Classic Album Series Vol 5: Heartbreak USA (Kitty Wells)

For the 5th Edition of our Classic Album Series, we visited the archives of Decca Records. There we found Kitty Wells' 8th Decca album (LP), "Heartbreak USA." Released in May, 1961, it yielded Kitty a number one single. The LP contains twelve cuts, all of which have "heart" in the title. Many of these songs were big hits charted by other country music artists. Strangely, Kitty's top-20 single, "Touch and Go Heart" (1958), wasn't included on this LP. A pioneering figure in country music, Wells built a ladder of success and the rungs on that ladder yielded some of the best country hits of the 1950s and 1960s.

Album: "Heartbreak USA" Decca - DL-74141
Recorded: July 13/1960, Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville (1) January 1961, Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville: Produced by Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Eddie Hill, Pete Wade, Louis Innis, Johnny Wright, Hank Garland, Ray Edenton (guitar), Shot Jackson, Robert Foster, Harold Morrison (steel), Joe Zinkan (bass), Dorris Warren, Ray Chrisp, Tommy Jackson, Benny Martin (fiddle), Owen Bradley (piano)

Album Cuts: Heartbreak USA, Heart To Heart Talk, Heartaches By The Number, My Heart Echoes, I've Got A New Heartache, Open Up Your Heart, This Old Heart, I'll Hold You In My Heart, Excuse Me, My Cold Cold Heart Is Melted Now, Best of All My Heartaches, Leave All The Heartache To Me

"Heartbreak USA" (DL - 31246): Written by Harland Howard, this lead off cut was Kitty's 18th top-10 single and her 2nd No. 1 to this point in her career. While it helped her sustain chart presence, it was would be her final No. 1 chart song.

"Heart To Heart Talk:" Written by Lee Ross, this was a number five single for Bob Wills in 1960. Backed by some of the greatest session players in Nashville and standout producer, Owen Bradley, surprisingly, Decca's Artist and Repertoire (A&R) executive chose not to release it as a single for Kitty.

"Heartaches By The Number:" Ray Price took this Harlan Howard composition all the way to number two in 1958, making it his 12th top-ten single to that point in his career. Kitty's version of this song, backed by steel guitarist Shot Jackson, made this song worthy of another chart run.

"My Heart Echoes:" Written by Homer Bailes, Johnnie Bailes, Muriel Deason Wright (Kitty Wells) and Zeke Clements, this a song that Wells tried working into her previous Decca albums. Apparently, Owen Bradley consented here.

"I've Got A New Heartache:" Written by Wayne P. Walker and Ray Price, Ray made this his sixth top-ten single when he charted it in 1956. Decca's A&R executive did not release this as a single.

"Open Up Your Heart:" Both Kitty and Buck Owens recorded this Stuart Hamblen composition, but neither of them placed this uptempo song on the Billboard chart. Decca's A&R executive did not release this as a single.

"This Old Heart:" A Kitty Wells original, which was written by Eddie Miller and Bob Morris. Decca's A&R executive did not release this as a single.

"I'll Hold You In My Heart:" Eddy Arnold had a massive hit on this song which he co-wrote with Vic McAlpin, Howard Horton and Thomas Dilbeck. Arnold took it all the way to number one in 1946, making it his sixth top-ten single to that point in his career. Decca's A&R executive did not release this as a single.

"Excuse Me:" Buck Owens took this self penned composition to number two in 1960, making it his third top-ten hit to that point in his career. Decca's A&R executive did not release this as a single.

"My Cold Cold Heart Is Melted Now:" Written by Hank Williams Sr. and Johnny Masters, this is the answer to "Cold, Cold Heart.. Decca's A&R executive did not release this as a single.

"Best of All My Heartaches" An original recording by Kitty, this song was written by Tom T. Hall. Decca did not release this as a single.

"Leave All The Heartache To Me:" Another original recording by Kitty, this song was written by Bill Anderson, but Decca did not release this as a single.

Most of the cuts on this LP did not chart for Kitty, but her excellent cover of these songs nourished her popularity. Wells broke down the doors for female country singers, paving the way for artists like Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, and Loretta Lynn. Female country singers were a scarce commodity in those days and Wells excelled in what was very much a man's world. Kitty was the beginning point for many, including the legendary producer Owen Bradley, who worked with her and Patsy Cline simultaneously. Wells' success in the 1950s and 1960s was so enormous that she still ranks as the sixth most successful female vocalist in the history of country music. This was one of Kitty's best concept albums, the cream of her career and one that helped her earn the title "Queen of Country Music." ~RJB: Country Music Historian, 10/2010.

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[parma091]

Who is this singer?

[flashbell]

@parma091, Kitty Wells

[no1countryfan]

Theres only 1 Queen of Country Music,Miss Kitty Wells.

Mike.

[maggiemay1927]

i only wish there more singers like her in our modern world

[daisylavoine]

kitty is the best singer i have ever heard i never get tired of hearing her over and over again love you miss kitty



[hagblay]

HEARTACHE BY THE NUMBERS--WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SONG--MISS KITTY WELLS--5 STARS FOR A REAL GOOD SHARE--TY SO MUCH--TY JOHN

[ROBERTCEE]

this is 'Heartaches By The Number', not 'Heartbreak, USA'

[49richard]

@amandalovesrayt He! have you listen to "It wasn't God who made Honky Tonk angel? The best one I beleive.... Take care!

[maestroxzero]

HEARTACHE(S) BY THE NUMBERS!

im 20 and even i love this. One of my favorite things about the Fallout games is giving me an appreciation for truly classic music

[maestroxzero]

HEARTACHE BY THE NUMBERS!



[GustavoNogueiraPivot]

muito bom parabéns gostei demais, jóia

[amandalovesrayt]

i am 28 and this is one of my most FAVORITE songs!