The Tin Man (Kenny Chesney song)
Encyclopedia
"The Tin Man" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music
singer Kenny Chesney
. It was the third single
release from his 1994 debut album In My Wildest Dreams
. Six years later, Chesney re-recorded the song for his first Greatest Hits
and released this recording in July 2001.
of Allmusic said that the song was not "quite as shellacked with gloss" as Chesney's later ballads. Billboard
s review praised Chesney's vocals while taking a negative view of the songwriting: "[H]e is hitting his stride as a singer, even if the Wizard of Oz
references here are a little tired."
The original version later appeared on Chesney's first BNA Records
album, All I Need to Know
. In his review of this album, Erlewine wrote that the song "deftly reworks a cliché" and "captur[es] the blend of country instrumentation and anthemic pop that became his signature and made him a star."
Chesney re-recorded the song for his 2000 Greatest Hits
album. This newly-recorded version was the b-side to the album's first single, "I Lost It
", before serving as the third release from it.
in New York City
, but was canceled because of equipment delays. The cancellation allowed Chesney and the video's filming crew to avoid the September 11 attacks.
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts dated for the week ending May 14, 1994, peaking at number 70 with a six-week run on the charts. The 2001 version first charted on the week ending July 28, 2001, spending twenty weeks on that chart and peaking at number 19. It also peaked at number 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.
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 Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
. It was the third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
release from his 1994 debut album In My Wildest Dreams
In My Wildest Dreams
-Album:-Singles:...
. Six years later, Chesney re-recorded the song for his first Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Kenny Chesney album)
-Album:-Singles:-Certifications:-References:...
and released this recording in July 2001.
Critical reception
In a 1995 review, Phil Kloer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called the song "one of the better pieces of writing to come out of Nashville this year or last." Stephen Thomas ErlewineStephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
of Allmusic said that the song was not "quite as shellacked with gloss" as Chesney's later ballads. 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...
s review praised Chesney's vocals while taking a negative view of the songwriting: "[H]e is hitting his stride as a singer, even if the Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
references here are a little tired."
The original version later appeared on Chesney's first BNA Records
BNA Records
BNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, is a label group that shares ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company Sony Music Nashville, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BNA features country music acts on its roster...
album, All I Need to Know
All I Need to Know (album)
- Album :-Singles:-Certifications:...
. In his review of this album, Erlewine wrote that the song "deftly reworks a cliché" and "captur[es] the blend of country instrumentation and anthemic pop that became his signature and made him a star."
Chesney re-recorded the song for his 2000 Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Kenny Chesney album)
-Album:-Singles:-Certifications:-References:...
album. This newly-recorded version was the b-side to the album's first single, "I Lost It
I Lost It
"I Lost It" is the first single released from Kenny Chesney's Greatest Hits album. It peaked at #3 in late-2000. It was co-written by Neil Thrasher and Jimmy Olander, lead guitarist of the band Diamond Rio. Pam Tillis provides background vocals for the song....
", before serving as the third release from it.
Music video
The music video for "The Tin Man" was for the 1994 version, directed by Tom Bevins. A video for the 2001 version was scheduled to be filmed in the afternoon of September 11, 2001, at the World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but was canceled because of equipment delays. The cancellation allowed Chesney and the video's filming crew to avoid the September 11 attacks.
Chart performance
The original recording of "The Tin Man" entered the BillboardBillboard (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 dated for the week ending May 14, 1994, peaking at number 70 with a six-week run on the charts. The 2001 version first charted on the week ending July 28, 2001, spending twenty weeks on that chart and peaking at number 19. It also peaked at number 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
| US 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... Bubbling Under Hot 100 |
7 |