3 Pears

Last updated
3 Pears
3 Pears (Dwight Yoakam album - cover art).jpg
Studio album by
Dwight Yoakam
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2012 (2012-09-18)
Genre Country
Length45:13
Label Warner Bros. Nashville
Producer Dwight Yoakam
Beck Hansen
Dwight Yoakam chronology
Dwight Sings Buck
(2007)		3 Pears
(2012)		 21st Century Hits: Best of 2000–2012
(2013)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]
American Songwriter Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Country Weekly Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
RoughstockStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
Twang NationStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]

3 Pears is the 18th studio album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It was released on September 18, 2012 via Warner Bros. Records. The album, which includes collaborations with Beck, Kid Rock and Ashley Monroe of Pistol Annies, has been one of the most critically acclaimed recordings of Yoakam's career.

Contents

Background

In 2005, Yoakam released Blame the Vain on New West, which would establish itself as the premier indie label for the emerging “Americana” movement after the turn of the millennium, cornering the market of this artistry much as Rounder had with folk in earlier decades. [6] Dwight Sings Buck, Yoakam's second New West release, failed to make the Top 10 country albums chart, and his last significant hit single had been a cover of the Queen song “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” back in 1999. It was the singer's second stint with an independent label after leaving Warner Bros. where he enjoyed his biggest commercial success in the late-1980s and early-1990s with Reprise, but, as Yoakam biographer Don McCleese observes, despite Blame the Vain being a critical hit, “New West had no connection to country radio and the country music industry at large, and that's still where Dwight's commercial significance lay. What had made him singular was his ability to straddle mainstream country and progressive Americana.” [7] After leaving New West amicably, Yoakam came full circle by resigning with Warner Bros. Nashville in 2011.

Recording and composition

3 Pears, his first release of original material in seven years, was a huge comeback for Yoakam and one of the most critically acclaimed recordings of his career. It peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 album chart, becoming Yoakam's highest position on the general music chart. By the end of 2012, 3 Pears had appeared on more critic's annual "Best Of" lists than any other album in the country music genre. It debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 18, and on the Top Country Albums chart at No. 3, selling 19,000 copies in its first week. [8] As of April 2015, the album has sold 101,000 copies in the U.S. [9] 3 Pears reached No. 1 on the Americana Radio chart on October 29, 2012, [10] and it broke the 2012 record for most weeks at No. 1 on Americana Radio. [11] This return to commercial success and visibility was in part due to Yoakam, who put out quality material for years without having a hit single, taking his place as a country legend in his own right, a maverick and outlaw who, like Buck Owens and Willie Nelson, stuck to his musical guns regardless of trends in the business.

Yoakam produced the album himself, with the exception of "A Heart Like Mine" and "Missing Heart," which were produced by Beck. The singer later told CMT that Beck is “completely responsive to what you’re doing in any given moment. When I played songs for him the first time, he reacted in an almost visceral way. He literally would pull physically. His body would kind of jerk in reaction to a specific chord change or movement of the guitar.” [12] Lyrically, 3 Pears contains some of the most optimistic songs Yoakam has recorded, with one critic commenting, “Throughout 3 Pears Yoakam reveals a vulnerability — a kind of openness to the world — that seems at odds with the cool customer he’s perceived to be.” [13] This attitude is immediately apparent on the hopeful opening track “Take Hold of My Hand,” which promises “The hurt from before don’t live here no more,” while the second song, “Waterfall,” includes arguably the most whimsically saccharine line the songwriter has ever penned: “If I had a jellyfish/Bet you we would never miss/A single peanut butter kiss or squeeze.” Other songs, like “Trying” and “Long Way to Go,” are persevering in their outlooks as well. Yoakam later reflected, “I think it expressed the thought that it’s just as easy to look for the joy and happiness in life as it is to dwell on the things that are not so happy. And maybe it’s in response to a lot of folks in the last four years and the struggles with the economy feeling really weighted down.” [12]

Although the Kentucky-meets-Bakersfield twang in Yoakam’s voice will always lend his music a country edge, musically 3 Pears displays a melding of diverse musical styles and influences far removed the straight “hillbilly” music the singer championed early in his career. As a producer, Yoakam seems intent on experimentation, incorporating Springsteen–esque sounds on the title track and providing a vocal arrangement for “Nothing But Love” that sounds unlike anything that came before. Even Flatt & Scruggs’s country classic “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke” is rocked up considerably in Yoakam’s “cowpunk” style.

Yoakam liked the Martin Scorsese documentary about George Harrison, Living in the Material World, and 3 Pears takes its title from a scene in which John Lennon plays around with three pairs of glasses. [14]

Rolling Stone named the song "A Heart Like Mine" the 39th best song of 2012. [15] The music video was directed by Margaret Malandruccolo.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dwight Yoakam except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Take Hold of My Hand"Yoakam, Robert Ritchie 3:43
2."Waterfall" 3:37
3."Dim Lights, Thick Smoke"Max Fidler, Joe Maphis, Rose Lee Maphis3:43
4."Trying" 2:55
5."Nothing but Love" 3:04
6."It's Never Alright"Yoakam, Ashley Monroe 4:09
7."A Heart Like Mine" 3:58
8."Long Way to Go" 3:50
9."Missing Heart" 4:34
10."3 Pears" 2:46
11."Rock It All Away" 4:20
12."Long Way to Go" (reprise) 4:34

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart (2012)Peak
position
Australian Country Albums Chart [16] 2
US Billboard 200 [17] 18
US Billboard Top Country Albums [17] 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwight Yoakam</span> American country singer

Dwight David Yoakam is an American country singer-songwriter, actor, and filmmaker. He first achieved mainstream attention in 1986 with the release of his debut album Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.. Yoakam had considerable success throughout the late 1980s onward, with a total of ten studio albums for Reprise Records. Later projects have been released on Audium, New West, Warner, and Sugar Hill Records.

<i>Midnite Vultures</i> 1999 studio album by Beck

Midnite Vultures is the seventh studio album by American musician Beck, released on November 16, 1999, by DGC Records. While similar to most of Beck's previous albums in its exploration of widely varying styles, it did not achieve the same blockbuster success as his breakthrough album Odelay, but was still critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

<i>If There Was a Way</i> 1990 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

If There Was a Way is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam, released on October 30, 1990. Five of its tracks would rise into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1991 and 1992. They were "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose" at No. 11, "You're the One" at No. 5, "Nothing's Changed Here" at No. 15, "It Only Hurts When I Cry" at No. 7 "Send a Message to My Heart", at No. 47, and finally the No. 18 "The Heart That You Own".

<i>Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room</i> 1988 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room is the third studio album by American country music singer Dwight Yoakam, released on August 2, 1988. The album contains Yoakam's first two No. 1 Hot Country Singles singles. The first was "Streets of Bakersfield," a duet with country music veteran Buck Owens, who had originally released a version of the song in 1973. The second was an original composition of Yoakam's titled "I Sang Dixie." A third song on the album, "I Got You," also an original composition, peaked at No. 5. The title song, "Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room ," also charted, but only to the No. 46 position.

<i>Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.</i> 1986 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. is the debut studio album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. This was Yoakam's first time working with long-time collaborator, record producer-guitarist Pete Anderson. The album became the first of three consecutive albums by Yoakam to reach number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

<i>Hillbilly Deluxe</i> (Dwight Yoakam album) 1987 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Hillbilly Deluxe is the second studio album by American country music singer-songwriter, Dwight Yoakam. Released in 1987, it was Yoakam's second consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Four tracks were released as singles with each becoming Top 10 hits on the Hot Country Singles chart in 1987 and 1988.

<i>This Time</i> (Dwight Yoakam album) 1993 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

This Time is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam, released by Reprise Records on March 23, 1993. Three of its tracks barely missed the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, each peaking at #2: "Ain't That Lonely Yet", "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" and "Fast as You", the latter being his last Top 10 single. Two other tracks also rose into the charts: "Try Not to Look So Pretty" at #14 and "Pocket of a Clown" at #22. The album itself peaked at #4 on the Top Country Albums chart. Yoakam wrote or co-wrote all except for one of the tracks on this album.

<i>Gone</i> (Dwight Yoakam album) 1995 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Gone is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam, released on October 31, 1995, by Reprise Records. The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. It produced three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "Nothing" at #20, "Gone " at #51, and "Sorry You Asked?" at #59. The final single, "Heart of Stone", failed to chart in the United States. This was also the first album of his career not to produce a Top Ten country hit.

<i>A Long Way Home</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

A Long Way Home is the ninth studio album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam, released on June 9, 1998. It reached No. 11 on the Billboard Country Album, with two of its tracks charting on the Hot Country Singles chart. "Things Change" reached No. 17, while "These Arms" peaked at No. 57. Yoakam wrote all the songs on the album himself.

<i>Tomorrows Sounds Today</i> 2000 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Tomorrow's Sounds Today is the eleventh studio album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. This album was released on October 31, 2000. It rose to No. 7 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. There were two charting singles among its tracks: "What Do You Know About Love" at No. 26 and "I Want You to Want Me" at No. 49 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Also included are two duets with Buck Owens, who was a big influence on Yoakam's musical style. It was also Yoakam's last studio album for the Reprise label. After that album's release, Yoakam left Reprise for Warner Bros. in 2001.

<i>Population Me</i> 2003 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Population Me is the 13th studio album by Dwight Yoakam. It was released in June 2003 via the Audium Records label. The album spawned two singles, "The Back of Your Hand" and "The Late Great Golden State".

<i>Blame the Vain</i> 2005 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Blame the Vain is the 16th studio album by country music artist Dwight Yoakam, released in June 2005, and his first not to be produced by guitarist producer Pete Anderson. Yoakam wrote all the songs and produced the album himself. He also directed the videos for "Intentional Heartache" and the title track.

<i>South of Heaven, West of Hell</i> (soundtrack) 2001 soundtrack album by Dwight Yoakam

South of Heaven, West of Hell is country singer Dwight Yoakam's 12th studio album, and the first soundtrack album to the motion picture of the same name in which he starred, co-wrote and directed. Yoakam portrays a lawman in the early 1900s in the "wild west" of the Arizona Territory. Half of the tracks in the album are country music tracks. The other tracks are short snippets of straight dialog scenes from the film itself. There are many well-known co-stars in the movie, including Peter Fonda, Bridget Fonda, Paul Reubens, Billy Bob Thornton, Warren Zevon and Vince Vaughn. This was also Yoakam's only album for Warner Bros. after leaving Reprise.

<i>Dwight Sings Buck</i> 2007 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Dwight Sings Buck is country music artist Dwight Yoakam's 17th studio album, and a tribute album to Buck Owens. The album was released on October 23, 2007, by New West Records.

<i>Under the Covers</i> (Dwight Yoakam album) 1997 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Under the Covers is the seventh studio album, and the first covers album recorded by Dwight Yoakam. It peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, and No. 92 on the Billboard 200.

<i>dwightyoakamacoustic.net</i> 2000 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

dwightyoakamacoustic.net is the tenth studio album released in 2000 by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It features 25 of his songs recorded in an acoustic manner, save for "Little Sister" which also features Pete Anderson on electric guitar. The album peaked at #24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #195 on The Billboard 200.

<i>Just Lookin for a Hit</i> 1989 greatest hits album by Dwight Yoakam

Just Lookin' for a Hit is the first compilation album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It includes eight singles from his 1980s albums for Reprise Records, as well as two newly recorded cover songs: "Long White Cadillac," originally recorded by The Blasters, and "Sin City," originally recorded by the Flying Burrito Brothers.

<i>Tempted</i> (Marty Stuart album) 1991 studio album by Marty Stuart

Tempted is the fifth studio album by American country music artist, Marty Stuart. It was released in January 1991 by MCA Nashville. It peaked at #20 on the Top Country Albums chart. It was certified Gold in the United States and Canada. The songs, "Little Things", "'Til I Found You", "Tempted" and "Burn Me Down" were released as singles and all of them reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. "Tempted" at #5 is the highest charting solo single of his career in the United States, although he would reach #2 in 1992 as a duet partner on Travis Tritt's "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'."

<i>21st Century Hits: Best of 2000–2012</i> 2013 compilation album by Dwight Yoakam

21st Century Hits: Best of 2000–2012 is the fourth greatest hits compilation album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It was released by New West Records on October 1, 2013. It includes songs from the albums Tomorrow's Sounds Today, Population Me, Blame the Vain, Dwight Sings Buck and 3 Pears, as well as a previously unreleased duet with Michelle Branch and a cover of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" from his previous greatest hits collection, the 1999 Last Chance for a Thousand Years, that also appeared on the soundtrack to the 2006 film The Break-Up.

<i>Second Hand Heart</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Dwight Yoakam

Second Hand Heart is the 19th studio album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It was released on April 14, 2015 via Warner Bros. Records.

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "3 Pears review". AllMusic . Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ Horowitz, Hal (September 14, 2012). "Dwight Yoakam: Three Pears". American Songwriter . Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  3. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (September 18, 2012). "3 Pears by Dwight Yoakam". Country Weekly . Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  4. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (September 17, 2012). "Album Review: Dwight Yoakam - 3 Pears". Roughstock. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  5. ↑ Lane, Baron (October 19, 2012). "3 Pears review". Twang Nation. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  6. ↑ McLeese 2012, p. 189.
  7. ↑ McLeese 2012, p. 190.
  8. ↑ James Montgomery (September 26, 2012). "Pink Outguns Kanye West, Killers For First #1 Billboard Debut". MTV. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Americana Radio Chart For Week Of Monday, October 29". October 29, 2012. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Dwight Yoakam's 3 Pears Is No.1 Americana Album For Fifth Week In A Row". Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
  12. 1 2 Parton, Chris (September 19, 2012). "Dwight Yoakam Is Back in Action on 3 Pears". CMTNews. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  13. ↑ Wood, Mikael (October 4, 2012). "Dwight Yoakam shows a softer side on '3 Pears'". npr.org. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  14. ↑ Tucker, Ken (September 19, 2012). "Dwight Yoakam: Weary and Wary on '3 Pears'". npr.org. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  15. ↑ "50 Best Songs of 2012". Rolling Stone . 5 December 2012.
  16. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 40 Country Albums". Archived from the original on 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  17. 1 2 "Chart listing for 3 Pears". Billboard . Retrieved October 9, 2012.
Bibliography
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.