Once a Day
| "Once a Day" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bob Ferguson | ||||
| Connie Smith singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Once a Day" is a song written by
self-titled debut album. The song was released in August 1964, topping the Billboard country music chart for eight weeks between late 1964 and early 1965.[1] It was the first debut single by a female artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. This song peaked at number one for the week of November 28, 1964, and it stayed at number one for eight consecutive weeks, a record for a female solo artist for nearly 50 years, until it was surpassed by Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
" in December 2012.
In 2020, "Once a Day" was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry.[2]
Background and content
"Once a Day" was written by American country artist,
Bob Ferguson, the session was accompanied by Nashville's "A-Team" of musicians, which included members of Anderson's touring band, The Po' Boys.[4]
The song itself describes a woman who has not gotten over her previous lover. Although the woman explains that she has limited her grieving to "once a day," it is later found out that she is grieving, "once a day, every day, all day long."
While also singing lead vocals on "Once a Day," Smith was also featured playing the song's
Love Is the Look You're Looking for in 1973.[6] It was re-recorded for a third time for her 1976 studio album, The Song We Fell in Love To on Columbia Records
.
Chart performance
"Once a Day" was released as Connie Smith's debut single under
('Til) I Kissed You
(1976).
Smith previously held the record of being the only country female to reach number one with a debut single.
Best Country Song from the Grammy Awards.[9]
"Once a Day" made Smith a major star in
self-titled debut album in March 1965, which also reached number one.[4] The single helped gain Smith a series of major hits under RCA Victor in the 1960s. Her follow-up single, "Then and Only Then" (released in 1965) reached No. 4 on the Billboard Country Chart, and a series of unbated top ten hits continued until mid-1968, including "If I Talk to Him", "Ain't Had No Lovin'", and "The Hurtin's All Over".[3]
Smith had nineteen more top ten singles during her career.
Charts
| Chart (1964-1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 1 |
Cover versions
Since the song's release, "Once a Day" has been recorded by over 50 different artists. Such artists as:
- Country artist Loretta Lynn recorded a cover of the song for her 1965 album, Songs from My Heart. [10]
- Also in 1965, David Houston recorded "Once a Day" for his studio album, Twelve Great Country Hits. [11]
- In 1966, R&B vocalist, Timi Yuro released her version as single, which peaked at #118 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart.[12]
- Chicano artist, Trini Lopez recorded the song in 1968 for his country album, Welcome to Trini Country.[13]
- In November 1969, country artist, Lynn Anderson released an album of country cover versions entitled, Songs That Made Country Girls Famous,[14] which included a version of "Once a Day."
- Dean Martin recorded a traditional pop version of the song, which was released on his 1970 album, My Woman, My Woman, My Wife.[15]
- In 1986, Australian rock band, the Triffids recorded "Once a Day" for their album, In the Pines.[16]
- Glen Campbell recorded the song for his 1991 album Unconditional Love. [17]
- Punk rock artist Mike Ness recorded a version for his 1999 solo album, Under the Influences.[18]
- In 2006, Pay The Devil release.[19]
- Los Angeles indie rock band Cheekface included a cover as the closing song on their 2019 debut album, Therapy Island.[20]
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 319.
- ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (March 24, 2021). "Janet Jackson and Kermit the Frog Added to National Recording Registry". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ allmusic. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ a b c "Connie Smith - Biography (click on "biography" section of website)". Connie Smith Music.com. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ "Connie Smith [1965 album] > Credits". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ "Connie Smith Discography - - Joe Sixpack's Guide to Hick Music". Slipcue.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-05. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ "Meet the Opry - Connie Smith". opry.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ Bernstein, Joel. "The Resurrection of Connie Smith". Country Standard Time. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ a b Wolff, Kurt (2000). "Ch. 8 - It's Such a Pretty World Today: The Nashville Sound Arrives". In Orla Duane (ed.). Country Music: The Rough Guide. London, England: Rough Guides Ltd. p. 327.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 938.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". AllMusic. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ "cheekface.bandcamp.com". Bandcamp. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
