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Kenny Rogers (album)

Kenny Rogers is the second studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers from United Artists Records, released in 1977. The album marked his first major solo success following the minor success of Love Lifted Me in 1976.

Kenny Rogers

January 1977

35:49

The album produced two singles. The first single, 1976's "Laura (What He's Got That I Ain't Got?)", peaked at #19. This song was originally a #1 country hit for Leon Ashley in 1967. In 1977, Kenny gained stardom with the single "Lucille", which climbed to the top of the country charts (both in the U.S. and Canada) and placing him squarely on the U.S. Hot 100 in the #5 position. It also blew open his solo career in the UK, reaching #1 there. Another track from the album is "I Wasn't Man Enough" which makes appearances on some of Rogers' greatest hits compilations in years to come.


This was the first of twelve No. 1 albums for Rogers on the Country chart. It ranked as high as #30 overall and was certified Platinum in the U.S. (also reaching Gold in Canada).

Kenny Rogers – lead vocals

Bobby Wood, Charles "Chuck" Cochran, George Richey, , Larry Butler – keyboards

Hargus "Pig" Robbins

Moog synthesizer

Shane Keister

Billy Sanford, Dale Sellers, David Kirby, , Jerry Shook, Jimmy Capps, Johnny Christopher, Pete Wade, Ray Edenton, Reggie Young, Steve Gibson – guitars

Fred Carter Jr.

– steel guitar

Pete Drake

– bass guitar

Joe Osborn

– six-string bass guitar

Tommy Allsup

– upright bass

Bob Moore

Jerry Carrigan, Kenny Malone – drums, percussion

Buddy Harman

Tommy Williams – violin

Brenton Banks, Byron Bach, Carl Gorodetzky, Gary Vanosdale, George Binkley, Lennie Haight, Marvin Chantry, Pam Sixfin, Roy Christensen, , Stephanie Woolf, Steven Smith – strings

Sheldon Kurland

– string arrangements

Bill Justis

Bergen White, , Don Gant, Johnny MacRae, The Jordanaires, Larry Keith, Steve Pippin – backing vocals

Buzz Cason

Producer – Larry Butler

Engineers – Harold Lee and

Billy Sherrill

Recorded at American Studios and (Nashville, TN).

Jack Clement Recording Studios

Mastered by Bob Sowell at Master Control (Nashville, TN).

Art Direction – Ria Lewerke

Photography – David Brandenberg

Typography – Michael Manoogian