Today, Connie Smith releases her 54th record – The Cry of the Heart – on Fat Possum Records, a record that showcases the enduring power of Connie Smith’s vocal that is timeless in its appeal. Listen to The Cry of the Heart here.
In the words of Dolly Parton, ‘There’s really only three real female singers: Streisand, Ronstadt, and Connie Smith. The rest of us are only pretending.’ Nowhere is this more evident than in her latest record released today through Fat Possum Records – The Cry Of The Heart, a stunningly tender project that feels both immensely nostalgic and timeless. It demonstrates the enduring power of Connie Smith as an artist, continuing her legendary career. On this, Smith teamed up with musical titans for the release, including legendary Nashville Cat, pianist Hargus “Pig” Robbins, who has been a regular collaborator with Smith since the beginning. Stuart says the bond runs deep between Connie and Robbins – “her secret weapon” – both inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012. “I sing better when Pig’s playing,” Smith confesses. “I love the depth and timbre of his playing. The way he plays just lifts me up and I feel more when Pig’s playing.”
For Connie Smith, singing is all about feeling. “It’s just the way I get my heart out,” she says. “I try and do it from my heart because if you don’t, it don’t mean anything.” This emotion and feeling comes through from the off, starting with the heart-wrenchingly raw and emotional track ‘A Million and One’ that demonstrates the power of Smith’s vocal. ‘Spare Me No Truth’ continues the raw and real emotion on the record that brings back the true heart of country music as only a truly sensational vocalist and songwriter can, as Smith sings ‘The Reasons Don’t Matter Now / Only one thing that I know for sure / You’re leaving the heart that you’re breaking / Cause you don’t love me, no you don’t love me anymore.’ It’s a raw and emotional track that allows Smith to cram emotion into every breath on the track. It is not just heartbreak but also the joy of love in which Smith is able to infuse a richly tender emotional dynamic, so on ‘All The Time’ she sings of the enduring power of love and on the swelling beats of ‘Here Comes My Baby.’
Connie Smith’s legacy is real and dynamic, traversing the breadth of the country genre. So on ‘I’m Not Over You’ and ‘Look Out Heart’ she brings back the vintage honky tonk feel to the record as Smith sings about the enduring power of the heart to heal and to continue to want to find love even after heartbreak. ‘I know you’ve had your troubles and your heartaches.’ It’s a hopeful and joyful track that shakes off the pain of the past. So ‘To Pieces’ also brings back a driving, boot-stomping beat that does not stop to draw breath, driving through to the final note. It’s a track that is imbued with the rich heritage of country music with an incredibly lush instrumentation as the backdrop.
More than anything, The Cry of the Heart shows the rich heritage both of Connie Smith’s own music and her enduring legacy but also of the rich tapestry of the Nashville scene, complete with immensely talented musicians. Smith has a unique ability to breathe emotion into every line in her music, creating tender and delicate songs that imbibe the true essence of ‘three chords and the truth.’ The record is a sensation that shows the lasting power of Smith’s career.
