Loretta Lynn Earns Highest Charting Billboard 200 Album Ever with “Full Circle”
Loretta Lynn is back in the record business, and doing better than ever on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart. Loretta’s recent release Full Circle came in at #19 on the Billboard 200—her best showing ever on the chart, and only the second time a Loretta album has cracked the Top 40. The other time was her last release, 2004’s Van Lear Rose produced by Jack White that came in at #24. Full Circle sold 21,000 units, and had 20,000 pure album sales in its first week to set the personal best for Loretta on the chart, and it also came in at #4 on Billboard‘s Country Albums chart.
Loretta has been working on new music at Johnny Cash’s famous Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, TN over the past eight years, recording over 90 songs. She’s been collaborating with her daughter Patsy L. Russell and John Carter Cash as producers. Loretta signed a new deal with Sony’s Legacy imprint in late 2014 to begin releasing albums again after a long hiatus.
The release of Full Circle was timed to coincide with the airing of American Masters Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl, which premiered on PBS the same evening the album was released. Full Circle features Loretta singing new renditions of her classic hits “Whispering Sea,” “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven,” and “Fist City,” along with the traditional country tunes “Black Jack David” and “I Never Will Marry.” The album also includes collaborations with Willie Nelson and Elvis Costello, and new original tracks from Loretta.
On the Country Albums chart, Loretta was slightly edged out by Joey + Rory’s gospel album Hymns, which ended up at #1 again and continues to sell well after the passing of Joey Feek, and Chris Stapleton’s Traveller which came in at #2.
March 21, 2016 @ 8:03 am
The .American Masters’ on PBS was really good I thought. By including her children it added a layer that I haven’t seen much with Loretta. Especially her son Ernest who was hilarious and his story about his father’s comments shortly before he died was classic.
It also did a good job of reminding people about her genius when it came to songwriting which isn’t as basic as many might think.
March 21, 2016 @ 9:04 am
Disnt get a chance to catch the pbs special. If you remember her daughters were a country group that had perhaps three charting singles, the Lynn’s. Had to be over ten years ago as the venue was torn down but her daughters were touring with her. It was a stage in the round, but the stage rotated at this particular venue. Loretta had trouble with her bearings, which her daughters helped.
I remember them telling the story of how they used a different name to get signed. It wasn’t until after the deal was done that they mentioned who their mother was.
March 21, 2016 @ 11:04 am
Yep, her twin daughters recording as the The Lynns had two charting singles in the late 1990s and her son Ernest Rey had one charting single in 1979 with a Sonny Throckmorton song as well as of course her siblings Crystal Gayle, Peggy Sue and Jay Lee Webb who had various levels of success in the music industry.
Country music has really been the family business for so many from the early days up until today.
March 25, 2016 @ 5:41 pm
Crystal Gayle–Loretta’s half sister–had what could be a Hall-of-Fame career herself, if they decide to induct artists from that M-o-R Country era.
March 21, 2016 @ 10:34 pm
I saw Loretta Lynn about 15 years ago on the final day of a music festival and she performed with her daughters. I seem to remember that she was suffering through something at the time (illness or injury possibly) but she still put on a great show with her daughters helping her through. The few songs of the Lynn’s that I remember from back then were quite good.
I’m glad I had the chance to see her then as I doubt she’ll be heading out in my direction again. She’s one of the few legends of her generation that I’ve been lucky enough to see live (I also saw George Jones in his later years). I hope to see a few more (maybe Dolly Parton will make it out to western Canada on her upcoming tour!).
March 22, 2016 @ 6:07 pm
Near Philidelphea?
March 22, 2016 @ 6:36 pm
I saw her near Niagara Falls, ny in the show I was referring to. I have seen her other times at festivals.
March 21, 2016 @ 8:45 am
Once again we see that people still love , want and will buy trad country music and this album is TRAD country . Loretta’s vocals are as powerful and carry the same conviction as ever . The arrangements are totally supportive of her vocal -understated but solid throughout .
I was a young rock/R&B player when Loretta was riding the charts way back when and was not familiar with her music at the time . About 2o years ago I began “catching up” and was immediately arrested by her unique , lively and beautifully pitched vocal delivery….not to mention the substance in many of her song lyrics , as most long time fans would be aware of . Loretta is and always has been the REAL DEAL and this is palpable . As fans of REAL country music , I think we should be so grateful that people like Loretta Lynn are still delivering the goods after so many years ….not just because its unquestionably inspiring to many of us personally but because it MATTERS to the genre’s survival .THIS is the way country music resonates , relates and moves ALL of us …..not just a beat-driven few .
I grew up listening to YES , Hendrix, OREGON, Metheny ,Bacharach , Joni Mitchell , MOTOWN …..all of it . Loretta Lynn moves me as much as any of these artists ever did and continues to do so with this record . I think it comes down to honesty , no matter the artist . You can hear it , you can understand it and you can FEEL it . And honesty is ALWAYS hip and trendy no matter the demographic or this week’s studio tricks . Full Cirlce is a country album for country fans but no matter what genre you listen to , Loretta will move you .
March 21, 2016 @ 9:44 am
Thank you for taking the time to post this. It is very well-written, and touches on the sublime nature of Loretta’s songwriting and performing. It will never get any more real than Loretta. I believe she speaks to and for the women of country music in a way that is unequaled. She is the fabric of country music–the heirloom quilt we cherish and know will never be duplicated.
March 21, 2016 @ 8:54 am
HOOORAY!!!!!!!!!!
This proves that there is still a market for authentic roots and rural music, even if it isn’t hip or trendy. The market is there, but it probably doesn’t include people easily marketed to, and therein lies the catch that the power-players get stuck on. It’s easy to market Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan to people, and more importantly, it’s easy to market them in such a way as to make lots of money. People will buy lots of beer at a Blake Shelton show, they will spend lots of money on goofy souvenirs and on anything that makes them look good. Loretta, or even somebody like Willie Nelson, doesn’t drive sales of things like souvenirs (Willie’s fake braids not withstanding) so the big draws are album sales and concert tickets. It’s not that the quality of the music matters, but the purchasing malleability of the people listening to it. Luke Bryan’s music probably produces bigger sales of things like alcohol, t-shirts and apparently candles… which in turn allows more industries to partake in the spoils…
Meanwhile Loretta or Tammy didn’t produce a whole lot of business for parties not germane to the music itself.
March 21, 2016 @ 9:40 am
Just reading that Joey + Rory, Chris Stapleton, and Loretta Lynn are leading the Billboard charts makes my heart happy.
March 21, 2016 @ 9:46 am
Interesting dichotomy with the top of the radio airplay charts isn’t it? Topping the airplay chart are:
1. Carrie Underwood
2. Zac Brown Band
3. Cole Swindell
March 21, 2016 @ 10:42 am
Exactly, and this tangible proof that traditional can sell in 2016 should help other traditional products get to market. “Full Circle” sounds like it would be a long- lost LL album from the 1960s. The new songs fit right in. I’m curious to see how and when the other songs from this legacy project are released. From what I’ve read, there’s almost certainly a gospel album within the bank of songs. I’ve also seen mention of a Johnny Cash cover and even a cover of Amy Winehouse. She has also expressed interest in doing another project with Jack White, so that would be yet another thing.
March 21, 2016 @ 10:59 am
Quite a few of Loretta’s original 60s/70s albums have finally been released digitally. I’ve picked up quite a few and they are wonderful. MCA has released a lot of redundant hits compilations but up to now hasn’t made the original albums available. Loretta’s chart run was just about ending when I got interested in country music, so while I am familiar with her hits, I’ve never had much of a chance to dig deeper and listen to the album cuts. It’s like being a kid in a candy store.
March 21, 2016 @ 3:10 pm
Another trivia bit I’ll add for those who didn’t see the PBS special is that the first song she performed was “You Are My Sunshine.”
March 21, 2016 @ 9:44 am
Yay! 🙂
I haven’t been able to find the CD anywhere in my area, but hopefully I’ll be able to hit Amazon soon…
March 21, 2016 @ 10:42 am
For all you Pennsylvania fans, Lorretta’s playing in Lancaster in August.
Saw Connie Smith and Marty Stuart there yesterday. Great show!
March 21, 2016 @ 11:26 am
PBS seems to be airing a lot of country music shows lately. They had the Loretta program, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s 50th anniversary show, the Americana Music Awards, etc, etc.
I’m just glad they aren’t asking me to donate by playing Luke Bryan videos.
March 21, 2016 @ 11:40 am
Yep.
And “The Highwaymen: Friends to the End” is coming May 27.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/american-masters-to-air-the-highwaymen-friends-till-the-end-special/
March 22, 2016 @ 3:13 pm
Speaking of Highwaymen, Willie Nelson’s Gershwin album is #1 on the Billboard Jazz chart.
March 21, 2016 @ 11:49 am
Probably the demo that is most interested in these kind of programs is the exact demo that they are trying to reach (older, wealthier, more likely to donate) so it’s probably a safe bet that more of these kinds of programs will be coming in the years to come.
March 21, 2016 @ 3:20 pm
The Loretta special, and the Highwaymen special were both for American Masters. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band one was one of the PBS fundraiser specials. I know everyone’s got to eat, but I can’t stand watching those specials with the canned footage of phone banks and annoying pitch artists. It’s worse than corporate TV. Pledge “week” (which seems to go on for a month) is so annoying. I love public television, but all they do is preempt their good programming with crap trying to get people to donate.
March 21, 2016 @ 3:48 pm
Correct. I think March must have been a pledge month as they have (at least on the Seattle PBS station) been going hot and heavy on all those lame Celtic dancing programs that they have aired 500 times with some guy interrupting to tell us that they can’t show this great programming without our contributions. In reality a pretty good part of their funding comes from these HUGE charitable trusts which are almost as bad as most corporations. Well, that and ‘Downton Abbey’ memorabilia. PBS isn’t much more pure than the broadcast networks but they do produce some good stuff from time to time.
March 22, 2016 @ 6:10 pm
March, June, September and December.
March 21, 2016 @ 12:10 pm
Gena R.,Wal-Mart should have it.I know FYE music stores have it,and now,believe it or not,Cracker Barrel Old country Stores is now selling the CD.Isn’t that great? So check one of those stores.
I’m 51,and Loretta has been my favorite singer since I was 5 or 6 years old.The second I heard her beautiful voice,and saw her beautiful face,I became a fan,just like that.I have all of her recordings,including her new CD,and have pictures of her haning up on my wall.She will forever be my.no 1 favorite singer!
Not to mention,I plan to attend both her concerts in two weeks @ Country Tonite theater in Pigeon Forge TN,the good Lord willing and nothing changes.
I did see the PBS special.It was great.I might add,those of you who did not see it,it’s avaible for purchase on Barnes and nobel’s website,as well as Amazon.also saw Loretta on the tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,and the today Show on NBC.She had her band,The coal Miners,with her.
WSM has been playing the song “Everything It Takes” from the Full Circle” CD.Way to go WSM! To the stations that won’t play her songs,you won’t have me as a listener,that’s a promise! But those of you station that DO play her songs,I will listen to you.
March 21, 2016 @ 12:30 pm
FYE and Walmart were the places I checked last week (in western Iowa and northeastern Nebraska) — I’m guessing they were sold out. I’m not even sure if there’s a Cracker Barrel in the area, but I can look into that…
March 22, 2016 @ 6:14 pm
I just took it off my radionomy feed. Tunein is sending cease and disist to stations who play anything connected to Sony. Western Swing is a primary genre and I can’t program early Bob Wills.
March 21, 2016 @ 3:27 pm
This cd is excellent all songs are great!!! there is no bad song on Loretta Lynn’s “Full Circle” cd.
March 22, 2016 @ 6:56 am
I’d say chances are they were sold out then Gina.I say that because I know FYE’s website started taking orders on Loretta’s new CD & LP record right after Amazon did.So,considering that,my guess is your local FYE store no doubt sold out.
Cracker Barrel just started selling the CD yesterday.I was in our local Cracker Barrel in nearby Florence KY,and they had it.You might wanna check Cracker Barrel’s website to see where the closest one is to you.Just a suggestion.
And,those of you who have not yet purchased “Full Circle” on CD,be sure to do so.It is real pure Country music.
March 22, 2016 @ 6:58 am
I might add,the Good Lord willing and nothing changes,Loretta is set to be on the Grand ole Opry This Sat,March 26.Be sure to tune in on WSM’s website.
March 22, 2016 @ 7:02 am
Also,in addition to Amazon,Barnes and Nobel’s website also has Loretta’s ‘Full Circle” CD,and the “Still Mountain Girl” PBS special on DVD.
March 25, 2016 @ 5:48 pm
Hopefully this and other projects of this type–he also produced some June Carter Cash cd’s in her last years– will give John Carter Cash the chance to leave something of a legacy on the country music business, since his own career as a country singer-songwriter never panned out.
March 28, 2016 @ 8:08 am
He sure is giving a great legacy as a great producer,that’s a given.