The Strong One
Encyclopedia
The Strong One is the second studio album by American country music
artist Mila Mason
, released in 1998 (see 1998 in country music
) on Atlantic Records
Nashville. Like her debut album, it was produced by Blake Mevis.
Her second and final album for the label, it produced two minor chart hits on both the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts and the Canadian RPM
Top Country Tracks charts. The first, "Closer to Heaven", was a #31 in the US and #45 in Canada, while "The Strong One" was a #57 in the US and a #30 in Canada. The third single, "This Heart", failed to chart in either country, and by the end of 1998, Mason had exited Atlantic. "Let Me Cry" was co-written by Buffy Lawson, who founded the country duo Bomshel
in 2004.
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 Mila Mason
Mila Mason
Mila Mason is an American country music artist. She made her debut on the country music scene in 1996 with the release of her debut album That's Enough of That, which produced three hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, including its title track...
, released in 1998 (see 1998 in country music
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...
) on 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...
Nashville. Like her debut album, it was produced by Blake Mevis.
Her second and final album for the label, it produced two minor chart hits on both 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 (now 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 and the Canadian RPM
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,...
Top Country Tracks charts. The first, "Closer to Heaven", was a #31 in the US and #45 in Canada, while "The Strong One" was a #57 in the US and a #30 in Canada. The third single, "This Heart", failed to chart in either country, and by the end of 1998, Mason had exited Atlantic. "Let Me Cry" was co-written by Buffy Lawson, who founded the country duo Bomshel
Bomshel
Bomshel is an American country music duo founded in 2004 by lead singer Buffy "Buf" Lawson and fiddle player Kristy Osmunson. Signed to Curb Records in 2004, Bomshel's original lineup charted four single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and recorded an unreleased album called Bomshel Stomp...
in 2004.
Track listing
- "This Heart" (Al AndersonAl Anderson (NRBQ)Alan Gordon "Al" Anderson is an American guitarist, singer, and songwiter. Between 1971 and the early 1990s, he was the lead guitarist in the rock band NRBQ, also releasing several solo albums. He also played electric guitar on Jonathan Edwards' 1973 album Have a Good Time for Me...
, Robert Ellis OrrallRobert Ellis OrrallRobert Ellis Orrall is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Signed to RCA Records in 1980, Orrall debuted that year with the album "Fixation". His first Top 40 single was "I Couldn't Say No", a duet with Carlene Carter...
) – 3:53 - "Closer to Heaven" (Bill Luther, Aimee MayoAimee MayoAimee Mayo is an American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Lonestar, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Kellie Pickler. Mayo owns her own publishing company, Little Blue Typewriter Music.-Biography:Aimee Mayo grew up in Gadsden, Alabama...
) – 4:19 - "The Strong One" (Byron HillByron HillByron Hill , is an American songwriter from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Working professionally in Nashville, TN for more than thirty years, his songs have been recorded by over 650 Country and Pop artists.-Music career:...
, Cyril Rawson) – 3:39 - "Don't Maybe Me" (Kimberlye Gold, Holly LamarHolly LamarHolly Lamar is an American country music singer-songwriter. Lamar co-wrote "Breathe," a number one country and adult contemporary single by Faith Hill. Her songs have also been recorded by Sara Evans, Wynonna Judd, Lonestar, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina and Jessica Simpson, among others.In 2002,...
) – 3:02 - "Let Me Cry" (Buffy Lawson, Tony Marty) – 4:18
- "Bossa' My Heart" (Chapin Hartford) – 3:15
- "One Thing Led to Another" (Don Pfrimmer, Lindy Gravelle) – 3:17
- "You and Only You" (KostasKostasKostas Lazarides is a Greek-born American country music songwriter, known professionally as Kostas. He has written for several country music artists, including Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless, and Travis Tritt, and has won eleven awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated...
, Wally WilsonWally WilsonWally Wilson , is an American record producer and songwriter based in Nashville.-Career:Wally Wilson has worked with artists as diverse as Leon Russell, Bo Diddley, the Neville Brothers, Junior Wells, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Lone Star, Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Rick Trevino, Rascal Flatts...
) – 3:24 - "10 Lb. Heart" (Nick Pellegrino, Kenya Walker) – 4:00
- "Blood Simple" (Susan Longacre, Rick Giles) – 3:36
Personnel
- Mark Casstevens – 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...
- Glen Duncan – 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...
- Sonny Garrish – 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"...
- John Hobbs – 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...
- David James – background vocals
- Carl Marsh – stringsString sectionThe 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...
- 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... - Jonell Mosser – background vocals
- Chris Rodriguez – background vocals
- Nan Sumrall – background vocals
- 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....
Chart performance
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 38 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers | 31 |