Long Hard Climb is the fourth studio album by Australian-Americanpop singer Helen Reddy, released on July 23, 1973, by Capitol Records[3] and, aside from its primary focus on Top 40-friendly material, had her trying out New Orleans jazz ("Lovin' You") and the English-language version of a recent Charles Aznavourstandard ("The Old Fashioned Way"). It debuted on Billboard's Top LP's & Tapes chart in the issue dated August 11, 1973, and reached number eight during its 43 weeks there,[4] and in Canada's RPM magazine it peaked at number 14.[5] On September 19 of that year, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded the album with Gold certification for sales of 500,000 copies in the United States.[6] On July 22, 2003, it was released for the first time on compact disc as one of two albums on one CD, the other album being her 1972 release I Am Woman.[7]
Singles
"Delta Dawn" was released as the first single from the album on June 11, 1973,[8] debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 later that month, in the issue of the magazine dated June 23, and enjoyed 20 weeks there, one of which was at number one.[9] That same issue also marked its first appearance on the magazine's Easy Listening chart, where it lasted for 16 weeks, with two of those being in the top spot.[10] On August 30 of that year the song earned Gold certification from the RIAA for sales of the one million copies that was the requirement for singles at that time.[6] It also had three weeks at number one on RPM's singles chart in Canada.[11] The single was certified Gold in Australia in March 1974.[12]
"Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" was released as a single on October 29 of that year[8] and had 16 weeks on the pop chart that began in the November 3 issue and eventually included two weeks at number three.[9] It also spent 16 weeks on the Easy Listening chart that started in the November 10 issue and included four weeks at number one.[10] On January 8, 1974, it received Gold certification,[6] and it peaked at number five in Canada in the issue of RPM dated January 12.[13]
In 2009 EMI Music Special Markets released Rarities from the Capitol Vaults, a 12-track CD of mostly what were previously unreleased Reddy recordings, which included an alternate version of "Don't Mess with a Woman".[14]
Personnel
Helen Reddy – vocals
Tom Catalano – producer (except as noted)
Al Capps – arranger and conductor ("Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)", "Delta Dawn", "Long Hard Climb")
Lee Holdridge – arranger and conductor ("The West Wind Circus", "If We Could Still Be Friends", "The Old Fashioned Way")
Armin Steiner – engineer
Jay Senter – producer ("Don't Mess with a Woman")
Jim Horn – horn arrangements ("Don't Mess with a Woman")