Kickin' It Up
Encyclopedia
Kickin' It Up is the second studio album by American country music
artist John Michael Montgomery
. The album was released by Atlantic Records
on January 25, 1994. On February 19 of the same year, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200
. Four songs were released from it: "I Swear
," "Rope the Moon," "Be My Baby Tonight
" and "If You've Got Love
." Three of the singles reached #1 on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks
chart, while "Rope the Moon" was a #4. "I Swear" was later covered by pop group All-4-One
, whose version was also a Number One hit in several countries.
The album has been certified
4× Multi-platinum
by the RIAA
for shipments of 4 million copies.
Group vocals on "Kick It Up" by Harry Stinson, Dennis Wilson, Mimi Nuyens, Bruce Sulfridge, John Kunz and Mike Janas.
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 John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" and "Sold "...
. The album was released by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
on January 25, 1994. On February 19 of the same year, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Four songs were released from it: "I Swear
I Swear
"I Swear" is a ballad written by Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers that became a hit for two acts in 1994. Initially it was a number one song on the U.S. Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for American country music artist John Michael Montgomery at the beginning of the year. His version crossed over...
," "Rope the Moon," "Be My Baby Tonight
Be My Baby Tonight
"Be My Baby Tonight" is the title of a song written by Richard Fagan and Ed Hill and recorded by American country music artist John Michael Montgomery. It was released in May 1994 as the third single from Montgomery's 1994 album Kickin' It Up...
" and "If You've Got Love
If You've Got Love
"If You've Got Love" is a song written by Mark D. Sanders and Steve Seskin, and recorded by John Michael Montgomery. It was released in September 1994 as the fourth and final single from his 1994 album Kickin' It Up. It peaked at #1 on the week of December 10, 1994, while it peaked at #2 in...
." Three of the singles reached #1 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...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks
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...
chart, while "Rope the Moon" was a #4. "I Swear" was later covered by pop group All-4-One
All-4-One
All-4-One is a male R&B/pop group best known for their cover hit single "I Swear" from their self-titled 1994 debut album. The group comprises Jamie Jones, Delious Kennedy, Alfred Nevarez, and Tony Borowiak, all from the Antelope Valley and Mojave, California areas, but are based in the Los Angeles...
, whose version was also a Number One hit in several countries.
The album has been certified
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
4× Multi-platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for shipments of 4 million copies.
Track listing
- "Be My Baby TonightBe My Baby Tonight"Be My Baby Tonight" is the title of a song written by Richard Fagan and Ed Hill and recorded by American country music artist John Michael Montgomery. It was released in May 1994 as the third single from Montgomery's 1994 album Kickin' It Up...
" (Richard FaganRichard FaganRichard Fagan is an American songwriter and musician. He has had six top ten singles and 18 charted singles on the Billboard Country charts...
, Ed Hill) - 2:50 - "Full-Time Love" (Carson ChamberlainCarson ChamberlainCarson Chamberlain is an American songwriter, record producer and steel guitarist who works mainly in the field of country music....
, Zack Turner) - 2:53 - "I SwearI Swear"I Swear" is a ballad written by Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers that became a hit for two acts in 1994. Initially it was a number one song on the U.S. Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for American country music artist John Michael Montgomery at the beginning of the year. His version crossed over...
" (Gary BakerGary Baker (songwriter)Gary Baker is an American country music singer and songwriter.-Career:In the late 1970s, Baker was a musician with the LeBlanc and Carr Band. Baker was also a singer musician with the country pop band, The Shooters. He has written songs for John Michael Montgomery, Alabama and others...
, Frank J. MyersFrank J. MyersFrank Joseph Myers is an American country music singer, songwriter and record producer. In his career, he has written songs for John Michael Montgomery, Eddie Rabbitt, Crystal Gayle, Lonestar and others...
) - 4:24 - "She Don't Need a Band to Dance" (Randy Archer, Freddy WellerFreddy WellerFreddy Weller is a United States country music singer-songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. His recording career started in 1969, while he was playing guitar in the band Paul Revere & The Raiders....
) - 3:21 - "All In My Heart" (Mike Geiger, Woody Mullis) - 3:46
- "Friday At Five" (Jimmy Stewart, George Teren) - 2:41
- "Rope the MoonRope the Moon"Rope the Moon" is a song recorded by country music artist John Michael Montgomery. It was the second single released from his 1994 album Kickin' It Up. It peaked at #4 in the United States, and #2 in Canada.-Chart positions:...
" (Aggie Brown, Jess Brown, Jimmy Denton) - 4:06 - "If You've Got LoveIf You've Got Love"If You've Got Love" is a song written by Mark D. Sanders and Steve Seskin, and recorded by John Michael Montgomery. It was released in September 1994 as the fourth and final single from his 1994 album Kickin' It Up. It peaked at #1 on the week of December 10, 1994, while it peaked at #2 in...
" (Mark D. SandersMark D. SandersMark Daniel Sanders is an American Country Music songwriter. He has written 14 No. 1 hits, 50 singles, and over 200 cuts, including the famous Lee Ann Womack single “I Hope You Dance,” co-written with Tia Sillers.-Early life:...
, Steve SeskinSteve SeskinSteve Seskin is an American songwriter whose compositions have been recorded by Alabama, Kenny Chesney, Peter Frampton, Waylon Jennings, Brian McComas, Neal McCoy, Tim McGraw, John Michael Montgomery, Colin Raye, Tebey and Mark Wills...
) - 3:54 - "Oh How She Shines" (Pat Bunch, Doug Johnson) - 3:14
- "Kick It Up" (Andy Byrd, Jim Robinson) - 3:17
Production
- Produced By Scott Hendricks & John Kunz
- Engineered By Scott Hendricks, Amy Hughes, John Kunz, John Guess & Marty Williams
- Mixed By Jeff Balding, Scott Hendricks & John Kunz
- Mastered By Hank Williams
Personnel
- 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...
on all tracks, 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...
on "If You've Got Love" - 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,...
– pedal steel guitarPedal steel guitarThe pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"... - Steve Gibson – acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
on all tracks except "All in My Heart", "Rope the Moon", and "Kick It Up" - Dann HuffDann HuffDann Huff is an American musician, session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. For his work as a producer in the Country music genre he has won several awards including the Musician of the Year award in 2001 and 2004 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award...
– 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...
on all tracks, acoustic guitar on "Kick It Up" - John Barlow 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...
on "Full-Time Love", 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...
on "Full-Time Love" and "Kick It Up" - 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 guitar - 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,...
– background vocals on all tracks except "I Swear" and "Rope the Moon" - Harry Stinson – background vocals on "I Swear" and "Rope the Moon"
- Billy Joe Walker, Jr. – acoustic guitar on "All in My Heart", "Rope the Moon", and "Kick It Up"
- Dennis Wilson – background vocals on all tracks
- Lonnie Wilson – 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 ....
- 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 guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Reese WynansReese WynansReese Wynans is a keyboard player who has done session work and has been a member of Double Trouble and progressive rock band Captain Beyond.- Personal life :Reese Wynans grew up in Sarasota, Florida during the 1950s...
– piano on all tracks, Hammond B-3 organ on "All in My Heart" and "Rope the Moon"
Group vocals on "Kick It Up" by Harry Stinson, Dennis Wilson, Mimi Nuyens, Bruce Sulfridge, John Kunz and Mike Janas.
Chart performance
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 23 |