I'm Not Lisa

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“I'm Not Lisa”
“I'm Not Lisa” cover
Single by Jessi Colter
from the album 'I'm Jessi Colter'
Released 1975
Format Album
Genre Outlaw country, Pop
Length 03:24
Label Capitol Records

"I'm Not Lisa" is a popular 1975 country and pop song by country music artist Jessi Colter.

[edit] History

It was first recorded by Jessi Colter in 1975. Colter, the wife of country singer Waylon Jennings, was trying to establish her own career in country music. She wanted to go into the category of outlaw country music with her husband and other artists like Willie Nelson and Sammi Smith. She had recorded numerous duets with Jennings before writing any material on her own. "I'm Not Lisa" was one of the first songs she wrote the music to. The lyrics were written by a ghostwriter. Colter liked the song and decided to record it under her label Capitol Records. The song was then featured on her debuting 1975 album I'm Jessi Colter. The song soon was released as a single. "I'm Not Lisa" climbed the country charts that year and went directly to #1. "I'm Not Lisa" also achieved huge pop success. The song reached #4 on the pop charts that year and made a Colter a household name.[citation needed] "I'm Not Lisa" became Colter's signature song.

"I'm Not Lisa" was one of the early crossover country songs by a female artist, and Colter's only crossover hit. "I'm Not Lisa" proved to be one of Colter's greatest achievements. Not only did she sing on the song, but Colter also played the keyboard in the recording. The song has also been classified as one of the greatest hits of the 1970s, reaching many '70s compilation albums.

[edit] Cover Versions

Other artists have recorded the song. Most recently Nashville Star winner Erika Jo recorded a version of the song. She even released the song as her second single from her self-titled debut album, but it failed to chart on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks list. Even Waylon Jennings recorded a version of his wife's greatest hit. Other versions of "I'm Not Lisa" have been recorded by such artists as Rosemary Clooney, Tanya Tucker, Erika Jo, Marianne Faithfull, Killdozer, and Elizabeth Cook. None of Colter's later songs gained the success that "I'm Not Lisa" did. Her follow-up, "What's Happened to Blue Eyes", was a successful country hit but only reached #57 on the pop charts.


Preceded by
"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song"
by B.J. Thomas
Billboard Hot Country Singles
number one single by Jessi Colter

May 24, 1975
Succeeded by
"Thank God I'm a Country Boy"
by John Denver