Clean Cut

Background and content

Clean Cut was recorded in January 1984 at the Woodland Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Like Mandrell's previous release, the album contained ten tracks. Most of the song's themes were built around the traditional working class country music perspective but had a country pop arrangement. Songs such as "Only a Lonely Heart Knows", "Happy Birthday Dear Heartache", and "I Can Depend on You" had a significant pop-sounding arrangement. Clean Cut was originally released by MCA Records on a LP album with five songs appearing on each side of the record. The album has not been reissued on a compact disc.

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Release

Unlike her previous releases, Clean Cut spawned three singles in 1984. "Happy Birthday Dear Heartache" was the first single released from the album in 1984, released in January. The song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Magazine Country Singles Chart and #18 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. The second single, "Only a Lonely Heart Knows" was issued in May 1984 and reached #2 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart and became her final number one hit on the Canadian Country chart. "Crossword Puzzle" was the third and final single released from the album, reaching #11 on the Billboard Country chart, becoming her first single since 1981 to miss the Top 10 on the chart. Clean Cut was also released in 1984 and peaked at #8 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart and peaked outside the Billboard 200 albums chart, reaching #204.

Track listing

1. "Happy Birthday Dear Heartache" – 2:34
2. "If It's Not One Thing, It's Another" – 3:48
3. "I Can Depend on You" – 3:54
4. "I Wonder What the Rich Folk Are Doin' Tonight" – 2:49
5. "Crossword Puzzle" – 3:37

1. "Only a Lonely Heart Knows" – 3:48
2. "Just Like Old Times" – 2:58
3. "Look What Love Has Done" – 3:21
4. "Take Care of You" – 3:00
5. "Sincerely, I'm Yours" – 2:48

Personnel

Sales chart positions