Standard Lie Number One

"Standard Lie Number One"
Single by Stella Parton
from the album Country Sweet
B-side"The More the Change"
ReleasedNovember 1977 (1977-11)
GenreCountry
Length2:37
LabelElektra
SongwriterDennis Wilson
ProducerJim Malloy
Stella Parton singles chronology
"The Danger of a Stranger"
(1977)		 "Standard Lie Number One"
(1977)		 "Four Little Letters"
(1978)

"Standard Lie Number One" is a song written by Dennis Wilson that was first recorded by American singer-songwriter, Stella Parton. Released as a single by Elektra Records, it became a US-Canadian top-20 country hit in 1978. It was one of several top-20 singles Parton had in her career and was given positive reviews by music publications.

Background, recording and content

Stella Parton (the sibling of Dolly Parton) had a music career in her own right, with a series of top-40 country songs in the 1970s. Among them were three top-20 recordings, including "Standard Lie Number One". The song was written by Dennis Wilson and was produced by Jim Malloy. According to Billboard, the premise of "Standard Lie Number One" is about how two people in a romantic relationship play "word games" with one another.

Release, critical reception and chart performance

"Standard Lie Number One" was issued as a single by Elektra Records in November 1977 and was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl disc. It included the B-side, "The More the Change". Billboard compared her vocals to Dolly's but said that she "comes through with a strong singing job". Cashbox called her "a dependable country artist" and found the song's production was "tailored" to her singing. "Standard Lie Number One" debuted on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on December 5, 1977. Spending ten weeks there, it climbed to the number 14 position by January 1977, becoming Parton's second top-20 single in a row and third to make the top-40. In Canada, it made a similar position on the RPM Country Singles chart, peaking at number 20 around the same period. It was included on Parton's 1977 album for the Elektra label titled Country Sweet.

Track listing

7" vinyl single

  1. "Standard Lie Number One" – 2:37
  2. "The More the Change" – 3:37

Charts

Chart (1977–1978) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM) 20
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)14

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Billboard's Top Single Picks: Country". Billboard. November 5, 1977. p. 102.
  2. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Stella Parton Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Parton, Stella (November 1977). ""Standard Lie Number One"/"The More the Change" (7" vinyl single)". Elektra Records. US. E-45437.
  4. ↑ "Country Singles Reviews - Album Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. November 12, 1977. p. 40. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Billboard Books. p. 263. ISBN 978-0823082919.
  6. 1 2 "Search results for "Stella Parton" (type artist's name and select "Country Singles" then press search)". RPM. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  7. ↑ Adams, Greg. "Stella Parton: Country Sweet: Tracks & Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "Stella Parton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2026.