With All My Heart and Soul (album)

With All My Heart and Soul was produced by Chet Atkins in two separate July 1966 sessions at the RCA Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Atkins had produced West on her previous three studio releases since 1965.^[2] Atkins recognized that West's singing and songwriting style fit into the Nashville Sound sub-genre of country music. Using this sub-genre, Atkins softened West's sound on the record to create a more pop-oriented style that could broaden her appeal. He had previously incorporated strings onto previous albums such as Here Comes My Baby and Dottie West Sings. However, such instrumentation was not included on this record.^[3]

The project consisted of 12 tracks.^[1] Three tracks on the record were composed by West or co-written with her husband, Bill. West's husband is featured playing steel guitar on the project as well. Also included was songs written by other Nashville songwriters, such as Dallas Frazier, Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton. These writers had written tracks that were cover versions of songs previously recorded by other artists. Among these songs was David Houston's "Almost Persuaded", Bill Anderson's "The Tip of My Fingers", Jean Shepard's "Someone's Gotta Cry" and Jeannie Seely's "Don't Touch Me". Seely had also written the liner notes for the project.^[2]

With All My Heart and Soul was originally released in January 1967 on RCA Victor Records. Upon its release, it became West's fourth studio album issued. It was first issued as a vinyl LP, containing six songs on both sides of the record.^[2] It was later released to digital retailers in the 2010s.^[4] The album spent 17 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart before peaking at number eight in March 1967. It became West's second top ten album on that chart.^[5] The album spawned one single, which was released in February 1967.^[6] The song, "Paper Mansions", became a top ten hit in May 1967, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.^[7] "Paper Mansions" became West's third top ten hit as a recording artist and one of several she would have during the 1960s.^[6] Although it did not receive any professional reviews, With All My Heart and Soul did receive a positive reception from its liner notes writer, Jeannie Seely. "Having the ability to understand people, Dottie interprets a song the way the writer intended and keeps listeners waiting for every word. For this album, she has chosen some of the best ballads of our time," Seely wrote.^[2]

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of With All My Heart and Soul.^[2]

Musical personnel

• Harold Bradley – guitar
• Floyd Cramer – piano
• Ray Edenton – guitar
• Buddy Harman – drums
• Roy Huskey – bass
• The Jordanaires – background vocals
• Grady Martin – guitar
• Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
• Bill West – steel guitar
• Dottie West – lead vocals

Technical personnel

• Chet Atkins – producer
• Jim Malloy – engineering