Burnin' the Roadhouse Down
Encyclopedia
Burnin' the Roadhouse Down is the title of an album released in 1998 (see 1998 in country music
) by American country music
artist Steve Wariner
. It was the first of three albums that he recorded for the Capitol Records
Nashville label after having been dropped from Arista Records
' roster in 1996. It was the second album of Wariner's career to achieve RIAA gold certification for U.S. sales of 500,000 copies, and it produced four Top 40 hit singles for Wariner on the Billboard
country charts.
" for Garth Brooks
and "Nothin' but the Taillights
" for Clint Black
, as well as Bryan White
's Top 20 country hit "One Small Miracle". The success of the songs that he had written led to Wariner's signing with Capitol Records
Nashville in late 1997. He also sang duet vocals on Anita Cochran
's late 1997-early 1998 Number One hit "What If I Said
". "Longneck Bottle", "Nothin' but the Taillights", "One Small Miracle", and this song were sometimes played on radio in dedicated "Steve Wariner blocks".
"What If I Said" was the second single from Cochran's debut album Back to You
, released on Warner Bros. Records
shortly before Burnin' the Roadhouse Down was issued. This song was not only Cochran's only Number One country hit, but also her only Top 40 country hit, and Wariner's first Number One since 1989's "I Got Dreams". This duet is also included on this album as a bonus track.
Four of Wariner's own singles were released from this album after "What If I Said" peaked, starting with the ballad "Holes in the Floor of Heaven", which peaked at #2 on the country charts. Following it was the title track (a duet with Garth Brooks which peaked at #26), "Road Trippin'" at #55, and finally, "Every Little Whisper" at #36. Also included on this album is a song entitled "Love Me Like You Love Me", which Clay Walker
previously recorded on his 1996 album Hypnotize the Moon
.
Strings
performed by the Nashville String Machine
; conducted by Carl Gorodetzky and arranged by Bergen White.
1998 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 10 — "Retro Country USA," a weekly two-hour syndicated radio program spotlighting major country hits of the 1980s , premieres...
) by American country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Steve Wariner
Steve Wariner
Steven Noel "Steve" Wariner is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has released eighteen studio albums, including six on MCA Records, and three each on RCA Records, Arista Records and Capitol Records...
. It was the first of three albums that he recorded for the Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
Nashville label after having been dropped from Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
' roster in 1996. It was the second album of Wariner's career to achieve RIAA gold certification for U.S. sales of 500,000 copies, and it produced four Top 40 hit singles for Wariner on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts.
History
Despite having not charted a Top 40 country single since 1994, Steve Wariner had been finding success in the late 1990s as a songwriter, including the Number One hits "Longneck BottleLongneck Bottle
"Longneck Bottle" is a single by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was the first single from his 1997 album Sevens. "Longneck Bottle" was co-written by Steve Wariner, who also plays acoustic guitar and sings background vocals on the song....
" for Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
and "Nothin' but the Taillights
Nothin' but the Taillights (song)
"Nothin' but The Taillights" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Clint Black. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was the third single released from his album of the same name.-Content:The song is an uptempo,...
" for Clint Black
Clint Black
Clint Patrick Black is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and occasional actor. Signed to RCA Records in 1989, Black made his debut with his Killin' Time album, which produced four straight Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country...
, as well as Bryan White
Bryan White
Bryan White is an American country music artist. Signed to Asylum Records in 1994 at age 20, White released his self-titled debut album that year. Both it and its follow-up, 1996's Between Now and Forever, were certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and 1997's The...
's Top 20 country hit "One Small Miracle". The success of the songs that he had written led to Wariner's signing with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
Nashville in late 1997. He also sang duet vocals on Anita Cochran
Anita Cochran
Anita Renee Cockerham , known professionally as Anita Cochran, is an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1997, she made her debut on the U.S. country charts that year with the release of her first album Back to You...
's late 1997-early 1998 Number One hit "What If I Said
What If I Said
"What If I Said" is the title of a song recorded as a duet by American country music artists Anita Cochran and Steve Wariner. The single was Cochran's only Number One single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, as well as her only Top 40 single on that chart...
". "Longneck Bottle", "Nothin' but the Taillights", "One Small Miracle", and this song were sometimes played on radio in dedicated "Steve Wariner blocks".
"What If I Said" was the second single from Cochran's debut album Back to You
Back to You (album)
Back to You is the debut album by American country music artist Anita Cochran. It was released in 1997 by Warner Bros. Records and peaked at #24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart...
, released on Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
shortly before Burnin' the Roadhouse Down was issued. This song was not only Cochran's only Number One country hit, but also her only Top 40 country hit, and Wariner's first Number One since 1989's "I Got Dreams". This duet is also included on this album as a bonus track.
Four of Wariner's own singles were released from this album after "What If I Said" peaked, starting with the ballad "Holes in the Floor of Heaven", which peaked at #2 on the country charts. Following it was the title track (a duet with Garth Brooks which peaked at #26), "Road Trippin'" at #55, and finally, "Every Little Whisper" at #36. Also included on this album is a song entitled "Love Me Like You Love Me", which Clay Walker
Clay Walker
Ernest Clayton "Clay" Walker Jr. is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You," which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die." Both singles were included on...
previously recorded on his 1996 album Hypnotize the Moon
Hypnotize the Moon
-Critical reception:The editors at Billboard wrote in their review of the album "Walker is a big-voiced Texas singer with smart song selection and a minimalist honky-tonk production. He sounds unassuming until you realize that's what he's all about. He gets in your yard without ever getting in your...
.
Track listing
- "Burnin' the Roadhouse Down" (Rick Carnes, Steve Wariner) – 2:07
- duet with Garth Brooks
- "Holes in the Floor of HeavenHoles in the Floor of Heaven"Holes in the Floor of Heaven" is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Steve Wariner. It is the lead-off single from his 1998 album Burnin' the Roadhouse Down, as well as his first single in four years...
" (Billy Kirsch, Wariner) – 4:47 - "Every Little Whisper" (Kirsch, Wariner) – 3:02
- "A Six Pack Ago" (Jim Rushing, Wariner) – 3:40
- "Road Trippin'" (Marcus HummonMarcus HummonMarcus Spencer Hummon is an American country music artist. After several years of playing in various bands, he eventually found his way to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was signed to a songwriting contract, and subsequently a record deal with Columbia Records, which released his debut album All...
, Wariner) – 3:32 - "Love Me Like You Love Me" (Bill LaBountyBill LaBountyBill LaBounty is an American musician. He was initially a singer-songwriter in the soft rock genre, first as a member of the band Fat Chance, and later as a solo artist. As a solo artist, LaBounty recorded six studio albums, including four on Curb Records/Warner Bros. Records...
, Wariner) – 4:06 - "Smoke from an Old Flame" (Jim Weatherly, Wariner) – 3:30
- "I Don't Know How to Fix It" (Bill Anderson, Wariner) – 3:49
- "Big Ol' Empty House" (Mac McAnallyMac McAnallyLyman Corbitt "Mac" McAnally, Jr. is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts...
, Wariner) – 3:26 - "Closer I Get to You" (Keith Sewell, Wariner) – 3:17
- "Big Tops" (Hummon, Wariner) – 3:29
- "What If I SaidWhat If I Said"What If I Said" is the title of a song recorded as a duet by American country music artists Anita Cochran and Steve Wariner. The single was Cochran's only Number One single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, as well as her only Top 40 single on that chart...
" (Anita CochranAnita CochranAnita Renee Cockerham , known professionally as Anita Cochran, is an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1997, she made her debut on the U.S. country charts that year with the release of her first album Back to You...
) – 4:52- duet with Anita Cochran
Personnel
As listed in liner notes.- Bill Cuomo – synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Stuart DuncanStuart DuncanStuart Duncan is a bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. Born in Quantico, Virginia and raised in Santa Paula, California, where he played in the school band, he has been a member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band since 1985, and is a much-in-demand session musician...
– fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music... - Buddy EmmonsBuddy EmmonsBuddy Emmons , is an American guitarist.Emmons has been called "The World's Foremost Steel Guitarist" and his talent is greatly admired by fellow steel guitarists...
– steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use... - Paul FranklinPaul Franklin (musician)Paul Franklin is an American multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; in addition he toured with Mel Tillis and Jerry Reed. He has since become a prolific session musician in Nashville,...
– steel guitar - Ron Gannaway – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- John Gardner – drums
- Sonny Garrish – steel guitar
- Hoot Hester – fiddle, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
- John Jarvis – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Paul Leim – drums
- Woody Lingle – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Brent MasonBrent MasonBrent Mason is an American session guitarist and occasional songwriter. He is known primarily for his work in the field of country music. In addition to releasing two instrumental studio albums, he holds several credits as a songwriter...
– electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Steve Nathan – piano, Hammond B-3 organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
- Harry Stinson – background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- Steve Wariner – lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, electric guitar, DobroDobroDobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar... - Glenn WorfGlenn WorfGlenn Worf is one of the premier Nashville session bassists. He was born in Dayton, Ohio but grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and has concentrated on the bass guitar since he was thirteen. He majored in music at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Inevitably his talents forced him to abandon the...
– bass guitar - Trisha YearwoodTrisha YearwoodPatricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
– background vocals - Reggie YoungReggie YoungReggie Young was lead guitarist in the American Sound Studios Band , and is a leading session musician. He played on various recordings with artists such as Elvis Presley, B.J. Thomas, John Prine, Dusty Springfield, J.J...
– electric guitar - Andrea ZonnAndrea ZonnAndrea Zonn is a singer fiddle player who grew up in Champaign, Illinois. She grew up in an environment surrounded by music. She sings, and plays classical violin, and is fluent in numerous other musical genres. Zonn first met Alison Krauss at a fiddle contest at the Champaign County Fair when she...
– background vocals
Strings
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
performed by the Nashville String Machine
Nashville String Machine
Nashville String Machine is a musical collective comprising session musicians and has been credited on recordings as far back as 1974. The Nashville String Machine's composition varies from project to project. It has appeared as large as an orchestra, or as small as a duo.-Notable members:Being a...
; conducted by Carl Gorodetzky and arranged by Bergen White.
Chart performance
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 41 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 15 |