Crossword Puzzle (Barbara Mandrell song)

"Crossword Puzzle" is a song written by Steve Dean and Frank J. Myers, and recorded by American country music artist Barbara Mandrell. It was released in September 1984 as the third single from the album Clean Cut. It reached the top twenty of the American country songs chart.

"Crossword Puzzle"
Single by Barbara Mandrell
from the album Clean Cut
B-side	"If It's Not One Thing It's Another"
Released	September 10, 1984 (1984-09-10)
Recorded	January 1984 (1984-01)
Genre	Country-pop[1] Countrypolitan[2]
Length	3:32
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Steve Dean Frank J. Myers
Producer(s)	Tom Collins
Barbara Mandrell singles chronology
"To Me" (1984) "Crossword Puzzle" (1984) "It Should Have Been Love by Now" (1985)

Background and recording

In the 1980s, Barbara Mandrell had a series of number one and top ten country singles. With a collaboration from producer Tom Collins, Mandrell had her biggest success as a country music artist during this period.^[3][2] One of the singles she cut during this period was 1984's "Crossword Puzzle". It was written by Steve Dean and Frank J. Myers. Collins produced the track's recording session in January 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee.^[4]

Release and chart performance

"Crossword Puzzle" was released as a single on MCA Records in September 1984. It was backed on the B-side by the song "If It's Not One Thing It's Another". The track was issued by the label as a seven inch vinyl single.^[4] The single spent 20 weeks on America's Billboard country songs chart, peaking at number 11 by December 1984.^[5] In Canada, the single climbed to into the top ten of the RPM country chart.^[6] The song was spawned from Mandrell's 1984 studio album titled Clean Cut.^[7]

Track listing

7" vinyl single^[4]

• "Crossword Puzzle" – 3:32
• "If It's Not One Thing It's Another" – 3:46

Charts

Chart performance for "Crossword Puzzle"

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Canada Country Songs (RPM)[6]	10
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8]	11

References

1. "Clean Cut: Barbara Mandrell: Song information". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
2. Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. London: Penguin Books. p. 438. ISBN 1-85828-534-8.
3. Ankeny, Jason. "Barbara Mandrell Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
4. Mandrell, Barbara (September 1984). ""Crossword Puzzle"/"If It's Not One Thing It's Another" (7" vinyl single sleeve insert)". MCA Records. MCA-52465.
5. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
6. "Search results for "Barbara Mandrell" under Country Songs". RPM. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
7. Mandrell, Barbara (1984). "Clean Cut (LP Album Information)". MCA Records. MCA-5474.
8. "Barbara Mandrell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2022.