“Heaven’s Just a Sin Away”, a song written by Jerry Gillespie, was recorded by the duo The Kendalls for the Ovation label, was recorded in May 1977, at LSI Recording Studio, Nashville, TN, at the recording session The Kendalls, They were accompanied by: Fred Newell (guitar), Regie Young (guitar), Fred Carter Jr. (guitar), Sonny Garrish, Weldon Myrick and Russ Hicks (steel), Jack Ross and Steve Schaffer (bass), Clay Claire and Jerry Kroon (drums) and Ron Oates (piano). With the production Brien Fisher, the single was released in September 1977, on October 15, 1977, reached # 1 on the US Hot Country Singles charts, for two weeks in a row, and remained a total of 15 weeks in the charts. On October 29, 1977, it also reached # 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. It was the first number one in the Kendalls duo career. The song won The Kendalls a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Single of the Year win from the Country Music Association.
The song was included in The Kendalls’ third studio album, Heaven’s Just a Sin Away (Ovation 1977), released in July 1977, the album reached # 5 on the US Top Country Album charts. The album was certified Gold in the USA and platinum in Canada.
Versions:
Tammy Wynette 1977 (Epic)
Tumbleweeds 1977 (Polydor)
Lynn Anderson 1985 (Succsess)
Kelly Willis 1993 (MCA)
John Fogerty 2009 (Verve Records)