Fall (Clay Walker album)
Encyclopedia
Fall is the title of American country music
singer Clay Walker
's ninth album. It was released April 17, 2007, on Asylum-Curb Records. The album's first single was "'Fore She Was Mama", which reached #21 on the Hot Country Songs
charts in mid-2007. Following this song was the title track, which reached #5 on the same chart and became Walker's first Top Five country hit since "The Chain of Love
" in 2000. "Fall" was also covered by Kimberley Locke
, whose own version was a single as well. The third and final single from this album, "She Likes It in the Morning", peaked at #43. Also included is a cover of Freddy Fender
's "Before the Next Teardrop Falls", recorded here as a duet with Fender. This cover is also Walker's first duet.
Walker stated about this album "I've written half an album and (I'm) putting together a record deal right now. This is the first time in my life that I have been free from contractual obligation to a record label. It's really a breath of fresh air that I can just write some songs that aren't influenced by a label." After switching to Curb, during an interview Walker said, "You know, when an artist is on a record label you hope to have some sort of a professional family atmosphere. I think the Curb folks are really cool. They have their way of doing things and they get it done." In an interview with GAC
prior to the albums release Walker said "The biggest thing that I wanted to do was to just get songs on the radio and make music that people love. I wanted to continue the style they've known me for and not change things too much because the music we've made in the past is good music." On the website Nashville Hype Walker stated, “I love the country sound of this record, every one of these songs has a cool flavor to it and none of them sound alike. That’s what I love. I guess the only common thing to the whole thing is the fact that they are country.”
In 2003 after "A Few Questions" was released Walker said, "I would like to do a duet with someone. I don't know who it will be, but I am sure that in the future, maybe on the next album, there will be a duet. As a matter of fact, it is a goal of mine to do a duet with somebody." In an interview with The Columbus Dispatch
Walker revealed that while speaking with Freddy Fender about recording the duet "Before the Next Teardrop Falls", Fender said "I wanted to do it with you because I know you have MS -- and so we both probably share a lot of the same beliefs and feelings. I want you to know this is not just a song; it is a piece of my heart. I'm giving it to you." Walker told the Associated Press
, "That will always be his song, but there was total magic in the studio. He put his hand on my shoulder and said he had been asked to do it hundreds of time but had never done it, but that he felt that this was the right moment. It was the last song he ever recorded, so I'm proud to be part of his legacy. When asked about the long break between releases, Walker said, "Yeah, I think it was too long. There was a lot of red tape leaving one record label and going to another one. It was a process that was excruciating."
In an interview with CMT
, Walker explained why he chose Keith Stegall to produce the album when he said, "I always loved his style with Alan Jackson, and, of course, I already knew that he wrote 'If I Could Make a Living.' I kind of wanted to get back to that sound, to get more of a pure form of country. It's really cool because when you listen to Keith's productions, you can get fooled [into thinking], 'This is a stone-cold country guy.' He is that. But the truth is that he wrote an old disco hit called 'Sexy Eyes.' He's very versatile." Walker told the Anderson Valley Post, "I wrote a song in San Diego for my first Curb album and called it ‘I Hate
Nights Like This’. It describes a beautiful, starry night by the ocean and it’s really a true story. The lyrics are, ‘I hate nights like this, it makes me want to be in love.’ I think it’s really soulful and heartfelt."
Walker explained the album to The Torch
, when he said, "It's very stripped down. There isn't a lot of production or synthesizers. That's why I really wanted to work with Keith Stegall on this. I wanted to get that great George Strait sound. It just sounds so much better because you can hear all the instruments and all the lyrics. This is definitely a more traditional-type record than I have released in the recent past. It reminds me more of the first album I released." He also said, ""I really feel like this is going to launch the next part of our career. I'd like to just stay on the charts over the next five years or so. Maybe get some Awards and nominations and do some TV."
opening day game. Walker stated "I love Houston, it's home and I'm proud to be an Astros fan. This is my first opening day and I am ecstatic to perform in front of my favorite fans!"
Walker also appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly
and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
to promote the album.
gave the album a mixed review writing "Walker certainly did not make a great album here, but he demonstrated he shouldn't be waiting so long until the next time either." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it "his most enjoyable collection in some time." Josh Love of Stylus Magazine
wrote, "Fall is particularly heavy on heartfelt, optimistic love songs, which normally might send up all sorts of red flags considering how often treacle gets mistaken for romance in country. Fortunately, Walker’s sincere devotionals possess a simplicity and underplayed grace that so many of his maudlin contemporaries lack."
The Associated Press
wrote, "Fall improves his batting average and should continue to extend, and maybe even expand, his long-running popularity." Brady Vercher of The 9513 gave the album three stars and wrote, "Fall, is a decent quality album with Clay Walker’s unique stamp all over it." About.com
gave the album a positive review and wrote, the album "is solid from start to finish" and also said it is a, "great twelve-song collection from one of Country Music's finest talents." Editors at The Irish Times
gave the album three stars and wrote, "All in all, Walker champions the average (there's even a song called Average Joe) in an average, unchallenging way." Nathalie Baret of the Albuquerque Journal
gave the album three stars and wrote, "It offers up many hearty ballads that have a gentleman's "aw, shucks" clean country appeal as well as personal depth."
Editors at Country Weekly
gave the album three stars and wrote, "Fall is a retreat to safer territory, a set of solid but unexceptional songs distinguished only by being well sung. When challenged with better material, Clay rises to the occasion."
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...
singer 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...
's ninth album. It was released April 17, 2007, on Asylum-Curb Records. The album's first single was "'Fore She Was Mama", which reached #21 on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts in mid-2007. Following this song was the title track, which reached #5 on the same chart and became Walker's first Top Five country hit since "The Chain of Love
The Chain of Love
"The Chain of Love" is the title of a song written by Rory Lee Feek and Jonnie Barnett, and recorded by country singer Clay Walker. It was released in January 2000 as the third single from his 1999 album Live, Laugh, Love, "The Chain of Love" reached a peak of #3 on the Billboard Hot Country...
" in 2000. "Fall" was also covered by Kimberley Locke
Kimberley Locke
Kimberley Dawn Locke is an American singer-songwriter and model. She has recorded in the dance, pop and adult contemporary music genres....
, whose own version was a single as well. The third and final single from this album, "She Likes It in the Morning", peaked at #43. Also included is a cover of Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
's "Before the Next Teardrop Falls", recorded here as a duet with Fender. This cover is also Walker's first duet.
Background
In 2005 after being released from RCA RecordsRCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
Walker stated about this album "I've written half an album and (I'm) putting together a record deal right now. This is the first time in my life that I have been free from contractual obligation to a record label. It's really a breath of fresh air that I can just write some songs that aren't influenced by a label." After switching to Curb, during an interview Walker said, "You know, when an artist is on a record label you hope to have some sort of a professional family atmosphere. I think the Curb folks are really cool. They have their way of doing things and they get it done." In an interview with GAC
Great American Country
Great American Country , is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music cable television network.-History:The station launched December 31, 1995 and Garth Brooks' video "The Thunder Rolls" was the first video to air on GAC....
prior to the albums release Walker said "The biggest thing that I wanted to do was to just get songs on the radio and make music that people love. I wanted to continue the style they've known me for and not change things too much because the music we've made in the past is good music." On the website Nashville Hype Walker stated, “I love the country sound of this record, every one of these songs has a cool flavor to it and none of them sound alike. That’s what I love. I guess the only common thing to the whole thing is the fact that they are country.”
In 2003 after "A Few Questions" was released Walker said, "I would like to do a duet with someone. I don't know who it will be, but I am sure that in the future, maybe on the next album, there will be a duet. As a matter of fact, it is a goal of mine to do a duet with somebody." In an interview with The Columbus Dispatch
The Columbus Dispatch
The Columbus Dispatch is a daily newspaper based in Columbus, Ohio. Its first issue was published on July 1, 1871, and has been the only mainstream daily newspaper in the city since The Columbus Citizen-Journal stopped printing in 1985....
Walker revealed that while speaking with Freddy Fender about recording the duet "Before the Next Teardrop Falls", Fender said "I wanted to do it with you because I know you have MS -- and so we both probably share a lot of the same beliefs and feelings. I want you to know this is not just a song; it is a piece of my heart. I'm giving it to you." Walker told the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, "That will always be his song, but there was total magic in the studio. He put his hand on my shoulder and said he had been asked to do it hundreds of time but had never done it, but that he felt that this was the right moment. It was the last song he ever recorded, so I'm proud to be part of his legacy. When asked about the long break between releases, Walker said, "Yeah, I think it was too long. There was a lot of red tape leaving one record label and going to another one. It was a process that was excruciating."
In an interview with CMT
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
, Walker explained why he chose Keith Stegall to produce the album when he said, "I always loved his style with Alan Jackson, and, of course, I already knew that he wrote 'If I Could Make a Living.' I kind of wanted to get back to that sound, to get more of a pure form of country. It's really cool because when you listen to Keith's productions, you can get fooled [into thinking], 'This is a stone-cold country guy.' He is that. But the truth is that he wrote an old disco hit called 'Sexy Eyes.' He's very versatile." Walker told the Anderson Valley Post, "I wrote a song in San Diego for my first Curb album and called it ‘I Hate
Nights Like This’. It describes a beautiful, starry night by the ocean and it’s really a true story. The lyrics are, ‘I hate nights like this, it makes me want to be in love.’ I think it’s really soulful and heartfelt."
Walker explained the album to The Torch
The Torch, St. John's University
The Torch is the official student-run newspaper of St. John's University in Jamaica, New York. Founded in 1922, the paper has shifted in and out of the control of the University and has been financially independent from the University since 1980...
, when he said, "It's very stripped down. There isn't a lot of production or synthesizers. That's why I really wanted to work with Keith Stegall on this. I wanted to get that great George Strait sound. It just sounds so much better because you can hear all the instruments and all the lyrics. This is definitely a more traditional-type record than I have released in the recent past. It reminds me more of the first album I released." He also said, ""I really feel like this is going to launch the next part of our career. I'd like to just stay on the charts over the next five years or so. Maybe get some Awards and nominations and do some TV."
Promotion
On April 2, 2007 Walker performed the national anthem as well as "God Bless America" at the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
opening day game. Walker stated "I love Houston, it's home and I'm proud to be an Astros fan. This is my first opening day and I am ecstatic to perform in front of my favorite fans!"
Walker also appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly is an American late night talk show that is broadcast on NBC. The show is hosted by Carson Daly, the half-hour show featuring celebrity interviews, documentary-style coverage of a topic, and musical performances. Last Call airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. Eastern / 12:35 a.m....
and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
to promote the album.
Track listing
Critical reception
The website Music Review Zone gave the album 3-and-a-half stars writing "This is pure country charm all wrapped up in a CD. You won’t be disappointed." Jeffrey B. Remz of Country Standard TimeCountry Standard Time
Country Standard Time is a website dedicated to country music and related genres such as Bluegrass and Rockabilly. It provides news and musical reviews pertaining to the genre. It was established in 1992 by Jeffrey B. Remz as a print magazine, which was first published only in New England but went...
gave the album a mixed review writing "Walker certainly did not make a great album here, but he demonstrated he shouldn't be waiting so long until the next time either." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it "his most enjoyable collection in some time." Josh Love of Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
wrote, "Fall is particularly heavy on heartfelt, optimistic love songs, which normally might send up all sorts of red flags considering how often treacle gets mistaken for romance in country. Fortunately, Walker’s sincere devotionals possess a simplicity and underplayed grace that so many of his maudlin contemporaries lack."
The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
wrote, "Fall improves his batting average and should continue to extend, and maybe even expand, his long-running popularity." Brady Vercher of The 9513 gave the album three stars and wrote, "Fall, is a decent quality album with Clay Walker’s unique stamp all over it." About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
gave the album a positive review and wrote, the album "is solid from start to finish" and also said it is a, "great twelve-song collection from one of Country Music's finest talents." Editors at The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
gave the album three stars and wrote, "All in all, Walker champions the average (there's even a song called Average Joe) in an average, unchallenging way." Nathalie Baret of the Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Journal
-History:Its earliest predecessor, the Albuquerque Daily Journal, was first published on October 14, 1880. The newspaper is owned by the Journal Publishing Company, a family-owned business headed by president/publisher T.H. Lang; it is operated by the Albuquerque Publishing Company...
gave the album three stars and wrote, "It offers up many hearty ballads that have a gentleman's "aw, shucks" clean country appeal as well as personal depth."
Editors at Country Weekly
Country Weekly
Country Weekly is an American tabloid style weekly magazine established in 1994. The magazine focuses on country music stars and events, and regularly features exclusive interviews with recording artists and country music news...
gave the album three stars and wrote, "Fall is a retreat to safer territory, a set of solid but unexceptional songs distinguished only by being well sung. When challenged with better material, Clay rises to the occasion."
Musicians
- Eddie BayersEddie BayersEddie Bayers is an American session drummer who has played on 150 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for eight straight years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year'...
- drums (track 8) - Eric Darken - percussion (track 6)
- 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...
(tracks 1, 3, 7, 8, 11 & 12), 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...
(tracks 10 - 12) - Larry Franklin - fiddle (tracks 2, 5, 6)
- 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 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... - Steve Gibson - 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...
- Rob Hajacos - fiddle (tracks 4 & 9)
- Shane KeisterShane KeisterShane Keister is an American musician. He is known for his work as a studio musician, writer, arranger and producer. He plays synthesizer, piano, Hammond B3, Synclavier, Fairlight, Fender Rhodes, and others.-History:...
- B3 organ (tracks 2, 6 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...
(tracks 4 & 6) - Jeff King - 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...
(tracks 2, 4 - 6 & 9) - 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...
- acoustic guitar (track 10), electric guitar (tracks 3, 7, 8, 11 & 12) - Gordon Mote - 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...
(tracks 1, 7, 10 -12) - Dave PomeroyDave PomeroyDave Pomeroy is a United States musician, known as a Nashville vocalist, songwriter, and producer , but is best known as a bassist. He has played electric and acoustic bass in the studio for many recording artists in addition to his solo and concert work...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(tracks 1, 11 & 12) - Gary Prim - piano & keyboards (tracks 2 - 5 & 9), B3 organ (track 7)
- Pig Robbins - piano (track 8)
- John Willis - acoustic guitar (track 8)
- Lonnie Wilson - drums
- 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
Background Vocalists
- Melodie CrittendenMelodie CrittendenMelodie Crittenden is an American country and Christian music artist. She initially recorded a self-titled debut album for Asylum/Elektra Records in 1998, the same year that she charted with her rendition of "Bless the Broken Road" ; she would later record the song a second time as a member of the...
- tracks 4, 7 & 9 - John Wesley RylesJohn Wesley RylesJohn Wesley Ryles is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1968 with the single "Kay", a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, and the title track to his debut album for Columbia Records.Ryles later recorded one album, Reconsider Me, for the Plantation label,...
- tracks 1 - 9
Production
- Tracks 1 - 11 Produced by: Keith StegallKeith StegallRobert Keith Stegall is an American country music recording artist and record producer. Active since 1980, Stegall has recorded two-major label studio albums: 1985's Keith Stegall and 1996's Passages...
- Track 12 Produced by: Jimmy Ritchey
- Recorded and Mixed by: John Kelton
- Assistant Engineer: Matt Rovey
- Mastered By: Hank Williams at MasterMix, Nashville, TN
- Production Coordinator: Jason Campbell
- A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
Coordinator: John Ozier - Graphic Design: Lee Wright Creative
Chart performance
During the albums debut week, it sold approximately 32,000 units which was a record for Walker.Weekly charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 15 |
End of year charts
| Chart (2007) | Year-end 2007 |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top Country Albums | 60 |
| Chart (2008) | Year-end 2008 |
| US Billboard Top Country Albums | 71 |