Harper Valley P.T.A – JEANNIE C. RILEY***

Harper Valley PTA/Widow Jones/No Brass Band/Mr Harper/Run Jeannie Run/Shed Me No Tears/The Cotton Patch/Sippin’ Shirley Thompson/The Little Brown Square/The Ballad Of Louise/Satan Place

Solitary US album chart success for country singer Jeanie C. Riley came with Harper Valley PTA. Includes several songs targeting the hypocritical characters denounced in her US chart topping single. (US:12)

"It comes across nearly as a concept album that mirrors life in a small town in all its faults and tribulations, though not all songs make direct reference to Harper Valley. At the centre is the underrated voice of Jeannie C. Riley, which has the right combination of strength, sass and vulnerability to make the songs come alive. The listener is treated to songs detailing the characters mentioned in the hit title song, such as Mr. Harper, Widow Jones and Shirley Thompson. Many of the songs seem almost a copy of Harper Valley PTA, but they usually work because each has its own distinct story to tell, and the sincerity of Riley's voice reinforces the tales well."

"The title song was a huge pop crossover hit that reached #1 in 1968. It remains to this day one of the best 'tell-off' songs ever. I just love the way Jeannie spits out the line 'You're all Harper Valley hypocrites'. She basically recorded the song against her will, and the anger she must have felt at the label really came through and helped sell the song. It's the country-flavoured venom that makes it so memorable."

"No one could have produced this album better than Jeannie C. Riley. Real truth in her songs. Relates to small town issues in the public school and the troubled school board. She tells it like it was (and in some places, still is today)."

"The album's highlight is of course the single, but what's interesting is there are four other songs on here where characters from the title track show up - it's almost a concept albums of sorts."

"Surprisingly good debut LP from Jeannie C. Though centred around the well-known novelty hit single, Harper Valley PTA, most of the remainder of the tracks range from good to excellent. The four Tom T. Hall compositions especially stand out."

"Harper Valley PTA is a concept album about small towns and their hypocrisies. Sort of a country Peyton Place."