Success (Loretta Lynn song)


"Success" is a song written by Johnny Mullins that was originally recorded by American country artist Loretta Lynn. It was released as a single in April 1962 via Decca Records.

Background and reception

"Success" was recorded at the Bradley Film and Recording Studio in September 1961. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the session was produced by renowned country music producer Owen Bradley. The song was recorded under her first session with Bradley and the recording label. Three other tracks were recorded on the same session.
The song reached number six on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides survey in 1962. The song ultimately became Lynn's first top ten hit and would start a series of further hits for Lynn under the label. "Success" was included on her debut studio album in 1963, Loretta Lynn Sings.

Track listings

;7" vinyl single

Weekly charts

Sinéad O'Connor version

Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor covered the song as "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home" in 1992. It was released as the lead single from her third album, Am I Not Your Girl?. O'Connor first heard the song on a late '50s/early '60s album by American country artist Loretta Lynn. The cover is produced by O'Connor with Phil Ramone and remains one of her biggest hits after it charted in several countries. The single peaked within the Top 20 in Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, Top 30 in Belgium and Switzerland, and Top 40 in Australia and New Zealand. In the US, the single reached number 20 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
The song was included on her compilation album, So Far... The Best Of in 1997.

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from many music critics. Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "There's a new Sinead coming to town, as she previews her upcoming set of pop standards, "Am I Not Your Girl ?" Interestingly, she delivers one of the most assured, full-voiced performances to date, digging deep into the emotion of the material with a combination of heartfelt emotion and unbridled confidence. Will stun folks at first, though they will eventually become enthralled by the sincerity of this project." Greg Sandow from Entertainment Weekly called it a transformation of a Loretta Lynn song" and wrote, "Right at the start, a tortured brass riff tears it from its country roots. And at the end O’Connor dissolves it into an all-but-deranged cry of despair, repeating ”Am I not your girl?” for a full minute and a half, 27 times in all, with the brass shrieking behind her." Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger said that the song shows that O'Connor "can belt with the best of them". Lennox Herald described it as a "dramatic ballad with big band sound hit." Liverpool Echo wrote in their review, that the song "could have been written for her". Daphne Kwong from Stanford Daily commented that "the music overwhelms O'Connor's voice until she starts singing louder midway through the song."

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. In the video O'Connor performs the song on a press conference about child abuse while cameras are flashing. O'Connor imparts lyrics with sign language.

Track listing

Charts

Weekly charts

Cover versions

"Success" has also been recorded by Elvis Costello.