If That Ain't Country

Last updated
If That Ain't Country
Anthonysmith.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 25, 2002 (2002-06-25)
Genre Country
Label Mercury Nashville
Producer Bobby Terry
Anthony Smith chronology
If That Ain't Country
(2002)
Sunshine (EP)
(2009)

If That Ain't Country is the debut studio album by American country music artist Anthony Smith. It was released in 2002 on Mercury Nashville Records as his only studio album. Three singles were released from it: the title track, followed by "John J. Blanchard" and "Half a Man". Respectively, these reached 26, 40 and 40 on the Hot Country Songs charts.

Contents

Content

Two of this album's tracks were previously recorded by other artists: "John J. Blanchard" by Tommy Shane Steiner on his 2002 debut album Then Came the Night under the title "The Mind of John J. Blanchard", and "What Brothers Do" by Confederate Railroad from their 2001 album Unleashed. Confederate Railroad also released this song as a single that year. Two more would later be recorded by other artists as well. Sammy Kershaw recorded "Metropolis" on his 2003 album I Want My Money Back , as did Trace Adkins on his 2005 album Songs About Me , while Trisha Yearwood recorded "Who Invented the Wheel" on her 2005 album Jasper County . Kenny Rogers covered "Half a Man" on his 2006 album Water & Bridges .

Critical reception

Shelly Fabian of About.com gave the album a five-star review, saying in her review "With 12 awesome tracks and a wonderful baritone voice, Anthony Smith is decidedly modern while also having some 'outlaw' country tendencies." [1] Dan MacIntosh of Country Standard Time gave a positive review, saying that Smith "writes and sings songs with an expressively blues-y voice, voicing lyrics that incorporate plenty of humor and real heart." [2]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Who Invented the Wheel" Anthony Smith, Craig Wiseman, Bobby Terry3:32
2."If That Ain't Country"Smith, Jeffrey Steele 3:52
3."John J. Blanchard"Smith, Chris Wallin3:56
4."Impossible to Do"Smith, Wallin, Tony Lane4:35
5."Half a Man"Smith3:05
6."Metropolis"Smith, Wallin3:13
7."Up to the Depth"Smith, Wallin, Terry4:19
8."Airborn"Smith3:58
9."What Brothers Do"Smith, Wallin4:03
10."Hell of a Question"Smith, John Burchett4:09
11."Venus"Smith, Wallin3:33
12."Infinity"Smith4:08

Personnel

As listed in liner notes. [3]

Chart performance

Chart (2002)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums26
U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers16

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathy Mattea</span> American musician, activist (born 1959)

Kathleen Alice Mattea is an American country music and bluegrass singer. Active since 1984 as a recording artist, she has charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including four that reached No. 1: "Goin' Gone", "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses", "Come from the Heart", and "Burnin' Old Memories", plus 12 more that charted within the top ten. She has released 14 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and one greatest hits album. Most of her material was recorded for Universal Music Group Nashville's Mercury Records Nashville division between 1984 and 2000, with later albums being issued on Narada Productions, her own Captain Potato label, and Sugar Hill Records. Among her albums, she has received five gold certifications and one platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She has collaborated with Dolly Parton, Michael McDonald, Tim O'Brien, and her husband, Jon Vezner. Mattea is also a two-time Grammy Award winner: in 1990 for "Where've You Been", and in 1993 for her Christmas album Good News. Her style is defined by traditional country, bluegrass, folk, and Celtic music influences.

<i>The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988</i> 1997 greatest hits album by John Mellencamp

The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 is the first greatest hits compilation album by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, released by Mercury Records in 1997. It compiles Mellencamp's most popular material recorded during his first decade with Riva and Mercury Records, beginning with 1978's A Biography, up through 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee, with a new recording of Terry Reid's "Without Expression". Mellencamp picked the songs for the album and also came up with the title for the album. The album reached No. 33 on the Billboard 200. This album and Rough Harvest came about because, after leaving Mercury Records for Columbia Records, Mellencamp still owed the label two more albums.

<i>Storm in the Heartland</i> 1994 studio album by Billy Ray Cyrus

Storm in the Heartland is the third studio album by American country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. Released in 1994 on Mercury Records, it produced the singles "Storm in the Heartland", "Deja Blue", and "One Last Thrill", the first two of which entered the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The album itself was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000 copies.

<i>When the Sun Goes Down</i> (Kenny Chesney album) 2004 studio album by Kenny Chesney

When the Sun Goes Down is the eighth studio album by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released on February 3, 2004 via BNA Records. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling over 550,000 copies in its first week.

<i>Songs About Me</i> 2005 studio album by Trace Adkins

Songs About Me is the seventh studio album by American country music artist Trace Adkins. It was released on March 22, 2005, via Capitol Records Nashville. His highest-selling album to date, it has been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA and had sold 1.5 million copies. Singles from this album include the title track, "Arlington", and "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk". The title track and "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" both went to No.2 and "Arlington" went to No.16 on the U.S. BillboardHot Country Songs charts. "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" was also a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and Pop 100 charts as well.

<i>What Mattered Most</i> 1995 studio album by Ty Herndon

What Mattered Most is the debut studio album by American country music artist Ty Herndon, issued in 1995 on Epic Records. The album's title track, which was Herndon's debut single, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in mid-1995. Other singles from the album were, in order, "I Want My Goodbye Back," "Heart Half Empty" and "In Your Face." Doug Johnson produced the entire album, with additional production from Ed Seay on "Heart Half Empty".

<i>Politics, Religion and Her</i> 1996 studio album by Sammy Kershaw

Politics, Religion and Her is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. The album launched several charting singles and itself charted at number 115 on The Billboard 200, also peaking at number 17 on Top Country Albums. Charting songs included "Vidalia", "Meant to Be", "Fit to Be Tied Down", and the title track, which peaked on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts at numbers 10, 5, 29, and 28 respectively.

Ralph Anthony Smith is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. As a Nashville recording artist, Smith's debut album, If That Ain't Country, on Mercury Records Nashville. Produced three Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. As a songwriter Smith has had over 250 songs recorded by other Nashville recording artist Such as George Strait, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Faith Hill and more.

<i>Greatest Hits Volume One</i> (Toby Keith album) 1998 greatest hits album by Toby Keith

Greatest Hits Volume One is the first greatest hits album by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released on October 20, 1998 by Mercury Records and was his final album for the label, where he had been from the start of his career in 1993 to 1998. It features singles from his first four studio albums, as well as the newly recorded tracks "Getcha Some", and "If a Man Answers". Both of these tracks were released as singles, in 1998 and 1999, respectively. While "Getcha Some" peaked at #18 on the Hot Country Songs charts, "If a Man Answers" reached #44 on the same chart, becoming the first single of Keith's career to miss the Top 40. It is Keith's only compilation album not to feature singles in chronological order.

<i>The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover to Cover</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Billy Ray Cyrus

The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover to Cover is a greatest hits album, released in 1997, by country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. It features three newly released tracks — "It's All the Same to Me", "Cover to Cover", and "Bluegrass State of Mind" — as well as a reprise of "Trail of Tears" from his 1996 album of the same name. "It's All the Same to Me" was a Top 20 hit for Cyrus in 1997 on the Hot Country Songs charts.

<i>Real Things</i> (Joe Nichols album) 2007 studio album by Joe Nichols

Real Things is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Joe Nichols, released on August 21, 2007 by Universal South Records. It produced two singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts with "Another Side of You", which peaked at number 17, and "It Ain't No Crime", which reached number 16.

<i>What I Do the Best</i> 1996 studio album by John Michael Montgomery

What I Do the Best is the fourth studio album by American country music artist John Michael Montgomery. The tracks "Ain't Got Nothin' on Us", "Friends", "How Was I to Know" and "I Miss You a Little" were all released as singles, peaking at #15, #2, #2 and #6, respectively on the Hot Country Songs charts, making this the first album of his career not to produce a #1 hit. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA for one million shipments in the US.

<i>Ride</i> (Shelly Fairchild album) 2005 studio album by Shelly Fairchild

Ride is the debut studio album by American country music artist Shelly Fairchild, released in March 2005 on Columbia Records. It includes the singles "You Don't Lie Here Anymore", "Tiny Town" and "Kiss Me". Although "You Don't Lie Here Anymore" reached #35 on the U.S. country singles charts in late 2004, the other two singles failed to chart.

<i>Then Came the Night</i> 2002 studio album by Tommy Shane Steiner

Then Came the Night is the only studio album of American country music artist Tommy Shane Steiner, released in 2002 on RCA Nashville. It features the single "What If She's an Angel", a number 2 hit for Steiner on the Hot Country Songs charts in late 2001-early 2002. Both the second and third singles — "Tell Me Where It Hurts" and "What We're Gonna Do About It", respectively — peaked at number 43 on the same chart.

<i>Haunted Heart</i> (Sammy Kershaw album) 1993 studio album by Sammy Kershaw

Haunted Heart is the second studio album by American country music singer Sammy Kershaw, released on March 9, 1993, through Mercury Records. It produced four singles: "She Don't Know She's Beautiful", the title track, "Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer", and "I Can't Reach Her Anymore". "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for Kershaw in 1993, while the other three singles reached the top ten on the same chart. Like his debut album, Haunted Heart was certified platinum by the RIAA. "Cry Cry Darlin'" was previously recorded by several other artists, including Bill Monroe and Dolly Parton.

<i>I Want My Money Back</i> 2003 studio album by Sammy Kershaw

I Want My Money Back is the eighth studio album by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw, released on March 25, 2003. His first album for Audium/Koch Entertainment, it produced two singles on the Billboard country charts: the title track at #33 and "I've Never Been Anywhere" at #58.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Whiskey Ain't Workin'</span> 1991 single by Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart

"The Whiskey Ain't Workin'" is a song recorded by American country music artists Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart. It was released in November 1991 as the third single from Tritt's album It's All About to Change. It peaked at number two on the Billboard country music chart in the United States, and at number four on the country singles chart in Canada. The song was written by Stuart and Ronny Scaife.

<i>Life Is Messy</i> 1992 studio album by Rodney Crowell

Life Is Messy is the seventh studio album by American country music artist Rodney Crowell, released in 1992 by Columbia Records. It peaked at number 30 on the Top Country Albums chart. The songs, "Lovin' All Night", "What Kind of Love", "It's Not for Me to Judge", and "Let's Make Trouble" were released as singles.

<i>When and Where</i> 1995 studio album by Confederate Railroad

When and Where is the third studio album by the American country music band Confederate Railroad. It was issued by Atlantic Records in 1995. The album includes the singles "When and Where", "Bill's Laundromat, Bar and Grill", "When He Was My Age" and "See Ya." Although "When and Where" was a number 24 hit on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks in mid-1995, the other three singles all missed Top 40.

<i>Shane McAnally</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Shane McAnally

Shane McAnally is the self-titled debut studio album by American country music singer Shane McAnally. It was also the only album of his career, released on October 24, 2000 via Curb Records. The album includes the singles "Say Anything," "Are Your Eyes Still Blue," and "Run Away".

References

  1. Fabian, Shelly. "If That Ain't Country review". About.com . Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  2. MacIntosh, Dan. "If That Ain't Country review". Country Standard Time . Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  3. If That Ain't Country (Media notes). Anthony Smith. Mercury Records. 2002. 088 170 292-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)