Especially for You (Don Williams album)

Especially for You is the eleventh studio album by American country music artist Don Williams. It was released in 1981 (see 1981 in country music). Three singles were released from the album which all reached the top ten. These were "Miracles" (#4), "If I Needed You" (with Emmylou Harris) (#3) and "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" (#1). The album peaked at #5 in the U.S. and reached #109 on the Billboard 200. This album, paired with his previous album, I Believe in You, were re-released on one CD in 1989.

Content
Many songs on this album are covers of earlier songs or would later be covered by other artists. "Fair-weather Friends" was released by its co-writer, Johnny Cash in 1982 on his album, The Adventures of Johnny Cash. "Years from Now" was previously recorded by Bobbi Humphrey in 1977 and would later be made famous by Dr. Hook. "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" has been covered by Anne Murray and by Lee Ann Womack on her 2000 album, I Hope You Dance. The duet with Emmylou Harris, "If I Needed You", was first recorded by Townes Van Zandt on his 1972 album, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt.

Production

 * All tracks produced by Don Williams and Garth Fundis except for "If I Needed You", which was co-produced with Brian Ahern.
 * Recorded at Sound Emporium Studios by Garth Fundis and Gary Laney
 * Remixed by Garth Fundis and Don Williams
 * Mastered by Glenn Meadows at Masterfonics, Nashville

Personnel
from liner notes
 * Don Williams - lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
 * Joe Allen - electric and upright bass
 * Charles Cochran - piano, organ, Prophet Synthesizer, string arrangements
 * Roger Cook - ukulele and harmony vocals on "Miracles"
 * Garth Fundis - harmony and backing vocals
 * Lloyd Green - steel guitar
 * David Kirby - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
 * Shelley Kurland - violin solo on "Now and Then"
 * Pat McLaughlin - mandolin
 * Kenny Malone - conga, bongos, tambourine, shakers, drums
 * Billy Sanford - acoustic guitar
 * Biff Watson - synthesizer, gut-string guitar
 * The Sheldon Kurland Strings - strings