by Stephen Cook
Tammy Wynette's 1967 debut album is still one of her best. Having secured the services of countrypolitan producer Billy Sherrill and an Epic contract in 1966, she cut her first single, &Apartment No. 9,& and first big hit, &Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad,& both of which are included here. And while some of the other material here doesn't quite match the quality of those gems, the album still contains enough solid sides, like &Walk Through This World With Me& and &Send Me No Roses,& to ensure its essential status. Add to that stellar covers of the David Houston hit &Almost Persuaded& and Loretta Lynn's &Don't Come Home a Drinking (With Loving on Your Mind),& and you have one of the classic debuts in country music.