I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool

"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" is a song written by Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan, recorded by American country music artist Barbara Mandrell. It was released in April 1981 as lead single from the album Barbara Mandrell Live. It featured a guest appearance by country artist George Jones who was not credited on the record charts. The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in July 1981 and peaked at #14 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. The song was nominated for 1981 Single of the Year by both the CMA and ACM Awards organizations.

Background and context

"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" was a song produced by Tom Collins. Mandrell recorded the song as a "live" performance; however the track was actually recorded in the studio with an audience applause track inserted over various sections of the song to fit into the context of the forthcoming live album. The song also featured an uncredited guest appearance on part of the chorus by country vocalist, George Jones.^[1] The song was released during a period of rapid growth in the popularity of country music related to a dance-focused form of the genre called neocountry that was popularized, in part, by the movie Urban Cowboy. In the song, the singer explains her relationship with country music as being authentic and part of long tradition, and not a part of some fad or, worse, something that's merely "cool."

I was country when country wasn't cool

I was country from my hat down to my boots

I still act and look the same

What you see ain't nothing new

I was country when country wasn't cool

The song was the first track released from Mandrell's 1981 "Live" album. Unlike the studio single version, the album version of the song was recorded during a live concert at the Roy Acuff Theater of Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee. Applause from the audience can be heard in the beginning and end of the song, as well as when Jones makes his guest performance and when Mandrell refers to Jones in the lyrics in the early part of the song.^[2]

Chart performance

"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" was released as Mandrell's second single of the year in mid 1981. The song became a major hit shortly after its release, reaching number one on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Songs chart on July 4 of that year. George Jones was never credited as a featured vocalist on the recording charts at the time of its release. It has since been considered to be one of Mandrell's signature recordings during her career. The single helped her 1981 live album, Barbara Mandrell Live certify gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and also helped her win the Country Music Association's "Entertainer of the Year" award in 1981.^[3]

Charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs	1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	14

Preceded by "Blessed Are the Believers" by Anne Murray	Billboard Hot Country Singles number one single July 4, 1981	Succeeded by "Fire and Smoke" by Earl Thomas Conley

Parodies

American country music parody artist Cledus T. Judd released a parody of "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" titled "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Pop" on his 2003 album A Six Pack of Judd.

References

↑ "Country Music Discographies - Barbara Mandrell". Country Discography. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
↑ "Barbara Mandrell > Live". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
↑ Coyne, Kevin John. "100 Greatest Women - #14: Barbara Mandrell". Country Universe. Retrieved 5 January 2010.

Barbara Mandrell

Studio albums	Treat Him Right The Midnight Oil This Time I Almost Made It This Is Barbara Mandrell Midnight Angel Lovers, Friends and Strangers Love's Ups and Downs Moods Just for the Record Love Is Fair ...In Black and White He Set My Life to Music Spun Gold Clean Cut Get to the Heart Moments Sure Feels Good I'll Be Your Jukebox Tonight Morning Sun No Nonsense Key's in the Mailbox It Works for Me

Christmas albums	Christmas at Our House

Live albums	Barbara Mandrell Live

Collaboration albums	A Perfect Match (with David Houston) Meant for Each Other (with Lee Greenwood)

Compilation albums	The Best of Barbara Mandrell Greatest Hits

Notable singles	"I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" "Woman to Woman" "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed" "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" "Fooled by a Feeling" "Years" "Crackers" "The Best of Strangers" "Love Is Fair" "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" "Wish You Were Here" "'Till You're Gone" "Operator, Long Distance Please" "In Times Like These" "One of a Kind Pair of Fools" "Happy Birthday Dear Heartache" "Only a Lonely Heart Knows" "There's No Love in Tennessee" "Angel in Your Arms" "Fast Lanes and Country Roads" "When You Get to the Heart" (with The Oak Ridge Boys) "No One Mends a Broken Heart Like You" "Child Support" "I Wish That I Could Fall in Love Today" "My Train of Thought"

Collaboration singles	"To Me" (with Lee Greenwood) "It Should Have Been Love by Now" (with Lee Greenwood)

Related articles	Discography MCA Records Capitol Records Louise Mandrell Irlene Mandrell

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