This Is Jan Howard Country is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Jan Howard. The album was released in October 1967 on Decca Records. The album featured two singles by Howard that reached the top 40 of the Billboard country songs chart. The album was also among Howard's highest-charting studio albums, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard country albums chart.
Background and content
This Is Jan Howard Country was recorded in three separate sessions between 1966 and 1967. These sessions were recorded at Bradley's Barn, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The album was produced by Owen Bradley, Howard's collaborator through most of her Decca studio releases. The album featured among the first covers of "Gentle on My Mind". According to the album liner notes, songwriter John Hartford had played the song for Howard's friend, Bill Anderson. He encouraged Howard to record the track. Hartford "reworked the lyrics" for Howard, since it was originally written from the point of view of a man.[1]
This Is Jan Howard Country was released in October 1967 via Decca Records. The album was issued in the United States in a vinyl record format.[2] On the date listed for January 20, 1968, the album peaked at number 9 on the BillboardTop Country Albums chart. It would become Howard's highest-charting solo album to appear on the country albums list.[3]This Is Jan Howard Country also spawned two singles. The lead single was issued in March 1967, "Any Old Way You Do". The song reached a peak of 32 on the Billboard country songs chart. The second single, "Roll Over and Play Dead", was issued in July 1967. It peaked at number 26 on the country songs chart later that year.[4]