#22 of 25
· Cratewise Editorial
Charley Pride's 10th Album
Charley Pride
Year
1970
Genre
Country/AmericanaLabel
RCA
Format
Vinyl LP
“The first Black country superstar. 'Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone' was a #1 hit. Pride's baritone was as country as anyone in Nashville. The fact that was controversial says everything about the industry, not about him.”
Charley Pride was a pioneering country music artist who became the first African American to achieve mainstream success in the genre during the late 1960s and 1970s. Born in Mississippi in 1934, Pride initially pursued a career in professional baseball before focusing on music. His rich baritone voice and authentic country sound earned him numerous Grammy Awards and Country Music Association Awards, with hits like 'Just Between You and Me' and 'Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone' establishing him as a major commercial force. Pride released numerous albums throughout his career, becoming one of the most commercially successful country artists of his era and breaking significant racial barriers in a traditionally segregated genre.
Style
Charley Pride's sound embodied traditional country music with elements of folk and Western swing, characterized by his distinctive deep baritone voice and straightforward, heartfelt vocal delivery. His music emphasized classic country themes and instrumentation while maintaining broad crossover appeal.
Significance
Pride's achievement as the first African American country music superstar made him culturally significant beyond music, challenging industry segregation during the civil rights era. For vinyl collectors, his original 1960s and 1970s RCA Records releases represent an important chapter in country music history and diverse representation in the genre.
Charley Pride's 10th Album, released in 1971, represented the country music pioneer at the height of his commercial success. By this point in his career, Pride had already broken significant racial barriers in country music and established himself as a major recording artist for RCA Records. The album continued his tradition of delivering polished, emotionally resonant country performances with both original compositions and carefully selected covers. Pride worked with RCA's experienced production team, maintaining the sophisticated instrumental arrangements and string accompaniment that had become his signature sound, blending traditional country sensibilities with pop accessibility that appealed to both country and crossover audiences.
Historical Context
Released during the early 1970s, when Charley Pride was at his commercial peak, this album came out as country music was experiencing unprecedented mainstream popularity. Pride had already achieved multiple Grammy nominations and gold records, making him one of the most successful African American artists in country music history. The early 1970s were a transformative period for country music, with artists like Pride, Dolly Parton, and Waylon Jennings achieving significant crossover success. The album's release reflected the industry's growing recognition that country music's appeal transcended traditional regional and racial boundaries, though Pride's continued success still carried significant cultural importance.
Pressing Notes
This RCA Records release would have been issued on standard black vinyl in both mono and stereo formats during this period. Original 1971 pressings on RCA's orange or black labels are typical for this era. Collectors should look for the original gatefold jacket and verify label variants, as RCA experimented with different label designs throughout the early 1970s. Reissue pressings may exist on both vinyl and CD through RCA's catalog reissues, though original pressings are preferred by serious collectors. Condition of both vinyl and jacket is important, as this determines collectibility and sound quality for vintage RCA pressings from this era.
Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
Shares Pride's authentic country storytelling with a gritty, traditional honky-tonk sound that resonates with classic country collectors.
Mama Tried
Merle Haggard
Features the same era's masterful country songwriting and warm vocal delivery that made Pride's music enduring and emotionally resonant.
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Offers that same deep connection to American roots music with Pride's contemporary country authenticity and powerful storytelling.
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