Connie Smith is thirty-fourth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released on October 6, 1998 via Warner Bros. Records and contained ten tracks. Nine of the songs were penned by Smith herself, along with artist and performer, Marty Stuart. It was Stuart who also produced the album. The eponymous collection was Smith's first mainstream studio album of new material in 20 years. Smith had returned to recording after raising her children while in semi-retirement. The album received a positive response from critics. No singles were released from the album and instead received promotion elsewhere. Background Connie Smith had not recorded a studio album of new material since 1978's New Horizons. She had went into semi-retirement following the ending of Monument contract to raise her three daughters. "I couldn't quit my kids; I couldn't quit my faith, so the only thing I could quit was my country music career," she told biographer Barry Mazor. When Smith's last child left home, she was ready to return to her career completely, which included making a new album. Smith met with Warner/Reprise president, Jim Ed Norman to discuss recording for them. She did several sessions but none of the material satisfied her. It was then suggested that she work with artist and producer, Marty Stuart. Together, the pair would write songs and record the album, ultimately turning into a romantic relationship between the pair. They later married in 1997. Recording and content Smith's eponymous album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were held at the Hounds Ear studio and the Sound Emporium Studio — both located in Nashville, Tennessee. Stuart served as the album's producer, with assistance from Justin Niebank. Allmusic album reviewer, Thom Jurek called the album's sound to be "tough traditional honky tonk music with an edge that makes it very attractive as a rock & roll record." A total of ten tracks comprised the collection. Nine out of the ten tracks on the album were co-written by Smith and Stuart. One track, "You Can't Back a Teardrop", was written by Tom Shapiro and Chris Waters. The opening track, "How Long", was composed by Stuart, Smith and Harlan Howard. According to Smith, "How Long" was the first song she wrote for the album. Jurek called the opening of "You Can't Back a Teardrop" to resemble that of Ray Price's "Crazy Arms," however he went on to