Success (Loretta Lynn song)

"Success" is a song written by Johnny Mullins that was originally recorded by American country artist Loretta Lynn. It was released as a single and became a major country hit in 1962. The song was among Lynn's first major hits as a recording artist. In 1992, "Success" would be covered by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor and become a hit in various countries throughout the world.

"Success"
Single by Loretta Lynn
from the album Loretta Lynn Sings
B-side"A Hundred Proof Heartache"
ReleasedApril 1962
RecordedSeptember 1961
StudioBradley Recording Studio
Genre
Length2:36
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Johnny Mullins
Producer(s)Owen Bradley
Loretta Lynn singles chronology
"I Walked Away from the Wreck"
(1961)		 "Success"
(1962)		 "World of Forgotten People"
(1962)

Loretta Lynn version

In 1961, Loretta Lynn signed a recording contract with Decca Records under the production of Owen Bradley. "Success" was among the first songs Lynn had recorded for the record company.[2] Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the session was produced by Owen Bradley. The song was recorded under her first session with Bradley and the recording label. Three other tracks were recorded on the same session.[3] Composed by Johnny Mullins, "Success" was recorded in the honky tonk style of country music, which incorporated more traditional elements of the genre.[1]

"Success" was released as a single via Decca Records in April 1962.[4] The single spent a total of 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Western and Sides chart before peaking at number six in September.[5] Although Lynn's first hit had been 1960's "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl," it was "Success" that became Lynn's first top ten hit in her career. The single ultimately started a series of top ten hits for Lynn during the decade. This would be followed by number one singles as well.[2] In 1963, the song was issued on Lynn's debut studio album entitled Loretta Lynn Sings, also on Decca.[3]

Track listings
7" vinyl single[6]
  • "Success" – 2:36
  • "A Hundred Proof Heartache" – 2:25

Charts
Chart (1962) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 6

Sinéad O'Connor version
"Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home"
Single by Sinéad O'Connor
from the album Am I Not Your Girl?
Released1992
Genre
Length4:29
Label
  • Ensign
  • Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)Johnny Mullins
Producer(s)
  • Phil Ramone
  • Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor singles chronology
"Three Babies"
(1990)		 "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home"
(1992)		 "Don't Give Up"
(1993)
Music video
"Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home" on YouTube

Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor covered the song as "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home" in 1992. It was released as the lead single from her third album, Am I Not Your Girl?.

"That's definitely the most biographical song on the album...the one that is the most personal. I didn't see it in terms of being a country song even though Loretta Lynn recorded it...but as a song that expressed something important...how everyone is concerned with material success and what that can do to people. Success has made a failure of our home...my home."

—Sinéad O'Connor talking about the song.[8]

O'Connor first heard the song on a late '50s/early '60s album by American country artist Loretta Lynn.[9] The cover is produced by O'Connor with Phil Ramone and remains one of her biggest hits after it charted in several countries. The single peaked within the Top 20 in Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, Top 30 in Belgium and Switzerland, and Top 40 in Australia and New Zealand. In the US, the single reached number 20 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.

The song was included on her compilation album, So Far... The Best Of in 1997.

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from many music critics. Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "There's a new Sinead coming to town, as she previews her upcoming set of pop standards, "Am I Not Your Girl ?" Interestingly, she delivers one of the most assured, full-voiced performances to date, digging deep into the emotion of the material with a combination of heartfelt emotion and unbridled confidence. Will stun folks at first, though they will eventually become enthralled by the sincerity of this project."[10] Greg Sandow from Entertainment Weekly called it a transformation of a Loretta Lynn song" and wrote, "Right at the start, a tortured brass riff tears it from its country roots. And at the end O’Connor dissolves it into an all-but-deranged cry of despair, repeating ”Am I not your girl?” for a full minute and a half, 27 times in all, with the brass shrieking behind her."[11]

Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger said that the song shows that O'Connor "can belt with the best of them".[12] Lennox Herald described it as a "dramatic ballad with big band sound hit."[13] Liverpool Echo wrote in their review, that the song "could have been written for her".[14] Music Week stated that it is "her most bewitching single" since "Nothing Compares 2 U", adding that it is a "expensively produced, with a brilliant orchestral arrangement offsetting her vulnerable small voice beautifully. Bittersweet lyrics and constantly shifting tempo add considerably to what is an inspired choice."[15] People said in their review of the album, that "the only time O'Connor seems to be anything but childlike" is on the song.[16] Daphne Kwong from Stanford Daily commented that "the music overwhelms O'Connor's voice until she starts singing louder midway through the song."[17]

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. In the video, O'Connor performs the song on a press conference about child abuse while cameras are flashing. She imparts lyrics with sign language. Timothy White from Billboard described the video like this, "The singer is depicted on a sleekly nightmarish dais, delivering her clement declaration as if responding to some sinister state inquisition. Her simple lament is soon transmuted into an indictment of the social atrocities of a wayward age, while actual Amnesty International slides of international torture victims are flashed upon the walls behind her."[18]

Track listing
CD single, Europe (1992)
No.TitleLength
1."Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home" 
2."You Do Something To Me" 
3."My Heart Belongs To Daddy" 
4."Someone To Watch Over Me" 
CD single (CD1), US (1992)
No.TitleLength
1."Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home"4:29
2."You Do Something To Me"2:34
3."I Want To Be Loved By You"2:44
CD single (CD2), UK (1992)
No.TitleLength
1."Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home"4:29
2."My Heart Belongs To Daddy"2:53
3."Someone To Watch Over Me"3:46

Weekly charts
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 37
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 22
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[21] 35
Ireland (IRMA) 11
Italy (Musica e dischi) 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 21
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 32
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 28
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 18
US Billboard Alternative Songs 20

References
  1. "Loretta Lynn Sings: Loretta Lynn: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Loretta Lynn: Biography & History". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. Lynn, Loretta (December 9, 1963). "Loretta Lynn Sings (Liner Notes and Album Information)". Decca Records.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.
  5. ""Success" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  6. "Success/A Hundred Proof Heartache by Loretta Lynn (Single, Country)". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  7. "Loretta Lynn Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  8. "Sinead O'Connor reinterprets the torch song". Reading Eagle. 27 September 1992. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  9. "The Origins Of Sinead O'Connor's New Songcollection" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 September 1992. p. 11. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  10. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 5 September 1992. p. 76. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  11. "Am I Not Your Girl?". Entertainment Weekly. 25 September 1992. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  12. "SINEAD O'CONNOR – "Nothing Compares 2 U"". Freaky Trigger. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. "SINGLES ROUND-UP". Lennox Herald. 4 September 1992. page 24. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  14. "Sinead O'Connor: Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home". Liverpool Echo. 4 September 1992. page 41. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  15. "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 29 August 1992. p. 6. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  16. "Picks and Pans Review: Am I Not Your Girl?". People. 19 October 1992. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  17. Kwong, Daphne (15 October 1992). "Sinead sings the classics with a twist". Stanford Daily. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  18. White, Timothy (5 September 1992). "Sinead: The 'Girl' In The Woman" (PDF). Billboard. p. 3. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  19. "Australian-charts.com – Sinéad O'Connor – Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  20. "Ultratop.be – Sinéad O'Connor – Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  21. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 September 1992. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Sinéad O'Connor" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  23. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sinéad O'Connor – Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  24. "Charts.nz – Sinéad O'Connor – Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  25. "Swisscharts.com – Sinéad O'Connor – Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
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