{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Love Is the Foundation | type = studio | artist = Loretta Lynn | cover = Loretta Lynn-Love Is the Foundation.jpg | alt = photo of Loretta Lynn standing with tree limbs | released = August 13, 1973 | recorded = December 8, 1969–May 31, 1973 | venue = | studio = Bradley's Barn, Mount Juliet, Tennessee | genre = Country | length = 27:58 | label = MCA | producer = Owen Bradley | prev_title = Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man | prev_year = 1973 | next_title = Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits Vol. II | next_year = 1974 | misc = {{Singles | name = Love Is the Foundation | type = studio | single1 = Love Is the Foundation | single1date = April 23, 1973 | single2 = Hey Loretta | single2date = October 22, 1973 }} }}
'''''Love Is the Foundation''''' is the twenty-third solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on August 13, 1973, by MCA Records.<ref>{{cite web|title=Loretta Lynn – Love Is The Foundation|url=https://www.discogs.com/Loretta-Lynn-Love-Is-The-Foundation/master/533716|publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score ={{Rating|2.5|5}} <ref name="AM">{{AllMusic|class=album|id= r575901/review}}</ref> | noprose=yes |}}
In the August 25, 1973 issue, ''Billboard'' published a review that said, "For the never-ending stream of Loretta Lynn fans, here's another fine album to add to her never-ending string of good ones. Good variety of material and lots of Loretta." The review also noted "What Sundown Does to You", "Hey Loretta", and "You're Still Lovin' Me" as the best cuts on the album.<ref>{{cite web |title=Billboard - August 25, 1973 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1973/Billboard%201973-08-25.pdf |website=American Radio History |publisher=Billboard |access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref>
''Cashbox'' also published a review in their August 25 issue which said, "This is the sort of album you put on the turntable and walk away. It plays itself. It's instant programming. "What Sundown Does to You", is a heavy mover. "Satin Sheets" is a case where Loretta's vocals reach down your throat and pull your heart, twist it, and wring it out. Whew! She does Kristofferson's "Why Me", and Shel Silverstein's "Hey Loretta", and "Five Fingers Left", which she wrote herself and which is a very strong personal statement. Loretta is a strong lady, with a strong voice, but her smile strikes deep into your heart. This LP captures all of that."<ref>{{cite web |title=Cashbox - August 25, 1973 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-08-25.pdf |website=American Radio History |publisher=Cashbox |access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref>
== Commercial performance == The album peaked at No. 1 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country LP's chart and No. 183 on the US ''Billboard'' Top LP's & Tape chart.
The album's first single, "Love Is the Foundation", was released in April 1973<ref>{{cite web |title=Billboard - May 5, 1973 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1973/Billboard%201973-05-05.pdf |website=American Radio History |publisher=Billboard |access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> and peaked at No. 1 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart. It also peaked at No. 1 on the ''RPM'' Country Singles chart in Canada. The second single, "Hey Loretta", was released in October 1973<ref>{{cite web |title=Billboard - November 3, 1973 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1973/Billboard%201973-11-03.pdf |website=American Radio History |publisher=Billboard |access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> and peaked at No. 3 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart and No. 1 on the ''RPM'' Country Singles chart in Canada.
== Recording == Recording sessions for the album took place at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, on March 5, 27 and 28, 1973. One additional session followed on May 31. "Five Fingers Left" was recorded on December 8, 1969, during a session for 1970's ''Loretta Lynn Writes 'Em and Sings 'Em''.<ref name = "lorettalynnfan">{{cite web|title=Loretta's Recording Sess|url=http://www.lorettalynnfan.net/lorettasrecordingsess.htm|website=Loretta Lynn Fan Website}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | headline = Side one | extra_column = Recording date | title1 = Love Is the Foundation | writer1 = William Cody Hall | extra1 = March 5, 1973 | length1 = 2:26 | title2 = What Sundown Does to You | writer2 = Carl Knight | extra2 = March 27, 1973 | length2 = 2:12 | title3 = I Love You, I Love You | writer3 = Don Gibson | extra3 = March 5, 1973 | length3 = 2:38 | title4 = Just to Satisfy (The Weakness in a Man) | writer4 = Carol Jones | extra4 = May 31, 1973 | length4 = 2:37 | title5 = There's More to Leaving Than Just Saying Goodbye | writer5 = {{hlist|Bob Hampton|Kenny Starr}} | extra5 = March 28, 1973 | length5 = 2:31 | title6 = Satin Sheets | writer6 = John E. Volinkaty | extra6 = May 31, 1973 | length6 = 2:29 }}
{{Track listing | headline = Side one | extra_column = Recording date | title1 = Why Me | writer1 = Kris Kristofferson | extra1 = May 31, 1973 | length1 = 2:35 | title2 = Five Fingers Left | writer2 = Loretta Lynn | extra2 = December 8, 1969 | length2 = 2:09 | title3 = I Gave Everything (That a Girl in Love Should Never Give) | writer3 = Marty Robbins | extra3 = May 31, 1973 | length3 = 2:49 | title4 = Hey Loretta | writer4 = Shel Silverstein | extra4 = March 27, 1973 | length4 = 2:48 | title5 = You're Still Lovin' Me | writer5 = {{hlist|Jay Lee Webb|John Wilson}} | extra5 = May 31, 1973 | length5 = 2:44 }}
== Personnel == Adapted from the album liner notes and Decca recording session records.<ref name="lorettalynnfan"/> *Willie Ackerman – drums *Harold Bradley – bass guitar *Owen Bradley – producer *Ray Edenton – electric guitar *Lawrence Fried – photography *Lloyd Green – steel guitar *Buddy Harman – drums *Darrell Johnson - mastering *The Jordanaires – background vocals *Jerry Kennedy – guitar *Billy Linneman – bass *Loretta Lynn – lead vocals *Grady Martin – guitar *Charlie McCoy – harmonica, vibes *Bob Moore – bass *Hargus Robbins – piano *Hal Rugg – steel *Jerry Shook – guitar *Kenny Starr – liner notes *Pete Wade – guitar
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1973) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Billboard200|183|artist=Loretta Lynn|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 22, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCountry|1|artist=Loretta Lynn|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 22, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1973) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1973/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 1973|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=July 22, 2021}}</ref> | 50 |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1974) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1974/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 1974|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=July 22, 2021}}</ref> | 26 |} {{col-end}}
'''Singles''' {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" rowspan = "2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan = "2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak position |- ! US<br>Country<br><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Loretta Lynn Chart History - Hot Country Songs | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/loretta-lynn/chart-history/csi/ |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=July 8, 2018}}</ref> ! scope="col" |CAN<br>Country<br><ref>{{cite web |last1=Canada |first1=Library and Archives |title=Results: RPM Weekly |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/list.aspx?OCRText=Loretta+lynn&ChartEn=Country+Singles& |website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca |accessdate=April 20, 2019 |date=July 17, 2013}}</ref> |- ! scope = "row" | "Love Is the Foundation" | rowspan = "2" | 1973 | 1 | 1 |- ! scope = "row" | "Hey Loretta" | 3 | 1 |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{Discogs master}} *{{MBrgID}} {{Loretta Lynn}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1973 albums Category:Loretta Lynn albums Category:Albums produced by Owen Bradley Category:MCA Records albums