Cute 'n' Country

AMG Review of Cute 'n' Country

Richie Unterberger
All Music Guide

Connie Smith's second LP followed much the same path as her first (1965's Connie Smith): tasteful Nashville country-pop, neither too down-home nor too slick, with a few songs by fellow country star Bill Anderson. Indeed, Bill Anderson co-wrote (with Betty Anderson) the big hit on the record, "I Can't Remember," which reached the country Top Ten. Smith proved herself capable of delivering sorrowful, modified honky tonk ("Two Empty Arms," "Not 'Til You Come Back to Me"), perky stuff with a modified ockabilly-gospel lilt ("Even Tho'"), and longing allads ("More to Love Than This," "Senses"). She also reinterpreted hits by established country writers with "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)" (originally a hit for, and co-written by, Ray Price) and Justin Tubb's "Love Is No Excuse." Like Connie Smith, the album was a big hit in the country market, reaching number one in the country charts.