| "Once a Day" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byConnie Smith | ||||
| from the albumConnie Smith | ||||
| B-side | "The Threshold" | |||
| Released | August 1, 1964 | |||
| Recorded | July 16, 1964 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studio B,Nashville | |||
| Genre | Country,Nashville sound | |||
| Length | 2:17 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bill Anderson | |||
| Producer(s) | Bob Ferguson | |||
| Connie Smith singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Once a Day" is a song written byBill Anderson and recorded as the debut single by Americancountry artistConnie Smith. It was produced byBob Ferguson for herself-titled debut album. The song was released in August 1964, topping theBillboard country music chart for eight weeks between late 1964 and early 1965.[1] It was the first debut single by a female artist to reach number one on theBillboard Hot Country Songs. This song peaked at number one for the week of November 28, 1964, and it stayed at number one for eight consecutive weeks, a record for a female solo artist for nearly 50 years, until it was surpassed byTaylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" in December 2012.
In 2020, "Once a Day" was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by theLibrary of Congress and selected for preservation in theNational Recording Registry.[2]
"Once a Day" was written by American country artist,Bill Anderson, especially for Connie Smith.[3] Originally recorded by Smith as a demo, the song was officially recorded at her first session withRCA Victor Records on July 16, 1964 atStudio B inNashville, Tennessee. Produced byBob Ferguson, the session was accompanied by Nashville's "A-Team" of musicians, which included members of Anderson's touring band, The Po' Boys.[4] The song itself describes a woman who has not gotten over her previous lover. Although the woman explains that she has limited her grieving to "once a day," it is later found out that she is grieving, "once a day, every day, all day long."
While also singing lead vocals on "Once a Day," Smith was also featured playing the song'sguitar accompaniment.[5] The song was re-recorded by Smith inFrench and was re-titled, "Pas Souvent." That year the song was released as a single toFrance, and was released seven years later on Smith's compilation,Love Is the Look You're Looking for in 1973.[6] It was re-recorded for a third time for her 1976 studio album,The Song We Fell in Love To onColumbia Records.
"Once a Day" was released as Connie Smith's debut single underRCA Victor Records. It was rush-released as a single August 1, 1964, and moved quickly up the country music chart.[4] The song became Smith's commercial breakthrough recording, reaching No. 1 on theBillboard MagazineHot Country Songs chart the week of November 28, and remaining at the top spot for eight weeks until January 16, 1965. This longevity record stood unmatched until December 2012, when "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" byTaylor Swift overtook the achievement with nine weeks at No. 1. Despite this success, Smith never topped the Billboard country charts again, and this song became her solo number-one song. She did, however, top the country charts twice more in Canada, with her cover ofGordon Lightfoot'sRibbon of Darkness (1969) andthe Everly Brothers'('Til) I Kissed You (1976).
Smith previously held the record of being the only country female to reach number one with a debut single.Trisha Yearwood equalled Smith's record in 1991 with, "She's in Love with the Boy."[7][8] After it reached No. 1, "Once a Day" became one of the year's biggest songs and was nominated forBest Country Song from theGrammy Awards.[9]
"Once a Day" made Smith a major star incountry music, nominating her for a series of Grammy Awards, includingBest Female Country Vocal Performance andBest New Country Artist.[9] It was released on Smith'sself-titled debut album in March 1965, which also reached number one.[4] The single helped gain Smith a series of major hits under RCA Victor in the 1960s. Her follow-up single, "Then and Only Then" (released in 1965) reached No. 4 on theBillboard Country Chart, and a series of unbated top ten hits continued until mid-1968, including "If I Talk to Him", "Ain't Had No Lovin'", and "The Hurtin's All Over".[3] Smith had nineteen more top ten singles during her career.
| Chart (1964-1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S.BillboardHot Country Songs | 1 |
| U.S.BillboardBubbling Under Hot 100 | 1 |
Since the song's release, "Once a Day" has been recorded by over 50 different artists. Such artists as:
