Special Delivery
Studio album by
Dottie West
ReleasedNovember 1979
RecordedJuly–September 1979
Studio
  • Creative Workshop
  • Jack Clement Recording Studio
Genre
Label
Producer
Dottie West chronology
Classics
(1979)		 Special Delivery
(1979)		 Wild West
(1981)
Singles from Special Delivery
  1. "You Pick Me Up and Put Me Down"
    Released: October 1979
  2. "A Lesson in Leavin'"
    Released: February 1980
  3. "Leavin's for Unbelievers"
    Released: June 1980

Special Delivery is a studio album by American country artist Dottie West. It was released by both Liberty Records and United Artists Records in November 1979. The album was released following the success West had recording duets with Kenny Rogers. For that reason, West chose a new country pop approach for the project, which would later be highlighted by music writers. It consisted of ten tracks, six of which were composed by producers Randy Goodrum and Brent Maher. Three of the tracks were singles, including West's first solo chart-topper "A Lesson in Leavin'". Special Delivery reached the top 20 of the US country chart following its release.

Background

Dottie West first found country success in the 1960s, recording self-composed songs that became top ten and top 20 country singles. The 1973 single "Country Sunshine" crossed into both the country and pop markets.[4] In 1976, West moved to United Artists Records and had a top 20 single with "When It's Just You and Me". West's career was elevated higher with several chart-topping duet singles with Kenny Rogers.[5] Despite successful duets, West's solo material was not finding the same success. This prompted her to make changes in career, beginning with a management shift in the late 1970s.[6] West then chose Brent Maher and Randy Goodrum to make changes to her musical style.[3]

Recording and content

Special Delivery was recorded at both the Creative Workshop and the Jack Clement Recording Studio. Both studios were located in Tennessee. The album was cut in sessions held between July and September 1979. Randy Goodrum and Brent Maher produced the majority of the project while Larry Butler was brought in to help with some of the production.[7] The album was considered "a departure" from West's previous studio releases because it relied on pop production.[6][3] The album was also said to evoke the sub-genres of country pop and country-soul.[1][2]

In an interview with Billboard magazine, West explained why the album's sound shifted: "Kenny [Rogers] draws very sophisticated and contemporary fans, and I had to change my style to fit with him. The album is finally reflecting these changes."[6] Special Delivery consisted of ten tracks. Six of its songs songs were co-written by Goodrum and Maher. Also included was the song "All He Did Was Tell Me Lies", which was composed by Kim Carnes.[7] This included the disc's lead single "You Pick Me Up (And Put Me Down)".[8] Also included was a cover of Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonite" and Cliff Richard's "Hey Mr. Dream Maker".[6]

Release, critical reception and legacy

Special Delivery was originally released by both the Liberty and United Artists labels in November 1979. It was distributed as both a vinyl LP and a cassette. Five tracks were included on either side of the discs. It was the twenty eighth studio album of West's recording career.[7] It was given a positive review by Cashbox magazine, who took notice of West's new pop approach. They also described the disc as a "very listenable album".[3] Billboard magazine described the album as "splashy".[8] AllMusic's Tom Roland gave Special Delivery three out of five stars and commented, "With her career revitalized by the duets with Kenny Rogers, West takes a new tack. Her 'Country Sunshine' is replaced with country-funk and a touch of melancholy."[1]

Writers have since pointed to Special Delivery as being one of the country albums that signified a pop transition within the genre. In his book, Music of the 1980s, Thomas Harrison pointed to Special Delivery as being "a significant example of how country had embraced its pop counterparts."[9] David Cantwell of Rolling Stone later explained that the album showcased "the country-soul style of Aretha Franklin’s early hits was absorbed into mainstream country vocalizing."[2]

Chart performance and singles

Special Delivery made its debut on the US Top Country Albums chart on December 22, 1979. It was West's fourth longest-running album on the country survey, spending a total of 30 weeks. On May 31, 1980, the album reached the number 13 position. It was West's highest-charting solo album since 1973's Country Sunshine.[10] Special Delivery also spawned a total of three singles. Its lead single was "You Pick Me Up (And Put Me Down)",[8] which was issued by United Artists in September 1979.[11] The single reached number 12 on the US Hot Country Songs chart and number 28 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.[12][13] It was followed by the "A Lesson in Leavin'", which was issued by United Artists in February 1980.[14] The song became the first solo single in West's career to reach the number one spot, topping the US Hot Country Songs chart in April 1980.[12] It only reached number 23 on the Canadian RPM country chart.[13] The single was also West's third to make the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 73.[15] The third and final single was "Leavin's for Unbelievers", which United Artists issued in June 1980.[16] It was also a top 20 US country single, peaking at number 13.[12]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Pick Me Up (And Put Me Down)"
2:42
2."A Lesson in Leavin'"
  • Goodrum
  • Maher
3:00
3."It's Too Late (To Love Me Now)"
3:40
4."Up So High"
  • Goodrum
  • Maher
2:45
5."Leavin's for Unbelievers"
  • Goodrum
  • Maher
3:28
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hey Mr. Dream Maker"
3:59
2."Love's So Easy for Two"
  • Goodrum
  • Maher
4:04
3."Blue As I Want To"
  • Goodrum
  • Maher
3:14
4."All He Did Was Tell Me Lies"Kim Carnes2:52
5."We've Got Tonite"Bob Seger4:28

Chart performance

Chart (1979–1980) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[17] 13

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Roland, Tom. "Special Delivery: Dottie West: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Cantwell, David (May 21, 2019). "10 Classic Country Albums Turning 40 in 2019". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sacks, Leo (April 12, 1980). "Three Distributors Ready to Sign Arista Contracts" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 8. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  4. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Dottie West Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Stambler, Irwin; Landon, Grelun (2000). Country Music: The Encyclopedia. St. Martin's Press. p. 526-527. ISBN 9780312264871.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Kirby, Kip (November 24, 1979). "Dottie West Ventures into Pop Field with Newest LP" (PDF). Billboard. p. 37-43. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 West, Dottie (November 1979). "Special Delivery (Liner Notes)". Liberty Records/United Artists Records. LT-1000 (LP); 4LT-1000 (Cassette).
  8. 1 2 3 "GREAT DECADE". Billboard. December 22, 1979. p. 62. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Harrison, Thomas (2011). Music of the 1980s. ABC-CLIO. p. 103. ISBN 978-0313366000.
  10. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1997). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Albums: 1967-1997. Record Research Inc. ISBN 0898201241.
  11. ↑ West, Dottie (September 1979). ""You Pick Me Up (And Put Me Down)"/"We've Got Tonite" (7" vinyl single)". United Artists Records. UA-X1324-Y.
  12. 1 2 3 "Dottie West chart history (Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Search results for Dottie West under "country singles"". RPM. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  14. ↑ West, Dottie (February 1980). ""A Lesson in Leavin'"/"Love's So Easy for Two" (7" vinyl single)". United Artists Records. UA-X1339-Y.
  15. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-188-8.
  16. ↑ West, Dottie (June 1980). ""Leavin's for Unbelievers"/"Blue as I Want To" (7" vinyl single)". United Artists Records. UA-X1352-Y.
  17. ↑ "Dottie West Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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