Vinyl Record Memories Newsletter

Vinyl Record Memories isn't just another classic vinyl record website. It's classic vinyl straight from the heart, where original oldies, classic country, soul, and rock n' roll crash together in the kind of beautiful wreckage that brings back memories of a person, a time, or a place, and makes you feel alive again, growing up in this very special time in history.

Issue #159, September, 2026.

In This Issue:

• New Video Format Effective This Month.

• Great Cover Song - Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye. 

• Dolly Parton Original Framed Album Cover Art.
  

Let's Get Started:

We are currently in the process of adding a new video host that is a top rated site for online videos. We will begin this month with a few of those updated videos for your viewing pleasure.  

"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye," Sammi Smith Cover Song.

Of all the covers of this well written song by the men of country music, I believe Sammi Smith's version will be the one that stays with you longer. The original version by by Don Cherry was released in 1962. "The Casinos" cover, released in 1967, reached #6 on the charts but the following year Eddie Arnold placed his Country version at the top of the charts.

In 1996 another Country version by Neal McCoy reached #4 on the U.S. Billboard country charts. You can decide which of those two Top remakes you like the best, but I'm going with Sammi Smith's release on her 1978 album. 

Sammi Smith started her career by selling two million copies of her first single in 1971, a song written by Kris Kristofferson titled, "Help Me Make It Through The Night." It would be her only career #1 song. The last part of a song review I read by David Cantwell says it best about Sammi Smith.  

"On all of her best recordings, Smith's voice invites the listener into an emotional world so revealing and familiar that it often seems as if she's right there beside you, whispering into your ear."

Framed Album Cover Art - Dolly Parton 1978 Original LP.

This Dolly Parton album has been in my collection since new, approaching 50 years. Dolly Parton's "Heartbreaker" LP was her twentieth solo studio album, released on July 17, 1978, by RCA Victor. F​ollowing the success of her 1977 album Here You Come Again, Dolly again teamed up with producer Gary Klein for her follow-up album. Heartbreaker furthers her transition into pop music and features disco influences as well. ​The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
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The album cover, a gatefold design depicting Dolly in a series of surreal, dream-like images, was designed by graphic artist Ed Caraeff, who had also designed the cover art for Here You Come Again, our featured album for October.