Why Not Me (album)

In 1983, the Judds (mother Naomi and daughter Wynonna Judd) signed their first recording contract with RCA Records in Nashville, Tennessee. The same year, they recorded their first album, a collection of six songs that comprised a "mini-album" entitled Wynonna & Naomi. The album included the duo's first major hit, "Had a Dream (For the Heart)." However, RCA had yet to release a full-length album by the pair. With the success of their debut single, the mother-daughter team were informed by RCA they would release their first full-length album. In addition, the label was going to include "Mama He's Crazy," a single that had been spawned from their mini-album offering. A music video was also to be made in correlation with the promotion of the record. ==Content and recording==

The Judds recorded Why Not Me between May and July 1984 at the Creative Workshop, a studio located in Nashville. The duo had previously cut Wynonna & Naomi at the same location in sessions produced by Brent Maher. He would also produce their debut studio offering. Maher co-wrote the album's title track with Harlan Howard and Sonny Throckmorton. In her 1993 autobiography, Naomi Judd considered the song to have "one of the strongest melodic hooks I'd ever heard." Bandleader and guitarist, Don Potter, created guitar "licks," which Judd called in her book to be "a little slice of heaven." Also included on the album was Naomi Judd's song entitled "Mr. Pain." According to Judd, the song merged the stories of her friends' previous relationships and the conflicts that arose from them. Songwriter Kent Robbins collaborated with Judd on the track. He also wrote the song "Love Is Alive" for the album as well. Also included was a cover version of Jody Reynolds' "Endless Sleep." ==Critical reception==

Why Not Me received mostly positive reviews from critics following its release. In October 1984, Billboard took notice of the album's attention to detail and highlighted several tracks in their review: "The meteoric success story of this duo is no accident. It's predicated on exactly the kind of purity, acoustic brilliance and attention to detail that shines here on the sisters' first full album". Music journalist Robert Christgau gave the album a mostly favorable response, but disliked the production style at times, giving it a "B" rating: "After defying convention by indulging not a single soppy song on their tryout EP, they've flabbed the follow-up several times. And I bet they get even more complacent." AllMusic's Thom Jurek called the album a "bona fide classic" and praised its "soaring harmonies" as well as the lead vocals from Wynonna Judd. He also noticed a connection between neo-traditional country and classic country from the early 60s, drawing comparisons to Patsy Cline. Jurek concluded by saying, "Of all their recordings, Why Not Me is their best-known, best-selling, and deservedly so. It's perfect." ==Release and chart performance==

Prior to its release, "Mama He's Crazy" had already become a number one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It spent a total of 22 weeks on the Billboard country songs chart before also reaching the top position that December. The song also peaked at number three on the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart. On October 15, 1984, the album itself was officially released on RCA Records. In March 1985, Why Not Me peaked at number 71 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after a 26-week run. With the success of the title track, "Girls' Night Out" was issued as the album's second single in January 1985. It reached the same position on the Canadian country singles chart as well. ==Track listing==

Vinyl version Cassette version Compact disc versions ==Personnel==

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Why Not Me. The Judds • Naomi Judd – harmony vocals • Wynonna Judd – lead vocals Musical personnel • Eddie Bayers – drums • Mark Casstevens – harmonica, rhythm guitar • Sonny Garrish – dobro, steel guitar • Bobby Ogdin – piano • Don Potter – acoustic guitar, bandleader • Gene Sisk – piano • Jack Williams – bass Technical personnel • Bill Brunt – art direction • Mario Cassill – photography • Brent Maher – producer • Brian Maher – engineer • Joe Funderburk – assistant engineer • Glenn Meadows, Inc. – mastering ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==