America Again: 20th solo studio album by Loretta Lynn
• Third gospel album in her catalog
• Released June 5, 1972 by Decca Records
• Lynn's last album of religious material for 25 years
• Her next gospel album was All Time Gospel Favorites in 1997
• Largely new material, with a few well-known songs included
• Eleven songs in total, according to the Cashbox review

Background

• The title song was cowritten by Bobby Bare
• The title has led some to mislabel the release as a collection of patriotic songs
• Well-known songs included: "Softly and Tenderly", "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", "Just a Little Talk with Jesus", "I Feel Like Traveling On", and "If God Is Dead (Who's That Living in My Soul)"
• Lynn wrote two songs for the album: "Working for the Lord" and "I Pray My Way Out of Trouble"

Recording

• Recording sessions took place two years before the album was released
• The first session was on April 8, 1970, at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee
• Two additional sessions followed on July 15 and August 12
• Owen Bradley is credited as producer
• Conway Twitty provides the recitation on the title track

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born Loretta Webb on April 14, 1932, in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, the oldest daughter in a coal miner's family.
• Married Oliver Vanetta "Doolittle" Lynn in 1948 at age 15; the marriage lasted almost 50 years until his death in 1996.
• Began singing in local clubs in the late 1950s and formed her own band, the Trailblazers.

Career

• Signed with Zero Records in 1960; her first release was "Whispering Sea" and "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl".
• Joined Decca Records through the Wilburn Brothers; joined the Grand Ole Opry on September 25, 1962.
• Scored a string of hits from the 1960s, including "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" and "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin'".
• Wrote songs on women's issues such as birth control ("The Pill") and double standards ("Rated 'X'"), many inspired by her own marriage.
• Recorded five No. 1 duets with Conway Twitty between 1971 and 1975.
• Her 1976 autobiography Coal Miner's Daughter became a bestseller and inspired the 1980 Oscar-winning film starring Sissy Spacek.
• Named Artist of the Decade for the 1970s by the Academy of Country Music, the only woman to win this honor.
• Released Van Lear Rose (2004), produced by Jack White, which won the Grammy for Best Country Album.
• Had a stroke in 2017 and broke her hip in 2018, which ended her touring after 57 years.
• Died on October 4, 2022, at age 90, at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Billboard, July 1, 1972 issue: called the material a powerful sales item in strong performances
• Billboard noted the songs proved show stoppers in Lynn's concert appearances
• Billboard named the title tune, "Working for the Lord", "If God Is Dead", "I Feel Like Traveling On", and "I Pray My Way Out of Trouble" as top cuts
• Cashbox, June 17 issue: said the album delivered Lynn's pure and true country talent
• Cashbox: described eleven songs revolving around the theme of American heritage and its future
• Cashbox pointed to "Six Feet of Sod" and "Livin' in God's Country" and described the Stars and Stripes waving in time to the music

Records

• Released June 5, 1972 by Decca Records
• Peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Country LP chart
• Lynn's last album of religious material for 25 years
• Her next gospel album was All Time Gospel Favorites in 1997

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title song was cowritten by Bobby Bare, and its title has led some to mislabel the album as patriotic songs.
• Conway Twitty recites on the title track.
• Lynn wrote "Working for the Lord" and "I Pray My Way Out of Trouble" for this album.
• The first recording session took place at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
• Owen Bradley produced the album, and Harold Bradley played bass guitar.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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