Maps of Music

I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am (1969)

Where the lyrics of I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am take you, and where it was really made.

Dean Martin recorded this 1969 album in just two three-hour spring sessions, and one critic suggested golf interested him more than the studio.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

1	I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am	3:17
2	Make It Rain	3:30
3	Where the Blue and Lonely Go	3:04
4	If You Ever Get Around to Loving Me	3:03
5	Do You Believe This Town	2:33
6	One Cup of Happiness (and One Piece of Mind)	2:44
7	The Sun Is Shinin’ (On Everybody but Me)	2:39
8	The Sneaky Little Side of Me	2:46
9	Crying Time	3:18
10	Little Green Apples	4:32

Born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, on June 7, 1917; sang with local bands and worked as a casino croupier before his career began.
Formed the comedy team Martin and Lewis with Jerry Lewis in 1946; the partnership ended acrimoniously in 1956.
Launched a solo career as singer and actor; signature song "Everybody Loves Somebody" reached number one in the US in 1964.
Member of the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop, known for Las Vegas performances.
Hosted the NBC variety series The Dean Martin Show from 1965 to 1974 and the Celebrity Roast specials from 1974 to 1984.
Died on December 25, 1995, in Beverly Hills at age 78.

Sold about 50 million records worldwide and was honored with a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Hollywood Walk of Fame stars honor his work in film, recordings and television.

AllMusic critic William Ruhlmann gave it two and a half stars out of five
Ruhlmann described the style as "Hollywood-style country-pop"
He likened the title track to Roger Miller's "King of the Road," an earlier Martin recording
The album used songs similar to the previous album, Gentle on My Mind
Ruhlmann accused producer Jimmy Bowen of "just trying to repeat previous successes"
The result was described as "a bit tired"
Ruhlmann remarked that Martin seemed more interested in his golf game than in recording

The title track was written by Merle Haggard.
The closing track, "Little Green Apples," is the longest song on the album at 4:32.
Ed Thrasher handled art direction and photography.
Jimmy Bowen produced the album, and the review linked it to the earlier success of Gentle on My Mind.