Bill (Bill Anderson album)

Bill is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in July 1973 on MCA Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's first studio album to be released on the MCA label after Decca Records merged with the label. It was also his twenty first studio recording to be released and only album project to be issued in 1973. The album included three singles, two of which became number one hits in either the United States and Canada. The album itself also would reach peak positions on national publication charts.

Bill
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1973 (1973-07)
RecordedApril 1973
StudioBradley's Barn
Genre
LabelMCA
ProducerOwen Bradley
Bill Anderson chronology
Don't She Look Good
(1972)
Bill
(1973)
"Whispering" Bill Anderson
(1974)
Singles from Bill
  1. "If You Can Live with It (I Can Live Without It)"
    Released: January 1973
  2. "The Corner of My Life"
    Released: June 1973
  3. "World of Make Believe"
    Released: November 1973

Background and content

Bill was recorded in April 1973 in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. The sessions were held specifically at Bradley's Barn, a studio owned by the album's producer, Owen Bradley. Anderson and Bradley had been collaborating on albums since Anderson's debut record was released in 1963. This would be his twenty first album all together.[2] The record consisted of 11 tracks.[3] Three of its tracks were written by Anderson. This included the single, "If You Can Live with It (I Can Live Without It)". Some of the album tracks were covers of songs previously recorded by other performers. Among these covers was "(Altogether Now) Let's Fall Apart", which was first made a hit single by Ronnie Milsap. The record also featured a cover of the pop track "Have You Seen Her". This song was first recorded by The Chi-Lites.[2]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic

Bill was released in July 1973 on MCA Records. It was Anderson's first album to be released under MCA after his previous label (Decca) merged with the company.[2] It was issued originally as a vinyl LP and as a cassette. Both formats featured tracks on both side of the record.[3][4] Bill peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in September 1973 after spending 14 weeks on the chart.[5] The album also included three singles released to radio in 1973. The first was "If You Can Live With It (I Can Live Without It)" in January 1973.[6] It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart while also reaching number two on the RPM Country Singles chart in Canada.[7][8]

In June 1973, "The Corner of My Life" was issued as the second single.[6] Like its previous single, "The Corner of My Life" peaked at number two on the Billboard country chart.[9] Additionally, the single reached the top spot of the RPM country singles chart.[8] The third and final single release came with "World of Make Believe" in November 1973.[6] It became Anderson's first number one hit in the United States since 1969 when it reached the position in February 1974.[10] The song also topped the Canadian country chart around the same time.[8] In years following its release, Bill received a rating of 2.5 stars from Allmusic.[1]

Track listing

Side one (Vinyl and cassette versions)[3][4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."If You Can Live with It (I Can Live Without It)"Bill Anderson2:43
2."Look How I Love You"James Gilreath2:39
3."Home and Things"Anderson2:45
4."Baby's Blue Again"Jim Weatherly3:56
5."Number One"Jerry Chesnut1:52
6."(All Together Now) Let's Fall Apart"Johnny Koonse2:20
Side two (Vinyl and cassette versions)[3][4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Corner of My Life"Anderson3:35
2."Gonna Shine It on Again"Weatherly3:04
3."World of Make Believe"
  • Mario Carpenter
  • Pee Wee Maddux
  • Peter McCord
2:38
4."I Can't Mend It"Ray Griff2:14
5."Have You Seen Her"2:08

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Bill.[2]

  • Bill Anderson – lead vocals
  • Hal Bauksbaum – photography
  • Owen Bradley – record producer

Chart performance

Chart (1973) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[11] 15

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Canada July 1973 Vinyl MCA [12]
United States [2][3]
Cassette [4]

References

  1. "Bill – Bill Anderson – Songs, Review, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  2. Anderson, Bill (July 1973). "Bill (Liner Notes and Album Information)". MCA Records.
  3. "Bill Anderson – Bill (1973, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  4. "Bill Anderson – Bill (cassette version)". Discogs. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  5. "Bill chart history". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  7. ""If You Can Live with It (I Can Live Without It)" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  8. "Search results for "Bill Anderson" – Country Singles". RPM. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  9. ""The Corner of My Life" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  10. ""World of Make Believe" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  11. "Bill Anderson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  12. "Bill Anderson – Bill (Canadian release)". Discogs. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
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