Help Me Make It Through the Night (album)
Encyclopedia
Help Me Make It Through the Night is the debut studio album released by American country
artist Sammi Smith
. The album was originally released in September 1970 on Mega Records
and was produced by Jim Malloy
. The album's name was derived from the title track
, which reached number one on the Billboard country music chart and the Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100
chart. The album comprised Smith's first recordings for the Mega label.
recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee
, United States
and included Smith's first recordings for Mega Records
, after leaving the Columbia
label in 1969. The album's style reflected the Outlaw Country
sound, which was found in other artists such as Willie Nelson
and Waylon Jennings
. The album was originally titled He's Everywhere, due to the single of the same name becoming Smith's first Top 40 hit on the Billboard country chart. When the title track became a major hit, the album was retitled with the same album number. The album consisted of eleven tracks of new material. The release included a series of cover versions, such as Patsy Cline
's "There He Goes", The First Edition
's "But You Know I Love You
", and Johnny Darrell
's "With Pen in Hand". Two songs composed by Kris Kristofferson
were also included: the Help Me Make It Through the Night
and Johnny Cash
's "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down
". The debut record also contained five new tracks ("Saunder's Ferry Lane", "He's Everywhere", "Don't Blow No Smoke on Me", "When Michael Calls", and "This Room for Rent").
The album was originally released on an LP record
, with six songs on the first side of the record and five on the opposite side. The album has never been reissued onto a compact disc
.
" was released and became Smith's biggest hit and signature song. It reached #1 on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart, #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and #3 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
chart in 1971. In addition, "Help Me Make It Through the Night" also reached #1 on the RPM
Country chart in Canada, as well as #4 on its Top Singles chart. For the song's success, Smith would later win the Country Music Association
's "Single of the Year" award and the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance
in 1972. The album was released in September 1970 on Mega Records
and peaked at #1 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart and #33 on the Billboard 200
albums list. It also went to #51 on the RPM Top Albums chart in Canada, Smith's only album to chart there.
Side two
Singles
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...
artist Sammi Smith
Sammi Smith
Sammi Smith was an American country music singer and songwriter. Born Jewel Faye Smith, she is best known for her 1971 country/pop crossover hit, "Help Me Make It Through the Night", which was written by Kris Kristofferson...
. The album was originally released in September 1970 on Mega Records
Mega Records
Mega Records was a Nashville, Tennessee-based music label that released albums by bands such as Apollo 100 and country and western singer Sammi Smith, as early as the early 1970s...
and was produced by Jim Malloy
Jim Malloy
Jim Malloy , was an American racecar driver.Born in Columbus, Nebraska, Malloy died as a result of injuries sustained in practice for the 1972 Indianapolis 500...
. The album's name was derived from the title track
Help Me Make It Through the Night
"Help Me Make It Through the Night" is a country music ballad composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson.Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from an Esquire magazine interview with Frank Sinatra...
, which reached number one on the Billboard country music chart and the Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. The album comprised Smith's first recordings for the Mega label.
Background and content
Help Me Make It Through the Night was recorded in May 1970 at the Monument RecordsMonument Records
Monument Records was an American record label, Washington, D.C. named for the Washington Monument, founded in 1958, by Fred Foster and Buddy Deane . Buddy Deane soon left the company, and in the early 60's bought KOTN in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he retired to until his death...
recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and included Smith's first recordings for Mega Records
Mega Records
Mega Records was a Nashville, Tennessee-based music label that released albums by bands such as Apollo 100 and country and western singer Sammi Smith, as early as the early 1970s...
, after leaving the Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
label in 1969. The album's style reflected the Outlaw Country
Outlaw country
Outlaw country is a subgenre of country music, most popular during the late 1960s and the 1970s , sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music...
sound, which was found in other artists such as 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...
and 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...
. The album was originally titled He's Everywhere, due to the single of the same name becoming Smith's first Top 40 hit on the Billboard country chart. When the title track became a major hit, the album was retitled with the same album number. The album consisted of eleven tracks of new material. The release included a series of cover versions, such as Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
's "There He Goes", The First Edition
The First Edition
The First Edition was a country music/rock band. Its stalwart members being Kenny Rogers , Mickey Jones and Terry Williams...
's "But You Know I Love You
But You Know I Love You
"But You Know I Love You" is a song written by Mike Settle, which was a 1969 pop hit for The First Edition, a group that included Settle and Kenny Rogers. Evie Sands recorded the song for her 1970 album Any Way That You Want Me...
", and Johnny Darrell
Johnny Darrell
Johnny Darrell was an American country music artist.Darrell was born in Hopewell, Alabama but grew up in Marietta, Georgia. After a stint in the army, he moved to Nashville and began managing a Holiday Inn near Music Row when he was discovered by Kelso Herstin, a producer working for United...
's "With Pen in Hand". Two songs composed by Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
were also included: the Help Me Make It Through the Night
Help Me Make It Through the Night
"Help Me Make It Through the Night" is a country music ballad composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson.Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from an Esquire magazine interview with Frank Sinatra...
and Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
's "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down
Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down
"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson and first recorded by Ray Stevens in 1969; it became Steven's first chart hit, reaching #55 on the country charts and #81 on the pop Top 100. Kristofferson released his own version the following year, on his debut album,...
". The debut record also contained five new tracks ("Saunder's Ferry Lane", "He's Everywhere", "Don't Blow No Smoke on Me", "When Michael Calls", and "This Room for Rent").
The album was originally released on an LP record
LP record
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, with six songs on the first side of the record and five on the opposite side. The album has never been reissued onto a compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
.
Release
The lead single released from Smith's future album was the album's sixth track entitled "He's Everywhere" in July 1970. The single became Smith's first Top 40 and Top 30 single, reaching #25 on the Billboard Country music chart that year. In November 1970, "Help Me Make It Through the NightHelp Me Make It Through the Night
"Help Me Make It Through the Night" is a country music ballad composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson.Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from an Esquire magazine interview with Frank Sinatra...
" was released and became Smith's biggest hit and signature song. It reached #1 on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart, #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and #3 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart in 1971. In addition, "Help Me Make It Through the Night" also reached #1 on the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Country chart in Canada, as well as #4 on its Top Singles chart. For the song's success, Smith would later win the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
's "Single of the Year" award and the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance was first awarded in 1965, to Dottie West. The award has had several minor name changes:*From 1965 to 1967 the award was known as Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female...
in 1972. The album was released in September 1970 on Mega Records
Mega Records
Mega Records was a Nashville, Tennessee-based music label that released albums by bands such as Apollo 100 and country and western singer Sammi Smith, as early as the early 1970s...
and peaked at #1 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart and #33 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums list. It also went to #51 on the RPM Top Albums chart in Canada, Smith's only album to chart there.
Track listing
Side one- "Saunder's Ferry Lane" – (Janette Tooley, Jean Whitehead) 3:08
- "There He Goes" – (Durwood Haddock, Eddie MillerEddie Miller (songwriter)Edward Monroe "Eddie" Miller was an American songwriter, in the country music genre.He was born in Camargo, Oklahoma and worked as a locomotive engineer before becoming a songwriter...
, W.S. Stevenson) 3:23 - "With Pen in Hand" – (Bobby GoldsboroBobby GoldsboroBobby Goldsboro is an American country and pop singer-songwriter. He had a string of Pop and Country hits during the 1960s and 1970s, including his signature #1 classic "Honey," which sold well over one million copies in the United States.-Early life:Goldsboro was born in Marianna, Florida...
) 3:50 - "Sunday Mornin' Comin' DownSunday Mornin' Comin' Down"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson and first recorded by Ray Stevens in 1969; it became Steven's first chart hit, reaching #55 on the country charts and #81 on the pop Top 100. Kristofferson released his own version the following year, on his debut album,...
" – (Kris KristoffersonKris KristoffersonKristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
) 4:37 - "Lonely Street" – (Carl Belew, Kenny Sowder, Stevenson) 2:46
- "He's Everywhere" – (Gene Dobbins, Whitehead) 3:04
Side two
- "Help Me Make It Through the NightHelp Me Make It Through the Night"Help Me Make It Through the Night" is a country music ballad composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson.Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from an Esquire magazine interview with Frank Sinatra...
" – (Kristofferson) 2:32 - "But You Know I Love YouBut You Know I Love You"But You Know I Love You" is a song written by Mike Settle, which was a 1969 pop hit for The First Edition, a group that included Settle and Kenny Rogers. Evie Sands recorded the song for her 1970 album Any Way That You Want Me...
" – (Mike SettleMike SettleMike Settle, is an American songwriter, journalist, broadcaster and singer. He is most famous for being a member of the Rock band Kenny Rogers & The First Edition between 1967 and 1970...
) 2:42 - "Don't Blow No Smoke on Me" – (Dobbins, Whitehead) 2:03
- "When Michael Calls" – (Tooley) 2:20
- "This Room for Rent" – (Tooley) 2:54
Personnel
- Byron Bach – strings
- Brenton Banks – strings
- George Binkley – strings
- David BriggsDavid BriggsDavid Briggs may refer to:*David Briggs , American record producer*David Briggs , American keyboardist and record producer*David Briggs , English organist and composer...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Jerry CarriganJerry CarriganJerry Carrigan is an American drummer and record producer born 13 September 1943 in Florence, Alabama. He first achieved widespread recognition by being part of the first wave of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and later as a session musician in Nashville, Tennessee for over 3 decades...
– drums - Marvin Chantry – strings
- Albert Coleman – strings
- John Darnall – strings
- Lillian Hunt – strings
- Roy Huskey – bassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
- Martin Katahn – strings
- Sheldon Kurland – strings
- Martha McCrory – strings
- Farrell Morris – percussion
- Weldon Myrick – steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
- Bill PursellBill PursellBill Pursell is an American composer and former session pianist. He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player....
– piano - Billy Sanford – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Jerry Shook – guitar
- Sammi Smith – lead vocals
- David Vanderkool – strings
- Gary Vanosdale – strings
- Bill Walker – vibes
- Stephanie Woolf – strings
- Chip Young - guitar
Sales chart positions
Album| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
33 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Top Albums |
51 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
CAN Country |
CAN Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
||
| 1970 | "He's Everywhere" | 25 | — | — | — | — |
| "Help Me Make It Through the Night" | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||