Show Pony

Last updated
Show Pony
Orville Peck - Show Pony.jpg
EP by
ReleasedAugust 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)
Recorded2020 [1]
Studio Shania Twain's Las Vegas ranch ("Legends Never Die") [1]
Genre [1] [2]
Length25:15
Label Columbia
Producer
  • Orville Peck
  • Dallas Austin
  • Eric Zayne
  • Austin Jenkins
  • Carlos Santolalla
Orville Peck chronology
Pony
(2019)
Show Pony
(2020)
Bronco
(2022)
Singles from Show Pony
  1. "Summertime"
    Released: April 1, 2020 [3]

Show Pony is the first extended play by South African country music artist Orville Peck, and a companion to his debut studio album Pony . Announced by Peck as a bridge between Pony and the next full-length album, it was released on August 14, 2020 by Columbia Records, making his debut major-label release. It received positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Recording and release

Initially scheduled for release on June 12, 2020, the extended play was put out by Columbia and Sub Pop the following August 14, to allow more public attention to the George Floyd protests. [4] The release was preceded by a music video for "Legends Never Die", a duet starring fellow Canadian country pop vocalist Shania Twain, [5] as well as by videos for singles "No Glory in the West" [6] and "Summertime". [7]

Peck recorded the songs as a follow-up to his 2019 debut Pony and was inspired by the work of Neil Young and Crazy Horse. He arranged the duet with Twain after the two met at an awards show in 2020 and recorded the song immediately before quarantining due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [1] with the duo working on the song at Twain's ranch. [8] In addition to the themes of a rough and hot American Southwest, Peck viewed this release as a bridge between Pony and his next full-length project, re-recording "Summertime" from Pony-era sessions for this EP. [9]

Peck and Twain recorded a live-to-tape performance of "Legends Never Die" for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote the release. [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 79100 [11]
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim! 910 [12]
The Line of Best Fit 810 [13]
NME 45 [2]
Pitchfork Media 6.710 [14]
Spectrum Culture64% [15]
Sputnikmusic4.55 [16]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Show Pony received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 from five critic scores.. [11] Aggregator Album of the Year summed up critical consensus as an 88 out of 100, based on seven reviews. [17] The A.V. Club staff listed this as one of five noteworthy releases of the week, with writer Cameron Scheetz saying, "Orville Peck's vocal muscle really shines through, staking out a place of his own among the legends that inspired him". [18] Leonie Cooper of NME gave the album four out of five stars for Peck's diversity as a performer, with the "razzle-dazzle" of "Legends Never Die" and more somber and pensive tracks. [2] Allie Gregory's review in Exclaim! was even more effusive, writing that the album solidifies Peck's place as one of country's greats, scoring it a nine out of ten. [12] Similarly, Ross Horton of The Line of Best Fit gave the album an eight out of 10 for pushing the boundaries of country music, writing that Peck is on a "one-man mission to take country out farther into the wilderness that its ever been". [13] Pitchfork Media's Cat Zhang gave a more mixed review, awarding a 6.7 out of 10 and praising the playfulness and depth of Peck's lyrics but noting that his stage persona is too shallow. [14] Daniel Bromfield of Spectrum Culture summed up his review with a 64% and noting that the Peck persona is too flimsy: "his music still preoccupies itself with cowboy bombast rather than the wit, personality and day-to-day poetry that defines the best country music... The man behind the Peck project is beginning to emerge, but he remains more interesting as a myth." [15]

Sales chart performance

Show Pony appeared on several Billboard charts in the United States, reaching 8 on Americana/Folk Albums, [19] 20 Top Album Sales, [20] 46 on Top Country Albums, [21] and 50 on Top Rock Albums. [22]

Track listing

All songs written by Orville Peck, except where noted

  1. "Summertime" – 2:57
  2. "No Glory in the West" (Duncan Hay Jennings and Orville Peck) – 4:13
  3. "Drive Me, Crazy" – 5:18
  4. "Kids" – 3:21
  5. "Legends Never Die" (Jennings and Peck) – 3:52
  6. "Fancy" (Bobbie Gentry) – 5:34

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes [23]

Technical personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Show Pony
Chart (2020)Peak
position
UK Americana Albums (OCC) [24] 8
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [25] 17
US Folk Albums (Billboard) [26] 8
US Top Album Sales (Billboard) [27] 20
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [28] 47
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [29] 50

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shania Twain</span> Canadian singer (born 1965)

Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the best-selling female artist in country music history. Her success garnered her several titles, including the "Queen of Country Pop". Billboard named her as the leader of the '90s country-pop crossover stars.

<i>Up!</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Shania Twain

Up! is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It was released on November 19, 2002, by Mercury Nashville. Three versions of the album were released: a pop version, a country version, and a version in the style of Indian film music. The album was heavily hyped by the media due to it being Twain's follow-up to her high-selling 1997 studio album Come On Over.

<i>Come On Over</i> 1997 studio album by Shania Twain

Come On Over is the third studio album by Canadian singer Shania Twain. Mercury Records in North America released it on November 4, 1997. Similar to her work on its predecessor, The Woman in Me (1995), Twain entirely collaborated with producer and then-husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange. With both having busy schedules, they often wrote apart and later intertwined their ideas. Twain wanted to improve her songwriting skills and write a conversational album reflecting her personality and beliefs. The resulting songs explore themes of romance and female empowerment, addressed with humour.

<i>The Woman in Me</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Shania Twain

The Woman in Me is the second studio album by Canadian country singer-songwriter Shania Twain and her first to be produced by long-time collaborator and then-husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Released on February 7, 1995, it went on to become her biggest-selling recording at the time, selling 4 million copies by the end of the year, and was eventually certified 12× Platinum by the RIAA on December 1, 2000, for 12 million shipments throughout the United States. The album has sold an estimated 20 million copies worldwide. It was ranked number 8 on CMT's list of 40 Greatest Albums in Country Music in 2006. The album is credited with having influenced the sound of contemporary country music. Eight singles were released from the album for its promotion, including "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?", "Any Man of Mine", "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!" and "You Win My Love", with each accompanied by a music video.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Shania Twain album) 2004 greatest hits album by Shania Twain

Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by Canadian country-pop singer Shania Twain, released on November 8, 2004, by Mercury Nashville. The album contains seventeen of Twain's top ten hits, including all of her seven number one hits on the Hot Country Songs. Excluded from the track list is Twain's self-titled debut album, of which no songs were included. Some songs are included in their pop versions such as "That Don't Impress Me Much" and "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Still the One</span> 1998 single by Shania Twain

"You're Still the One" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Shania Twain for her third studio album Come On Over (1997). The song was inspired by criticism of Twain's relationship with her then-husband and producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange and depicts her celebrating their marriage despite the difficulties and differences between the two. Written by Twain and Lange, it is a piano-driven country pop ballad incorporating guitar, organ, and mandolin. Mercury Records released "You're Still the One" to U.S. contemporary hit radio stations on January 13, 1998, as the album's first pop radio single. The song was later serviced to U.S. country radio stations as the third single from Come On Over on February 13, 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Getcha Good!</span> 2002 single by Shania Twain

"I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" is a song by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It was released as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Up! (2002), and was co-written by Twain and her then-husband, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who also produced the track on October 7, 2002, to country radio first.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forever and for Always</span> 2003 single by Shania Twain

"Forever and for Always" is a song by Canadian country music singer Shania Twain. The song was released as the fourth single from her fourth studio album Up! (2002), on April 7, 2003; it was also the third to be sent to country radio. The song was written by her then-husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Twain. The song is about two people who fall in love as children and are still with each other even as they grow older. "Forever and for Always" was certified gold for 500,000 digital downloads by the RIAA in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shania Twain discography</span>

Canadian singer Shania Twain has released six studio albums, three compilation albums, three remix albums, one box set, two live albums, 45 singles, 38 music videos, six promotional singles, and made six guest appearances. Twain's repertoire has sold over 34 million albums in the United States alone, placing her as the top-selling female artist in country music. Moreover, with 48 million copies shipped, she is ranked as the 26th best-selling artist overall in the US, tying with Kenny G for the spot. She is also recognized as one of the best-selling music artists in history, selling over 100 million records worldwide and thus becoming the top-selling female artist in country music ever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man! I Feel Like a Woman!</span> 1999 single by Shania Twain

"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain from her third studio album, Come On Over (1997). Written by Twain and her longtime collaborator and then-husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who also produced the track, the song was released first to North American country radio stations in March 1999 as the eighth single from the album, and it was released worldwide later the same year. "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" is a country pop song with a lyric about female empowerment and remains one of Twain's biggest hits worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That Don't Impress Me Much</span> 1998 single by Shania Twain

"That Don't Impress Me Much" is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It was released in December 1998 as the sixth country single, and seventh single overall, from her third studio album, Come On Over (1997). It was third to pop and fourth to international markets. The song was written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Twain, and was originally released to North American country radio stations in late 1998. It became her third biggest single on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of Twain's biggest hits worldwide.

<i>Live and Kickin</i> (Willie Nelson album) 2003 live album by Willie Nelson & Friends

Live and Kickin' was a 2003 all-star concert by country singer Willie Nelson on April 9, 2003, featuring music stars of diverse genres like Eric Clapton, Shania Twain, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Ray Charles and Steven Tyler. The concert was held at the Beacon Theatre in New York City in celebration of Willie Nelson's 70th Birthday. Announcers were Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg and Bill Clinton. A large cake in the shape of Willie's iconic "Trigger" Martin guitar was wheeled onstage towards the end of the show.

Jake Nathan Gosling is an English record producer and songwriter. He has worked on albums or singles for artists including Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, The Libertines, James Bay, Shawn Mendes, All Time Low, One Direction, Major Lazer, Christina Perri, Shania Twain, 5 Seconds of Summer, Paloma Faith, and Wiley.

Legends Never Die may refer to:

<i>Now</i> (Shania Twain album) 2017 studio album by Shania Twain

Now is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter Shania Twain and her first in 15 years. It was released on September 29, 2017 by Mercury Nashville. The album was produced by Twain alongside Ron Aniello, Jake Gosling, Jacquire King and Matthew Koma. Following a severely weakened singing voice caused by Lyme disease and dysphonia, Twain took an indefinite hiatus from music beginning in the mid-2000s, and at one point was unsure if she would ever be able to sing again. Following intense vocal rehabilitation and a successful concert residency in Las Vegas, Shania: Still the One, she began planning a new studio album in 2013. Written solely by Twain, Now is her first studio album in which she assumed an integral role in its production, co-producing every track. It is also Twain's first album since her 1995 album The Woman in Me to not be co-written with or produced by her ex-husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orville Peck</span> Country musician (born 1988)

Daniel Pitout, known professionally as Orville Peck, is a South African country musician based in the United States and Canada. He is well-known for wearing a mask and not showing his face publicly.

<i>Pony</i> (Orville Peck album) 2019 studio album by Orville Peck

Pony is the debut studio album by South African country musician Orville Peck, released on March 22, 2019 by Sub Pop. A country, alternative country, and cowboy pop album, Pony features elements of goth, dream pop, shoegaze, indie rock, surf rock, post-punk, gospel folk.

<i>Bronco</i> (Orville Peck album) 2022 studio album by Orville Peck

Bronco is the second studio album by South African singer-songwriter Orville Peck, released on April 8, 2022 by Columbia Records. It was nominated for Country Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023 and was longlisted for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize.

<i>Not Just a Girl (The Highlights)</i> 2022 compilation album by Shania Twain

Not Just a Girl (The Highlights) is a compilation album by Shania Twain. It was first released digitally on July 26, 2022, before receiving a physical CD release on September 2, 2022. The digital release coincides with the Netflix documentary spanning Twain's music career, Not Just a Girl. The album contains one new track, the title track, and 17 previously released singles from Twain's five studio albums. The title track was later included on her sixth studio album Queen of Me.

<i>Queen of Me</i> 2023 studio album by Shania Twain

Queen of Me is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter Shania Twain. The album was released on February 3, 2023, by Republic Records. It is her first album since Now (2017), and is her first to not be released with her previous label of 29 years, Mercury Nashville. The album was promoted with the release of two singles and a promotional single: "Waking Up Dreaming", "Last Day of Summer", and "Giddy Up!". Commercially, the album became her third number one album in the United Kingdom, and entered the top ten in Canada, Switzerland, Australia and the United States.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gordon, Holly. "'She's Just Such a Boss': How Orville Peck Teamed Up with Shania Twain on His New Show Pony EP". CBC Radio . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Cooper, Leonie (August 13, 2020). "Orville Peck Show Pony EP Review: The Lone Ranger's Second Great Release on the Trot". NME . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  3. Kaye, Ben (April 1, 2020). "Orville Peck Looks Forward to 'Summertime' on New Song". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  4. Daly, Rhian (June 11, 2020). "Orville Peck Delays Show Pony EP to Keep Focus on Black Lives Matter Movement". NME . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  5. Freeman, Jon (May 29, 2020). "Orville Peck Announces New EP Show Pony, Teases Shania Twain Duet". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  6. Hussey, Allison (May 29, 2020). "Orville Peck Announces New Show Pony EP, Shares New Video". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  7. Enis, Eli (August 14, 2020). "Orville Peck Unleashes New Show Pony EP". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  8. Romack, Coco (August 17, 2020). "Orville Peck's Subversive Sound: Cruising, Cowboys, and Country". MTV. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  9. Liptak, Carena (August 14, 2020). "Interview: With Show Pony, Orville Peck Settles Confidently into His Identity, But Still Experiments". The Boot . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  10. Droke, Carolyn (August 18, 2020). "Orville Peck and Shania Twain Sing a Dive Bar Duet of 'Legends Never Die' on The Tonight Show". Uproxx . Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Show Pony by Orville Peck". Metacritic . Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Gregory, Allie (August 11, 2020). "With Show Pony, Orville Peck Solidifies His Place as One of Country's Greats". Exclaim! . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Horton, Ross (August 14, 2020). "Orville Peck Continues His One Man Mission to Take Country Music into the Far Reaches". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Zhang, Cat (August 21, 2020). "Orville Peck: Show Pony EP". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Bromfield, Daniel (August 20, 2020). "Orville Peck: Show Pony". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  16. SowingSeason (August 15, 2020). "Review: Orville Peck Show Pony". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  17. "Orville Peck Show Pony". Album of the Year. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  18. Scheetz, Cameron (August 14, 2020). "5 New Releases We Love: Miley Cyrus Is Back, Baby, and It's the '80s All Over Again". The A.V. Club . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  19. "Orville Peck Chart History (Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  20. "Orville Peck Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  21. "Orville Peck Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  22. "Orville Peck Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  23. Show Pony (liner notes). Columbia Records/Sub Pop. August 14, 2020.
  24. "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  25. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  26. "Orville Peck Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  27. "Orville Peck Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  28. "Orville Peck Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  29. "Orville Peck Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.