A Nashville native, Connie Eaton (1950-1999) came from a musical family and was the daughter of Robert Eaton, a Grand Ole Opry regular who recorded for Decca Records in the 'Fifties. She was also the daughter-in-law of record producer Slim Williamson, owner of the independently-owned Chart label, which signed her while she was still in her teens, and pushed hard to make her the next Lynn Anderson. Easton was plugged heavily in the late 'Sixties and early 'Seventies, even pairing up with another young artist, Dave Peel. A couple of singles grazed the Back Forty, but ultimately chart success proved elusive. Eaton left Chart after her third album; she cut a few indie singles and gave the major label route another try during the height of the countrypolitan era. According to the Wikipedia page for her her daughter, musician Cortney Tidwell, Connie Eaton struggled with manic depression for much of her career, and retired from the music business in the late 1970s. Like many artists of the era, she also released numerous singles with tracks that did not appear on her albums. Here's a quick look at her work...
Connie Eaton "I've Got A Life To Live" (Chart Records, 1969) (LP)
(Produced by Cliff Williamson)
Connie Eaton & Dave Peel "Hit The Road Jack" (Chart Records, 1970) (LP)
(Produced by Cliff Williamson)
A set of duets which yielded a couple of modest hits, both of them R&B cover tunes: Marvin Gaye's "It Takes Two" and the Ray Charles classic, "Hit The Road Jack," which went to #44 on the charts. Pretty obscure stuff, but a nice chance to hear one of the lesser known female country singers of the countrypolitan era. Also, a couple of the non-single album cuts are interesting, particularly the novelty number, "Our Divorce Was A Failure."
Connie Eaton "Something Special" (Chart Records, 1971) (LP)
(Produced by Cliff Williamson)
Connie Eaton "Connie Eaton" (ABC Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Ron Chaney)
