I'm going to surprise you here.

I don't know "Back to the Country" (except of course for "The Pill"), but I wasn't terribly impressed with Loretta's "Paper Roses." I think she's at her best being defiant and proud, not doing country torch songs with countrypolitan instrumentation. To my ear, this is something that Skeeter Davis or Connie Smith does better. But when I looked up Smith's version of "Paper Roses" I was equally unimpressed--slightly better vocals but horrid countrypolitan strings etc. So I went back to Anita's version (which is what I grew up with) and Marie Osmond's, and I have to say I prefer Anita's (though it and Marie's are also overwhelmed by schlocky arrangements). Her singing is strong and direct.

The Bobby Gentry cover surprised me more favorably. I knew she was a strong singer (and writer), but she pulls off the cover and gender flip convincingly (conceivably, there may not be any bad performances of Jimmy Webb songs by singers other than Jimmy Webb).

Loretta's "Paper Roses": 80

Bobby's "Where's the Playground": 90