The Cry of the Heart
Connie Smith · 2021
31 min · 11 tracks · country music
A heartfelt blend of traditional country and gospel influences, echoing deep emotional truths and personal narratives.
Top tracks — play these first
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A Million and One Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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I Just Don’t Believe Me Anymore — This track encapsulates the album's themes of heartache and introspection, featuring a poignant melody that complements Smith's soulful delivery.
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Here Comes My Baby Back Again — This song stands out for its relatable narrative about longing and reconciliation, showcasing Smith's ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet powerful lyrics.
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Jesus, Take a Hold — Infused with gospel elements, this track highlights Smith's roots and provides a spiritual counterbalance to the more secular themes present throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and vocal performance, with effective pacing and emotional depth.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks maintain a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the last three tracks slow down significantly, creating a reflective conclusion.
- Smith's vocal delivery is prominent throughout, often accompanied by traditional country instrumentation like steel guitar and piano.
- Several tracks feature call-and-response structures, particularly in the gospel-influenced songs, enhancing the emotional resonance.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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 pacing for reflective moments
- heartfelt storytelling with emotional honesty
- short tracks for quick listens
- for quiet introspection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, energetic music
- seek complex, sprawling compositions
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Marks a significant return after hiatus, showcasing continued artistic vitality.
- Themes
- heartfelt longing· gospel roots· personal narratives
- Career context
- By the release of The Cry of the Heart in 2021, Connie Smith was returning to the music scene after a lengthy hiatus, having last released an album in 2016. This album marked a significant moment as it showcased her enduring vocal prowess and ability to connect with timeless themes of love and loss, reinforcing her legacy within the country genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Loretta Lynn· Patsy Cline· Tammy Wynette
Tracklist
- 1 A Million and One Start here 2:39
- 2 Look Out Heart 2:17
- 3 Spare Me No Truth 3:06
- 4 To Pieces 2:53
- 5 All the Time 2:42
- 6 I Just Don’t Believe Me Anymore 2:37
- 7 Three Sides 3:03
- 8 I’m Not Over You 2:48
- 9 Here Comes My Baby Back Again 3:39
- 10 Heart, We Did All That We Could 2:34
- 11 Jesus, Take a Hold 2:46
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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