Tell Me a Lie

"Tell Me a Lie" is a song written by Mickey Buckins and Barbara Wyrick, and most notably recorded by American country music artist Janie Fricke. Originally included on Fricke's 1982 album It Ain't Easy, it was released in September 1983 as the first single from her album Love Lies.

In 1983, Janie Fricke picked up the song "Tell Me a Lie" as to be released as her next single in 1983. During this time, Fricke racked up a good amount of hits, like "It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy" and "I Need Someone to Hold Me When I Cry". The song had been originally recorded and released during the 1970s by country recording artist Lynn Anderson. The song had been released on Anderson's You're My Man album, which featured her number 1 hit single "You're My Man". However, because of the big success of "You're My Man", "Tell Me a Lie" was never released as a single by Anderson, probably because she had other songs that she'd wanted to release as singles. "Tell Me a Lie" would however become a Top 20 pop hit and a minor country hit for female singer Sami Jo in 1974.

In 1981, Bettye LaVette recorded an R&B version of the song on Motown. It was released as the title track of her album the following year.

Shortly thereafter, Fricke's record producer at the time Billy Sherrill, had suggested that Fricke would record the song. Listening to Sherrill, Fricke recorded the song in 1983. By this time though, Fricke had produced a number 1 hit in 1983 called "It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy". Fricke soon released "Tell Me a Lie" as a single on the country charts that year.

By 1983, "Tell Me a Lie" was Janie Fricke's fourth number one hit on the Country charts. The song and its album that it was featured on titled It Ain't Easy became very successful and became one of Fricke's signature songs. Since the song's release, it has been included in numerous multi-artist compilation albums. Despite the song's pop production, as well as its success on the country charts, it did not reach the pop singles chart. In 2004, Fricke released a bluegrass album, entitled The Bluegrass Sessions, which featured remakes of Fricke's biggest hits. The album featured "Tell Me a Lie".