Released as a single by United Artists Records in 1974, it reached the top 20 of the US and Canadian country charts in early 1975.

It would serve as the title track to Shepard's 1975 studio album Poor Sweet Baby...And Ten More Bill Anderson Songs.

With more than 20 years of commercial success behind her, Jean Shepard moved to United Artists Records in the mid 1970s.

[2] According to Anderson, he had not been focused on songwriting until Shepard found success with "Slippin' Away", which was one of the reasons behind him writing "Poor Sweet Baby" especially for her.

[6] It also became Shepard's second top 20 single on Canada's RPM Country Tracks chart, climbing to the number 17 position around the same time.