Heaven Help the Child
Encyclopedia
Heaven Help The Child is the 1973 album by Country
singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury
. The album was Newbury's third consecutive release recorded at Cinderella Studios. Noted for its dramatic remakes of four previous Newbury songs: "Sweet Memories", "Good Morning Dear" from Harlequin Melodies
, "Sunshine" from Sings His Own
and "San Francisco Mabel Joy
" from Looks Like Rain
, the album is considered equal among Newbury's acclaimed Looks Like Rain and Frisco Mabel Joy
. Apart from its definitive versions of three of Newbury's early songwriting hits, the album is also acclaimed for its title track, with its multi-generation narrative, the haunting "Cortelia Clark," and the bluegrass classic "Why You Been Gone So Long." Allmusic Guide: "Newbury, for the third time in as many recording sessions, came up with a record that defies categorization. And for the third time in a row, he had done the impossible, created a masterpiece, a work of perfection. "
Heaven Help The Child was collected for CD issue on the eight-disc Mickey Newbury Collection
from Mountain Retreat, Newbury's own label in the mid-1990s, along with nine other Newbury albums from 1969-1981.
In 2011, it was reissued again as part of the four-disc Mickey Newbury box set An American Trilogy
, alongside two other albums recorded at Cinderella Sound, Looks Like Rain
and Frisco Mabel Joy
. This release marks the first time that Heaven Help The Child has been released on CD in remastered form, after the original master tapes (long thought to have been destroyed in a fire) were rediscovered in 2010.
"San Francisco Mabel Joy" was heavily covered as both a folk and country song in the early 1970s. Joan Baez
recorded the song for her 1971 hit double album Blessed Are...
along with "Angeline" and "The 33rd of August," also originally recorded for Looks Like Rain
. Waylon Jennings
included his version on his 1973 breakthrough Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
. The song was also featured on Kenny Rogers
' 1978 country smash The Gambler
, and John Denver
's recording is on his 1981 album Some Days Are Diamonds. The Box Tops recorded a presumably early version under the title "Georgia Farm Boy," which was included as a bonus track on the 2000 reissue of The Letter/Neon Rainbow.
"Sweet Memories" was one of Newbury's most prominent early songwriting successes, and became an early signature song. The first hit version was released by Andy Williams
but the song has also been recorded by over 70 artists such as Brenda Lee
, Ray Charles
, The Everly Brothers
, Brook Benton
, with recent versions by Willie Nelson
, Merle Haggard
, and Ray Price on the 2007 album Last of the Breed
and by The Time Jumpers
for which they received a Grammy nomination in 2008.
"Good Morning Dear" has been recorded by Roy Orbison
, Don Gibson
, The Box Tops, Ray Charles, as well as Pat Boone
, Tennessee Ernie Ford
, and Frank Ifield
.
"Sunshine" was originally released as a single by RCA in the late 1960s. Newbury's song has been recorded by Gene Vincent
, Ray Stevens
, and Kenny Rogers.
"Cortelia Clark" has been recorded by Josh White Jr.
"Why You Been Gone So Long" is one of Newbury's most covered songs. It has been recorded by Carl Perkins
, Gene Clark
, Clarence White
, Tony Rice
, Jerry Lee Lewis
, and David Allan Coe
among others.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury
Mickey Newbury
Mickey Newbury was an American songwriter, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
. The album was Newbury's third consecutive release recorded at Cinderella Studios. Noted for its dramatic remakes of four previous Newbury songs: "Sweet Memories", "Good Morning Dear" from Harlequin Melodies
Harlequin Melodies
Harlequin Melodies is the 1968 debut album by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. At the time, Newbury was a making an impact as an incredible and successful songwriter in Nashville, signed by Acuff-Rose Publishing, at one point he had four #1 hits on different charts for Eddy Arnold, Solomon Burke,...
, "Sunshine" from Sings His Own
Sings His Own
Sings His Own is the 1972 compilation album by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury, a revised edition of his debut Harlequin Melodies, released by RCA Records in 1972, after the critical notice of Newbury's highly acclaimed Looks Like Rain and Frisco Mabel Joy...
and "San Francisco Mabel Joy
San Francisco Mabel Joy
"San Francisco Mabel Joy" is a song written by Mickey Newbury, and is one of Newbury's most notable songs, an opinion shared by the artist himself. The song first appeared on Newbury's 1969 concept album Looks Like Rain, a milestone album in the burgeoning songwriter movement in Nashville at the...
" from Looks Like Rain
Looks Like Rain
Looks Like Rain is the 1969 concept album by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. After recording his debut album with RCA, Newbury was dissatisfied with the resulting album and left RCA to pursue a style closer to his tastes...
, the album is considered equal among Newbury's acclaimed Looks Like Rain and Frisco Mabel Joy
Frisco Mabel Joy
Frisco Mabel Joy is the 1971 concept album by Country singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. This was the second of three albums Newbury recorded at Cinderella Sound. The album includes the original version of "An American Trilogy", which Elvis Presley later performed in his Las Vegas shows with much...
. Apart from its definitive versions of three of Newbury's early songwriting hits, the album is also acclaimed for its title track, with its multi-generation narrative, the haunting "Cortelia Clark," and the bluegrass classic "Why You Been Gone So Long." Allmusic Guide: "Newbury, for the third time in as many recording sessions, came up with a record that defies categorization. And for the third time in a row, he had done the impossible, created a masterpiece, a work of perfection. "
Heaven Help The Child was collected for CD issue on the eight-disc Mickey Newbury Collection
Mickey Newbury Collection
The Mickey Newbury Collection collects the ten albums Mickey Newbury released on three labels between 1969 and 1981 on an eight disc set. The set was released and is available through Mountain Retreat, a label run by Newbury and later Newbury's family...
from Mountain Retreat, Newbury's own label in the mid-1990s, along with nine other Newbury albums from 1969-1981.
In 2011, it was reissued again as part of the four-disc Mickey Newbury box set An American Trilogy
An American Trilogy (album)
An American Trilogy is a box set of three remastered albums by Mickey Newbury recorded between 1969 and 1973 at Cinderella Sound studio, in Madison, Tennessee, alongside an additional album of rare and unreleased recordings, entitled "Better Days". It was released in 2011 on Saint Cecilia Knows, in...
, alongside two other albums recorded at Cinderella Sound, Looks Like Rain
Looks Like Rain
Looks Like Rain is the 1969 concept album by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. After recording his debut album with RCA, Newbury was dissatisfied with the resulting album and left RCA to pursue a style closer to his tastes...
and Frisco Mabel Joy
Frisco Mabel Joy
Frisco Mabel Joy is the 1971 concept album by Country singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. This was the second of three albums Newbury recorded at Cinderella Sound. The album includes the original version of "An American Trilogy", which Elvis Presley later performed in his Las Vegas shows with much...
. This release marks the first time that Heaven Help The Child has been released on CD in remastered form, after the original master tapes (long thought to have been destroyed in a fire) were rediscovered in 2010.
Track listing
- "Heaven Help The Child" (Mickey Newbury) - 5:16
- "Good Morning Dear" (Mickey Newbury) - 5:18
- "Sunshine" (Mickey Newbury) - 4:34
- "Sweet MemoriesSweet Memories (song)"Sweet Memories" is a single by American country music artist Willie Nelson. Released in January 1979, it was the second single from his album Sweet Memories. The song peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also reached number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in...
" (Mickey Newbury) - 3:28 - "Why You Been Gone So Long" (Mickey Newbury) - 3:27
- "Cortelia Clark" (Mickey Newbury) - 5:12
- "Song For Susan" (Mickey Newbury) - 4:30
- "San Francisco Mabel JoySan Francisco Mabel Joy"San Francisco Mabel Joy" is a song written by Mickey Newbury, and is one of Newbury's most notable songs, an opinion shared by the artist himself. The song first appeared on Newbury's 1969 concept album Looks Like Rain, a milestone album in the burgeoning songwriter movement in Nashville at the...
" (Mickey Newbury) - 5:43
Selected Cover Recordings
Heaven Help The Child features four songs previously recorded by Newbury:"San Francisco Mabel Joy" was heavily covered as both a folk and country song in the early 1970s. Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
recorded the song for her 1971 hit double album Blessed Are...
Blessed Are...
Blessed Are... was a 1971 album by Joan Baez, and her last with Vanguard Records. It included her hit cover of The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and work by Kris Kristofferson, the Beatles, Jesse Winchester and The Rolling Stones, as well as a significant number of Baez' own...
along with "Angeline" and "The 33rd of August," also originally recorded for Looks Like Rain
Looks Like Rain
Looks Like Rain is the 1969 concept album by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. After recording his debut album with RCA, Newbury was dissatisfied with the resulting album and left RCA to pursue a style closer to his tastes...
. Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
included his version on his 1973 breakthrough Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean is an album by Waylon Jennings, released on RCA Victor in 1973. It was, after Good Hearted Woman and Ladies Love Outlaws, the third in a series of albums which were to establish Jennings as one of the most prominent representatives of the country movement, reaching #8 on...
. The song was also featured on Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
' 1978 country smash The Gambler
The Gambler
The Gambler may refer to:In music:*The Gambler , a 1978 album by Kenny Rogers**"The Gambler" , a 1978 song featured on the Kenny Rogers album*The Gambler...
, and John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
's recording is on his 1981 album Some Days Are Diamonds. The Box Tops recorded a presumably early version under the title "Georgia Farm Boy," which was included as a bonus track on the 2000 reissue of The Letter/Neon Rainbow.
"Sweet Memories" was one of Newbury's most prominent early songwriting successes, and became an early signature song. The first hit version was released by Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
but the song has also been recorded by over 70 artists such as Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
, Brook Benton
Brook Benton
Brook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...
, with recent versions by Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
, and Ray Price on the 2007 album Last of the Breed
Last Of The Breed
Last of the Breed, a book by Louis L'Amour, tells the fictional story of Native American United States Air Force pilot Major Joseph Makatozi , shot down by the Soviets over the ocean between Russia and Alaska and then captured...
and by The Time Jumpers
The Time Jumpers
The Time Jumpers are a Western swing ensemble formed in 1998 in Nashville, Tennessee.The Time Jumpers began as a garage practice session; the group started playing occasional gigs in the Nashville area until they were offered a regular slot playing at the Station Inn. In 2007, the group recorded a...
for which they received a Grammy nomination in 2008.
"Good Morning Dear" has been recorded by Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Don Gibson
Don Gibson
Donald Eugene "Don" Gibson was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson penned such country standards as "Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoyed a string of country hits from 1957 into the early 1970s.-Biography:Don Gibson was...
, The Box Tops, Ray Charles, as well as Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
, Tennessee Ernie Ford
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Ernest Jennings Ford , better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres...
, and Frank Ifield
Frank Ifield
Francis Edward Ifield is an early Australian-English easy listening and country music singer. He achieved considerable success in the early 1960s, especially in the UK Singles Chart, where he had four Number 1 hits between 1962 and 1963....
.
"Sunshine" was originally released as a single by RCA in the late 1960s. Newbury's song has been recorded by Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
, Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens is an American country music, pop singer-songwriter who has become known for his novelty songs.-Early career:...
, and Kenny Rogers.
"Cortelia Clark" has been recorded by Josh White Jr.
"Why You Been Gone So Long" is one of Newbury's most covered songs. It has been recorded by Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
, Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
, Clarence White
Clarence White
Clarence White was a guitar player for Nashville West, The Byrds, Muleskinner, and the Kentucky Colonels. His parents were Acadians from New Brunswick, Canada...
, Tony Rice
Tony Rice
Tony Rice is an American acoustic guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is considered one of the most influential acoustic guitar players in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz.Rice spans the range of acoustic music, from traditional bluegrass to jazz-influenced New...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, and David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
among others.