The Way I Should
Encyclopedia
The Way I Should is the third album released by singer-songwriter
Iris DeMent
. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard
Heatseekers
chart.
Guests include guitarist Mark Knopfler
and Delbert McClinton
, who duets with DeMent on "Trouble".
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent is an American singer and songwriter. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country and folk music.-Early life:...
. It peaked at number 22 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...
Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart.
Guests include guitarist Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
and Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
, who duets with DeMent on "Trouble".
Track listing
All songs by Iris DeMent except as indicated.- "When My Mornin' Comes Around" – 3:49
- "There's a Wall in Washington" – 5:19
- "Wasteland of the Free" – 5:13
- "I'll Take My Sorrow Straight" (DeMent, Elmer McCall) – 3:24
- "This Kind of Happy" (DeMent, Merle HaggardMerle HaggardMerle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
) – 3:43 - "The Way I Should" – 4:24
- "Letter to Mom" – 3:15
- "Keep Me God" – 3:46
- "Quality Time" – 4:03
- "Walkin' Home" – 5:39
- "Trouble" (DeMent, McCall) – 7:32
Personnel
- Iris DeMent – vocals, guitar, piano
- Mark KnopflerMark KnopflerMark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
– guitar - Chuck LeavellChuck LeavellChuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
– organ, piano, accordion - Lonnie MackLonnie MackLonnie Mack is an American rock, blues and country guitarist and vocalist....
- guitar - 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...
- guitar - 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 guitar - John Jennings – guitar, EBow, 6-string bass
- Bekka BramlettBekka BramlettRebekka Ruth Lazone "Bekka" Bramlett is a singer from the United States. She is the daughter of popular music duo Delaney and Bonnie....
– background vocals - Billy BurnetteBilly BurnetteWilliam Beau "Billy" Burnette III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995. Burnette also had a brief career in acting.-Family background:...
– background vocals - 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...
– background vocals - Delbert McClintonDelbert McClintonDelbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
– harmonica, vocals - Dave Pomeroy – bass
- Tom Roady – tambourine
- Tammy RogersTammy RogersTammy Rogers is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. In addition to releasing three albums on the Dead Reckoning Records label , she works as a studio musician, primarily on fiddle, violin and viola...
– fiddle, mandolin, violin, cello, viola - Harry Stinson – drums
- Russ TaffRuss TaffRussell Taff is an American gospel singer who is originally from Farmersville, California. Taff later then moved to Arkansas where he graduated from Cutter-Morning Star High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas....
– background vocals - Earl ScruggsEarl ScruggsEarl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
– banjo - Randy ScruggsRandy ScruggsRandy Scruggs is a music producer, songwriter and guitarist. He had his first recording at the age of 13...
– guitar - Stuart Smith – guitar, slide guitar
Production notes
- Produced by Randy Scruggs
- Engineered and mixed by Chuck Ainlay
- Mastered by Denny Purcell
- Assistant Engineers – Chris Rua and Graham Lewis
- Photography by Debbie Spinelli and Rocky Schenck
- Art direction and design by Stephen Walker and Terry Robertson