In this style, West's sound was backed by pop-tinged arrangements that could appeal to a wide array of listeners.

Country Girl included covers of Bob Wills's "Faded Love" and Willie Nelson's "Little Things".

West would later be recruited to write and sing jingles for Coca-Cola commercials after an associate of McCann-Erickson Advertising heard the title track.

"Shelly, you look like your Daddy, with your blue eyes, blond hair and even the same smile, but today you reminded me of me, for I saw you as a country girl , like I was -- and always will be," West wrote in the liner notes.

Released in March 1968, it became a major hit after reaching number 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.