"A Woman's Hand" is a song written by Jan Crutchfield. It was originally recorded by American country singer Barbara Fairchild and was released as a single in 1969. Her version entered the top 70 of the US country songs chart. It was notably recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard whose version was released as a separate single in 1970. Shepard's version reached the top 30 of the US country chart. Both songs appeared on individual studio albums by each recording artist.
| "A Woman's Hand" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Barbara Fairchild | ||||
| from the album Someone Special | ||||
| B-side | "Got a Chance and I Took It" | |||
| Released | July 1969 | |||
| Recorded | June 1969 | |||
| Studio | Columbia (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | Country[1] | |||
| Length | 2:27 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jan Crutchfield | |||
| Producer(s) | Billy Sherrill | |||
| Barbara Fairchild singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Barbara Fairchild version
editIn 1972, Barbara Fairchild topped the country charts and crossed over to the pop charts with "The Teddy Bear Song". Prior to that, Fairchild had a series of charting singles following signing with Columbia Records.[2] Among them was 1969's "A Woman's Hand".[3] The Jan Crutchfield-penned tune was recorded in June 1969 at the Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The session was produced by Billy Sherrill. The song was released by Columbia Records in July 1969 and was backed on the B-side by the song "Got a Chance and I Took It".[4] Billboard magazine predicted the song would soon enter its country chart in their July 26 issue.[1] Their prediction was proven when Fairchild's version of the song reached number 66 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was Fairchild's second song to enter the Billboard country chart.[3] It was then included on Fairchild's 1970 debut studio album Someone Special.[5]
Track listings
edit- 7" vinyl single[4]
- "A Woman's Hand" – 2:27
- "Got a Chance and I Took It" – 2:15
Charts
edit| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] | 66 |
Jean Shepard version
edit| "A Woman's Hand" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Jean Shepard | ||||
| from the album A Woman's Hand | ||||
| B-side | "What Went Wrong" | |||
| Released | March 1970 | |||
| Recorded | July 1969 | |||
| Studio | Columbia Studio | |||
| Genre | Country[7] | |||
| Length | 2:21 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jan Crutchfield | |||
| Producer(s) | Larry Butler | |||
| Jean Shepard singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Jean Shepard's version of "A Woman's Hand" was the highest-peaking on the US country chart. Beginning in the 1950s and ending in the 1970s, Jean Shepard went on to have 20 years of success as a commercial country singer. This began with songs during country music's honky tonk era and scoring a comeback in the middle sixties.[8] Her singles reached progressively lower positions until her resurgence with the 1969 top 20 song "Seven Lonely Days" and followed by the top ten "Then He Touched Me". Shepard's next four releases reached top 40 country chart positions including "A Woman's Hand".[9] Shepard's version was produced by Larry Butler in July 1969 at the Columbia Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.[10] The song was described by Cash Box magazine as an "ode".[11]
"A Woman's Hand" was released as a single in March 1970 by Capitol Records. It was issued as a seven-inch vinyl single. On its B-side was the song "What Went Wrong".[10] Cash Box magazine predicted the song would be "a biggie" in terms of commercial success.[11] Billboard magazine predicted the song would place in the top 20 of their country singles chart.[7] Despite this prediction, "A Woman's Hand" peaked outside the top 20, reaching the number 23 position on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1970.[9] It was then included in Shepard's 1970 studio album of the same name.[12]
Track listings
edit- 7" vinyl single[10]
- "A Woman's Hand" – 2:21
- "What Went Wrong" – 1:57
Charts
edit| Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[13] | 23 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Spotlight Singles: Country" (PDF). Billboard. July 26, 1969. p. 64. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Loftus, Johnny. "Barbara Fairchild Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ a b Fairchild, Barbara (July 1969). ""A Woman's Hand"/"Got a Chance and I Took It" (7" vinyl single)". Columbia Records. 44925.
- ^ Fairchild, Barbara (September 1970). "Someone Special (Liner Notes)". Capitol Records. C-30123.
- ^ "Barbara Fairchild Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "Top 20 Country: Country" (PDF). Billboard. March 28, 1970. p. 106. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Cooper, Dan. "Jean Shepard Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.
- ^ a b c Shepard, Jean (March 1970). ""A Woman's Hand"/"What Went Wrong" (7" vinyl single)". Capitol Records. 2279.
- ^ a b "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Cashbox. March 28, 1970. p. 60. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Shepard, Jean (August 1970). "A Woman's Hand (Liner Notes)". Capitol Records. ST-559.
- ^ "Jean Shepard Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.