Stacked Deck
Stacked Deck is the debut album by American country rock group the Amazing Rhythm Aces, released in 1975 on the ABC label. The album was recorded at the Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee and was produced by group member Barry "Byrd" Burton. Most of the material was composed by the group's lead singer Russell Smith.
| Stacked Deck | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1975 | |||
| Studio | Phillips Recording, Memphis, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Country rock, Soft rock, Southern rock | |||
| Length | 40:35 | |||
| Label | ABC | |||
| Producer | Barry "Byrd" Burton | |||
| Amazing Rhythm Aces chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  link |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A−[1] |
Stacked Deck reached #11 on the US country chart and #120 on the Billboard albums chart. It includes the group's biggest hit single, "Third Rate Romance", which peaked at #11 country and #14 pop, and did even better in Canada where it topped both the country and pop chart. "Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song)" was also released as a single and made #9 on the country chart, although it stalled at #72 on the pop chart.
Stacked Deck has become a very highly regarded album, and has been given the maximum five-star rating on the Allmusic website.
Track listing
All tracks written by Russell Smith unless stated
- "Third Rate Romance" 3:17
- "The 'Ella B'" 4:33
- "Life's Railway to Heaven" (traditional, arranged by Barry Burton) 4:20
- "The Beautiful Lie" (Butch McDade) 2:54
- "Hit the Nail on the Head" 2:22
- "Who Will the Next Fool Be" (Charlie Rich) 2:48
- "Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song)" 3:17
- "Anything You Want" (Russell Smith, James H. Brown Jr.) 3:48
- "My Tears Still Flow" 3:25
- "Emma-Jean" 2:47
- "Why Can't I Be Satisfied" 3:03
- "King of the Cowboys" (Russell Smith, James H. Brown Jr.) 4:01
- “Mystery Train” (Junior Parker) 02:51
Musicians
- The Amazing Rhythm Aces
- Russell Smith — lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
- Barry "Byrd" Burton — lead guitar, backing vocals, steel guitar, Dobro, mandolin; lead vocals on "Life's Railway to Heaven"
- James Hooker — piano, backing vocals
- Billy Earheart — organ, piano
- Jeff "Stick" Davis — bass, backing vocals
- Butch McDade — drums, backing vocals, percussion
- Additional Personnel
- Jim Kershaw — lead guitar on "Emma-Jean"
Recording
- Recorded at Sam Phillips Recording Studio, Memphis, TN
- Produced and Engineered by Barry "Byrd" Burton
- Album photography, Jim McCrary
- Album design, Martin McDonald