On This Date: Reba McEntire Released Her Debut Self Titled Album In 1977… & It Struggled

It comes as a shock to many people that Reba McEntire’s first album which released in 1977 struggled to reach the top of the charts for a long while. The self-entitled breakout album had critics complaining the music was over-produced which ended up distracting listeners. This type of feedback continued to loom over her musical work until 1983, when she made the leap from Mercury records to MCA—which is credited for toning down her style to reach more people and gain popularity. 46 years and 3 Grammy wins have gone by since the release of Reba’s first album, yet her unmistakable voice continues to move lifelong fans and newcomers just discovering her music. (Whiskey Riff)