Takin' the Country Back
Encyclopedia
Takin' the Country Back is the seventeenth studio album of country music
artist John Anderson
. It was released in 1997 under the Mercury Records
label. The album produced the singles: "Somebody Slap Me", which peaked at 22 on Country charts, "Small Town", which peaked at 44 and the title track, which peaked at 41. Also included on the album was a cover of the Van Morrison
's 1967 hit "Brown Eyed Girl
" from his album Blowin' Your Mind!
.
Takin' the Country Back charted at 19 for country albums and reached 138 on the United States Billboard 200. Allmusic stated that it was "one of John Anderson's best latter-day efforts, thanks to his impassioned vocals and the clean, muscular production from Keith Stegall
" despite "suffering" from "uneven material."
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 Anderson
John Anderson (musician)
John David Anderson is an American country music artist with a successful career that has lasted more than 30 years...
. It was released in 1997 under the Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
label. The album produced the singles: "Somebody Slap Me", which peaked at 22 on Country charts, "Small Town", which peaked at 44 and the title track, which peaked at 41. Also included on the album was a cover of the Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
's 1967 hit "Brown Eyed Girl
Brown Eyed Girl
"Brown Eyed Girl" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. Written and recorded in 1967 by Van Morrison and produced by Bang Records chief Bert Berns, it was first released in May 1967 on the album Blowin' Your Mind!. When released as a single, it rose to number eight on the...
" from his album Blowin' Your Mind!
Blowin' Your Mind!
- Musicians :* Van Morrison – guitar, vocals* Eric Gale - - Production :* Vic Anesini – Mastering* Brooks Arthur – Engineer* Bert Berns – Arranger, Director, Producer, Liner Notes* Adam Block – Project Director...
.
Takin' the Country Back charted at 19 for country albums and reached 138 on the United States Billboard 200. Allmusic stated that it was "one of John Anderson's best latter-day efforts, thanks to his impassioned vocals and the clean, muscular production from Keith Stegall
Keith Stegall
Robert 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...
" despite "suffering" from "uneven material."
Track listing
- "Somebody Slap Me" (Bob McDillBob McDillRobert Lee "Bob" McDill is an American country music songwriter. Active from the 1960s until 2000, he has written several songs for country music artists, including more than thirty Number One hits...
, Roger MurrahRoger MurrahRoger Murrah is a songwriter and music publisher who has written hits for artists including Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Al Jarreau, and Alabama....
) - 3:24 - "South Moon Under" (J. Anderson, George Anderson, Lionel Delmore) - 3:10
- "Sara" (Anderson, Dave Colwell) - 4:55
- "Brown Eyed GirlBrown Eyed Girl"Brown Eyed Girl" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. Written and recorded in 1967 by Van Morrison and produced by Bang Records chief Bert Berns, it was first released in May 1967 on the album Blowin' Your Mind!. When released as a single, it rose to number eight on the...
" (Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
) - 3:46 - "Small Town" (Anderson, Gary Scruggs) - 4:58
- "Takin' the Country Back" (Marty StuartMarty StuartJohn Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
, Curtis WrightCurtis WrightCurtis Blaine Wright is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1989 with the single "She's Got a Man on her Mind" on a branch of MCA Records, before recording a solo album in 1992 on Liberty Records...
) - 3:30 - "Who's Who" (Wesley DennisWesley DennisWesley Dennis is an American country music artist. A native of Alabama, Dennis previously held a job installing car windshields before he took to singing in bars. In 1995, he signed to Mercury Nashville Records, releasing a self-titled debut album, and charting three singles on the Billboard Hot...
, Michael WhiteMichael White (singer)Larry Michael White is an American country music artist. The son of songwriter L.E. White, who has written for Conway Twitty, Michael was signed to Reprise Records in 1992, releasing his debut album Familiar Ground that year...
) - 3:24 - "The Fall" (J. Anderson, Donna Anderson, Michael Anderson) - 2:38
- "I Used To Love Her" (J. Anderson, Kent RobbinsKent RobbinsKent Robbins was an American country music songwriter. He began writing for Charley Pride's Pi-Gem music in 1974. Between then and his death, he wrote songs for several other country music artists...
) - 3:15 - "Jump On It" (Pamela Terry, Pat Terry) - 3:55
- "Its a Long Way Back" (J. Anderson, Craig WisemanCraig WisemanCraig Michael Wiseman is an American country music songwriter. Active since the late 1980s as a songwriter, he has had his songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, and several other acts....
) - 3:14
Album
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 19 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 138 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country 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... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
||
| 1997 | "Somebody Slap Me" | 22 | 115 | 35 |
| "Small Town" | 44 | — | — | |
| 1998 | "Takin' the Country Back" | 41 | — | 69 |