A Rose by Any Other Name
Ronnie Milsap · 1975
30 min · 10 tracks · country music
A blend of heartfelt melodies and soulful vocals that captures the essence of 1970s country-pop.
Top tracks — play these first
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She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Crying — The poignant arrangement showcases Milsap's powerful vocal delivery and emotional vulnerability, making it one of his signature songs.
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Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends — This track highlights Milsap's ability to convey heartbreak through its lyrical storytelling and smooth melodic line.
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I Just Can’t Help Believin’ — With its catchy chorus and rich harmonies, this song exemplifies Milsap's knack for blending pop sensibilities with traditional country sounds.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong melodies and production typical of its era but lacks standout tracks that elevate it beyond its contemporaries.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a mid-tempo track that sets a consistent pace, followed by several ballads that showcase Milsap's vocal range.
- Tracks feature lush arrangements with strings and backing vocals, creating a rich sound typical of 1970s country-pop.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, providing a reflective conclusion to the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo listening experience
- heartfelt ballads for reflection
- uplifting melodies for joy
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
Maybe skip if you
- prefer long, sprawling albums
- seek high-energy dance tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Milsap's status with the hit 'Crying', following his earlier successes.
- Themes
- heartbreak storytelling· 1970s country-pop fusion
- Career context
- Released in 1975, A Rose by Any Other Name was Ronnie Milsap's fourth studio album, following his breakthrough hit 'It Was Almost Like a Song'. By this point, Milsap had established himself as a prominent figure in country music, fusing elements of pop and soul into his sound, which would come to define his career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Charlie Rich· Kenny Rogers· Al Green
Tracklist
- 1 She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye Start here 3:20
- 2 Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends 2:56
- 3 You and Me Me and You 3:10
- 4 I Just Can’t Help Believin’ 2:54
- 5 Keep On Smilin’ 3:18
- 6 A Rose by Any Other Name 2:38
- 7 Crying 3:13
- 8 Blue Skies of Montana 3:23
- 9 Why 3:00
- 10 Loving You’s a Natural Thing 2:34
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
The Gambler
Kenny Rogers
Combines storytelling with soulful melodies, echoing Milsap's heartfelt country-pop fusion.
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
James Taylor
Shares introspective lyrics and smooth melodies that blend folk, pop, and country sensibilities.
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Features soulful vocals and emotional depth that resonates with the heartache themes found in Milsap's work.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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