Alone Again (Naturally) (album)

In their capsule review for retailers, Billboard magazine wrote, "Chalk up another important chart item for Williams as he takes on some strong hits of today and adds his own fine touches to them."[6] They singled out a few tracks in particular. “Along with the title tune, Williams delivers exceptional readings of 'Where Is the Love', 'Song Sung Blue', 'Amazing Grace' and 'I Need You'. His treatment of 'The Long and Winding Road' is also a gem."[6]

• August 29, 1970 – "Home Lovin' Man"[1]
• June 12, 1972 – "I Need You", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"[2]
• June 13, 1972 – "Alone Again (Naturally)", "The Long and Winding Road","Amazing Grace" [2]
• July 18, 1972 – "Pieces of April", "Day by Day", "Where Is the Love, "If I Could Go Back"[2]
• 1972 – "Song Sung Blue"[2]
• September 16, 1972 – "Who Was It?"[3]

The recording of "Pieces of April" by Three Dog Night peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100[14] and number six on the magazine's Easy Listening chart.[15] "Day by Day", from the original cast album of the musical Godspell, reached number 13 pop[16] and number eight Easy Listening.[17] The duet between Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway entitled "Where Is the Love" got as high as number five pop[18] and number 29 on the UK singles chart[19] and spent a week at number one on the Easy Listening[20] and R&B charts.[21] The single also received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America [22] and earned Flack and Hathaway the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.[23] "If I Could Go Back" was written for the 1973 remake of Lost Horizon.[24]

The band America reached number nine on the Hot 100[25] and number seven Easy Listening[26] with "I Need You". "Alone Again (Naturally)" by Gilbert O'Sullivan peaked at number three in the UK[27] and had six weeks at number one on the pop[28] and Easy Listening[29] charts; it also received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.[30] "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" by Roberta Flack spent six weeks at number one on the Hot 100[18] and Easy Listening[31] charts and reached number four R&B[21] and number 14 UK.[19] In addition to Gold certification by the RIAA,[22] the song also earned Grammy Awards for Record of the Year for Flack and Song of the Year for songwriter Ewan MacColl.[32]

Neil Diamond enjoyed a week at number one on the Hot 100[33] and seven weeks at number one on the Easy Listening chart[34] with "Song Sung Blue", which also got as high as number 14 in the UK[35] and received the RIAA's Gold award.[36] The Beatles got to number one for two weeks on the Hot 100[37] and one week at number two on the Easy Listening chart[38] with "The Long and Winding Road", which also received both Gold and Platinum certification.[39] Judy Collins took "Amazing Grace" to number 15 pop[40] number five Easy Listening,[41] and number five UK.[42] The Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards debuted their instrumental recording of the classic hymn in the UK first and enjoyed five weeks at number one there[43] and made it to number 11 on the Hot 100[44] and number nine Easy Listening[45] in the US.

"Who Was It?" was a number 23 hit on the UK singles chart[46] for Hurricane Smith, who also took the song to number 49 pop[47] and number 12 Easy Listening.[48] Williams' recording of "Marmalade, Molasses & Honey" originated in the 1972 film The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean[49] and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.[50] "If You're Gonna Break Another Heart" was recorded by Cass Elliot for her 1972 album The Road Is No Place for a Lady[51] and by Albert Hammond under the title "If You Gotta Break Another Heart" for his 1973 album It Never Rains in Southern California.[52]

From the liner notes for the original album:[5]

• Andy Williams - vocals
• Dick Glasser - producer
• Al Capps - arranger/conductor (except as noted)
• Artie Butler - arranger/conductor ("Home Lovin' Man")
• Eric Prestidge - remix engineer
• Mike Ross-Trevor - recording engineer in London
• Rafael O. Valentin - recording engineer
• Tom Bert - back cover photo
• Keats Tyler - front cover photo