The Mayor of McLellan, Florida

The Mayor of McLellan, Florida is a studio album by American country music singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. It was released in November 1972 via RCA Victor Records. Consisting of ten tracks, the album was co-produced by Chet Atkins, Jerry Bradley, Danny Davis and Ronny Light. It was Locklin's final studio release for the RCA Victor label and contained among his final single releases.

The Mayor of McLellan, Florida
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 1972 (1972-11)
Recorded1967 – 1971
StudioRCA Victor Studio
Genre
LabelRCA Victor
Producer
Hank Locklin chronology
Bless Her Heart...I Love Her
(1970)
The Mayor of McLellan, Florida
(1972)
Hank Locklin
(1975)
Singles from The Mayor of McLellan, Florida
  1. "Jeannie"
    Released: June 1969
  2. "She's as Close as I Can Get to Loving You"
    Released: February 1971
  3. "Only a Fool"
    Released: May 1971

Background and content

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Hank Locklin had his biggest chart success in the late 1950s and early 1960s with songs like "Geisha Girl," "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" and "Happy Birthday to Me." His popularity on the radio began to wane in the late 1960s. In 1969, he had his final top 40 single, yet continued releasing studio albums on RCA's label through the early 1970s.[2] His final RCA Victor release would be The Mayor of McLellan, Florida.[3] The album was named for Locklin's hometown, which is where the record's photographs were taken. Locklin was given the nickname "The Mayor of McLellan, Florida" from disc jockey Ralph Emery. Emery gave him the nickname due to Locklin's decision to permanently live in his hometown despite having country music success in Nashville, Tennessee.[4]

The project contained a total of ten tracks.[1] It included one composition penned by Locklin himself titled "I Like a Woman." It also included a cover of "Sweet Memories," which was first a hit for Andy Williams. The Mayor of McLellan, Florida was recorded in sessions held between 1967 and 1970 at the RCA Victor Studio, located in Nashville. The album was co-produced by Chet Atkins, Jerry Bradley, Danny Davis and Ronny Light.[4]

Release and reception

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The Mayor of McLellan, Florida was released in November 1972 via RCA Victor Records. It became the twenty third studio release of Locklin's career in music.[4] The album was distributed as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on either side of the record.[5] In December 1972, Billboard announced the album's release in their "New LP/Tape Releases" section.[6] Allmusic rated the album at 2.5 stars.[1] The project included three previously-released singles. The first single issued was the track "Jeannie," which RCA Victor released in June 1969. The song did not chart. "Only a Fool" (the third single) also did not chart following its May 1971 release. The second single released was "She's as Close as I Can Get to Loving You," which was issued in February 1971.[7] Like the previous single, it did not chart. Spending four weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, it peaked at number 61.[8] The song was Locklin's final charting single in his career.[7]

Track listing

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Side one[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Forgot to Live Today"3:09
2."Love the Devil Out of Me"
2:11
3."Sweet Memories"Mickey Newbury3:04
4."Love Has a Mind of Its Own"Dallas Frazier2:27
5."Only a Fool"
  • Jerry Foster
  • Bill Price
2:06
Side two[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She's as Close as I Can Get to Loving You"2:37
2."If Loving You Means Anything"
2:30
3."Wishing It Was You"2:33
4."I Like a Woman"Hank Locklin2:09
5."Jeannie"Richard Davis2:14

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States November 1972 Vinyl RCA Victor [4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Mayor of McLellan, Florida: Hank Locklin: Songs, reviews, credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Michael. "Hank Locklin: Biography & History". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Hank Locklin: Album discography". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Locklin, Hank (November 1972). "The Mayor of McLellan, Florida (LP Liner Notes & Album Information)". RCA Victor Records.
  5. ^ a b "Hank Locklin -- The Mayor of McLellan, Florida (1972, LP) (US)". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. ^ "New LP/Tape Releases". Billboard. Vol. 84, no. 49. December 2, 1972. p. 66. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  8. ^ ""She's as Close as I Can Get to Loving You" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2021.