The Winning Hand is a collaborative compilation album by Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Brenda Lee. It was released on November 1, 1982, by Monument Records. The album was produced by Fred Foster, founder and chairman of the board of Monument, and contains some newly-recorded material as well as catalog material with new instrumental tracks.[1] The album spawned two singles, the Parton and Nelson duet "Everything's Beautiful (In Its Own Way)" and "You're Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning" by Lee and Nelson. The album also inspired a television special of the same name hosted by Johnny Cash, who had written the album's liner notes. The special featuring all four performers aired in over 150 markets in March and April 1985.[2]
The Winning Hand | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | November 1, 1982 | |||
Recorded | 1964–1982 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Country | |||
Length | 59:55 | |||
Label | Monument | |||
Producer | Fred Foster | |||
Kris Kristofferson chronology | ||||
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Willie Nelson chronology | ||||
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Dolly Parton chronology | ||||
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Brenda Lee chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Winning Hand | ||||
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Release and promotion
editThe album was announced in the September 4, 1982 issue of Billboard as the first release by Monument Records through a new distribution deal with CBS.[1]
The album was released on November 1, 1982. Monument Records launched a major radio, retail and advertising campaign budgeted at $100,000 to carry the album to country, pop and adult contemporary audiences. The album's cover art depicts the four artists as kings and queens on a deck of cards. This artwork was utilized on posters, promotional decks of cards and other point-of-sale materials spotlighting the album's theme. Monument printed approximately 5,000 decks of promotional "Winning Hand" cards, with Nelson and Kristofferson as the kings, Lee and Parton as the queens. They were sent to pop, adult contemporary and country radio stations and a limited quantity was sent to retail locations nationally. Two weekends in November 1982 were designated as "Winning Hand Weekends" at key radio stations, including more than 60 country stations. The participating stations received 25 copies of the album and first single for giveaways. Additionally, Monument used the album's cover graphics to make a series of four-color 12-by-24-inch posters. Each poster was limited to 3,500 copies against red, green or blue backgrounds for in-store display. Along with the posters, retailers received promotional flats of the album with easel backs for display, and an eight track "mini LP" with four duet and four solo tracks from the album to be played in-store.[3] CBS distribution also coordinated a series of retail contests to run from December 1982 to January 1983. Winners won an expense-paid trip to see any act of their choice from The Winning Hand album in concert in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe or Atlantic City.[4]
Television special
editAfter writing the liner notes for the album, Johnny Cash suggested that the album be made into a television special with him as the host. Foster, Kristofferson, Nelson, Lee and Parton immediately agreed to both of Cash's suggestions, but it took a couple of years to arrange the schedules of these five superstars for the special to become a reality. The special includes every cut from the album in addition to some "signature songs" by each performer. Foster stated that he was humbled that the artists involved were participating in the special for a nominal fee in tribute to him. He went on to say that there wasn't enough money around or a sponsor able to pay for it otherwise. The special aired in over 150 markets in March and April 1985.[2]
Critical reception
editReview scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B−[6] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [7] |
Billboard published a review in the November 13, 1982 issue which said, "From the ultra-visual packaging to the liner insert penned by Johnny Cash, this is an engaging project involving three former Monument artists and one currently signed to the reactivated label (Kristofferson). The ambitiousness of the undertaking overrides some uneven spots, which can be expected when you're pairing different superstars on nearly every track of a double-record set. Best cuts include "You Left Me a Long, Long Time Ago" by Nelson and Lee, "To Make a Long Story Short, She's Gone" by Nelson and Kristofferson, and "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" by Parton and Kristofferson."[8]
The review published in the November 13, 1982 issue of Cashbox said, "This is the ace that Fred Foster has been saving to play once Monument finalized its distribution agreement with CBS, and the LP is worth the wait, providing an assortment of duets and solo efforts made possible by adding recently-recorded tracks to existing material from the Monument vaults. Though the combination of this fearsome foursome is in itself a strong suit, the two-record set is enhanced by inspired cover art and thoughtful liner notes by Johnny Cash."[9]
Commercial performance
editThe album peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot Country LPs chart and No. 109 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.
The album's first single, "Everything's Beautiful (In Its Own Way)", a duet by Parton and Nelson, was released in November 1982.[10] It peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, No. 19 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles chart, and No. 102 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.
"You're Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning", a duet by Lee and Nelson, was released as the album's second single in March 1983.[11] It peaked at No. 43 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "You're Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning" | Donnie Fritts |
| 2:54 |
2. | "Ping Pong" | Boudleaux Bryant |
| 2:18 |
3. | "You'll Always Have Someone" |
| Willie Nelson | 2:56 |
4. | "Here Comes the Rainbow Again" | Kris Kristofferson | Kris Kristofferson | 2:51 |
5. | "The Bigger the Fool, the Harder the Fall" |
|
| 3:40 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Help Me Make It Through the Night" | Kristofferson |
| 3:46 |
2. | "Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby" |
|
| 2:28 |
3. | "You Left Me a Long, Long Time Ago" | Nelson |
| 2:46 |
4. | "To Make a Long Story Short, She's Gone" |
|
| 3:04 |
5. | "Someone Loves You, Honey" | Don Devaney | Brenda Lee | 2:51 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Everything's Beautiful (In Its Own Way)" | Dolly Parton |
| 3:13 |
2. | "Bring on the Sunshine" | Danny Epps | Brenda Lee | 2:58 |
3. | "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" |
|
| 2:24 |
4. | "I Never Cared for You" | Nelson | Willie Nelson | 2:21 |
5. | "Casey's Last Ride" | Kristofferson |
| 4:06 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "King of a Lonely Castle" | Kenny Devine | Willie Nelson | 3:17 |
2. | "The Little Things" | Parton | Dolly Parton | 2:32 |
3. | "The Bandits of Beverly Hills" | Kristofferson | Kris Kristofferson | 2:33 |
4. | "What Do You Think About Lovin'" |
|
| 2:38 |
5. | "Born to Love Me" | Bob Morrison |
| 4:19 |
Charts
editAlbum
Charts (1982–1983) | Peak positions |
---|---|
US Hot Country LPs (Billboard)[12] | 4 |
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard)[13] | 109 |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US Bubbling [14] |
US AC [15] |
US Country [16][17] | ||
"Everything's Beautiful (In Its Own Way)" (Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson) |
1982 | 102 | 19 | 7 |
"You're Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning" (Brenda Lee and Willie Nelson) |
1983 | — | — | 43 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Fead Named at Monument; CBS Deal Set" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. September 4, 1982. p. 68. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ a b Allen, Sharon (March 22, 1985). ""The Winning Hand" TV Special" (PDF). American Radio History. Radio & Records. p. 42. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Monument Launches 'Winning Hand' Push" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. November 20, 1982. p. 37. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Monument Sets 'Winning Hand' Sales Campaign" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. November 20, 1982. p. 42. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. The Winning Hand at AllMusic
- ^ "Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide Apr. 26, 1983". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ Colin Larkin (2006). "Parton, Dolly". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6 (4th ed.). Muze, Oxford University Press. p. 435–6. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4.
- ^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. November 13, 1982. p. 70. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). American Radio History. Cashbox. November 13, 2019. p. 24. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. November 20, 1982. p. 71. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. March 26, 1983. p. 63. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard. March 12, 1983. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. March 19, 1983. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Bubbling Under the Hot 100" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard. February 19, 1983. p. 62. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Dolly Parton Adult Contemporay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Dolly Parton Hot Country Songs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Brenda Lee Hot Country Songs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2019.