The Hard Way (Cameron Whitcomb album)

The Hard Way
Studio album by Cameron Whitcomb
Released	September 26, 2025 (2025-09-26)
Length	37:40
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Beau Bedford Dan Fernandez Jeff Levin Jack Riley David Schaeman Cal Shapiro
Cameron Whitcomb chronology
Quitter (2024) The Hard Way (2025)
Singles from The Hard Way
"Quitter" Released: July 26, 2024 "Medusa" Released: November 8, 2024 "Options" Released: March 7, 2025

The Hard Way is the debut studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Cameron Whitcomb. ^[1] It was primarily produced by Jack Riley, and released on September 26, 2025, via Atlantic Records. ^[2] The album includes the singles "Quitter", "Medusa", and "Options", as well as the promotional singles "Hundred Mile High", "Fragile", and "The Hard Way". ^[3] Whitcomb is supporting the album with his headlining "I've Got Options Tour" across the United States in the fall of 2025. ^{[4] [5]}

Background

The album explores Whitcomb's battle with addiction at a young age, his recovery, and the mental health struggles that accompanied his journey getting sober. ^[6] Whitcomb co-wrote every song on the album, with the majority of the songs being writing collaborations with Jack Riley, Cal Shapiro, and Nolan Sipe. ^[7]

Critical reception

Victoria Goodwin of Melodic Magazine called The Hard Way a "great first album". She described it as "raw", "vulnerable", and "hopeful", adding that it "[feels] like a journey through [Whitcomb's] mind or a roadmap for anyone who's had to fight to find themselves again." ^[8]

Track listing

The Hard Way track listing ^[9]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Hard Way"	Cameron Whitcomb Jack Riley Cal Shapiro Nolan Winfield Sipe	Riley Shapiro	2:42
2.	"Options"	Whitcomb Riley Shapiro Sipe	Riley	2:49
3.	"Lose Me"	Whitcomb Riley Shapiro	Riley	2:46
4.	"Fragile Ego (Interlude)"	Whitcomb		0:33
5.	"Fragile"	Whitcomb Shapiro Riley Sipe	Riley	3:22
6.	"Call for You"	Whitcomb Shapiro Riley Sipe	Riley	3:38
7.	"Quitter"	Whitcomb Sipe Ben Cottrill David Schaeman	Schaeman	2:41
8.	"Holiday"	Whitcomb Shapiro Riley Sipe	Riley Shapiro	3:00
9.	"Pretty Little"	Whitcomb Shapiro Riley Sipe	Riley	2:35
10.	"Hundred Mile High"	Whitcomb Riley Shapiro	Riley	2:52
11.	"Missed Calls (Interlude)"	Whitcomb	Jeff Levin	0:13
12.	"As I Stand Before the Coffin"	Whitcomb Beau Bedford	Bedford	4:10
13.	"Digging Holes"	Whitcomb Sipe Dan Fernandez	Riley Fernandez	2:49
14.	"Medusa"	Whitcomb Riley Shapiro	Riley	2:37
15.	"Polly (Interlude)"	Whitcomb		0:47
Total length:				37:40

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. ^[9]

• Cameron Whitcomb – vocals (all tracks), guitar (track 15)
• Mitch McCarthy – mixing
• Nathan Dantzler – mastering (1–6, 8)
• Randy Merrill – mastering (7)
• Cal Shapiro – background vocals (1–3, 8–10, 14), vocals (4)
• Jack Riley – background vocals (1, 3, 8–10, 14)
• Nolan Sipe – background vocals (1, 2, 8, 9)
• Shilo Preshyon – engineering (2)
• Gabe Gladstein – strings (3)
• Donald Whitcomb – vocals (11)
• Addie Levy – mandolin (14)

Charts

Chart performance for The Hard Way

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [10]	46
Australian Country Albums (ARIA) [11]	4
Canadian Albums ( Billboard ) [12]	24
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [13]	59
UK Americana Albums (OCC) [14]	5
UK Country Albums (OCC) [15]	9

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions							Certifications
		CAN [16]	IRE [17]	NLD [18]	NOR [19]	NZ Hot [20]	SWE [21]	US Rock [22]
"Quitter"	2024	33	—	—	—	—	—	—	ARIA: Gold [23] MC: Platinum [24]
"Medusa"		63	93	5	29	—	53	29	ARIA: Gold [25] MC: Platinum [24]
"Options"	2025	66	—	—	—	17	—	34	MC: Gold [24]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that territory.

Promotional singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions
		CAN [16]	NZ Hot [20]	US Rock [22]
"Hundred Mile High"	2025	88	10	33
"Fragile"		—	—	—
"The Hard Way"		—	35	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [26]	Gold	40,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release formats for The Hard Way

Country	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	September 26, 2025	CD	Atlantic	[27]
		LP record
		Digital download		[28]
		Streaming

References

1. Patton, Alli (September 4, 2025). "'The Hard Way' by Cameron Whitcomb - Lyric & Meaning". Holler Country. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
2. Daykin, James (August 8, 2025). "Cameron Whitcomb announces debut album 'The Hard Way' & shares new single 'Fragile'". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
3. Iahn, Buddy (September 5, 2025). "Cameron Whitcomb shares 'The Hard Way'". The Music Universe. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
4. "Whitcomb gets it done "The Hard Way"". Country Standard Time. August 8, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
5. Alper, Eric (September 2, 2025). "Cameron Whitcomb Announces Debut Album 'The Hard Way' Out September 26 via Atlantic Records". That Eric Alper. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
6. Sink, Lauryn (September 5, 2025). "Cameron Whitcomb Readies Debut Record Due This Month". Music Row. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
7. Vigil, Dom (October 1, 2025). "Cameron Whitcomb Releases Debut Album, "The Hard Way"". Prelude Press. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
8. Goodwin, Victoria (September 30, 2025). "Cameron Whitcomb grapples his past head on with debut album, 'The Hard Way' — Album Review". Melodic Magazine. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
9. "The Hard Way / Cameron Whitcomb / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved October 12, 2025.
10. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
11. "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
12. "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of October 11, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved October 7, 2025.
13. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
14. "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
15. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
16. References for Canadian Hot 100 peaks:
    • "Quitter": "Canadian Hot 100: Week of May 3, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved April 29, 2025.
    • "Medusa": "Canadian Hot 100: Week of February 1, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved January 28, 2025.
    • "Hundred Mile High": "Canadian Hot 100: Week of February 15, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved February 11, 2025.
    • "Options": "Canadian Hot 100: Week of October 25, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved October 21, 2025.
17. "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 3, 2025)". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved January 18, 2025.
18. "Discografie Cameron Whitcomb". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved April 5, 2025.
19. "Singel 2025 uke 04". VG-lista . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
20. • "Hundred Mile High": "NZ Hot 40 Singles – February 7, 2025". Recorded Music NZ. February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
    • "Options": "NZ Hot 40 Singles – March 14, 2025". Recorded Music NZ. March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
    • "The Hard Way": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
21. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 4, 2025". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
22. Peaks on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart:
    • "Medusa": "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of February 1, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved January 29, 2025.
    • "Hundred Mile High": "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of February 15, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved February 12, 2025.
    • "Options": "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of March 29, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved March 25, 2025.
23. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 18 September 2025.
24. "Canadian certifications – Cameron Whitcomb". Music Canada . Retrieved April 9, 2025.
25. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 10 August 2025.
26. "Canadian album certifications – Cameron Whitcomb – The Hard Way". Music Canada . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
27. "The Hard Way – Cameron Whitcomb, Releases". AllMusic . Retrieved October 2, 2025.
28. "The Hard Way - Album by Cameron Whitcomb". Apple Music (CA). Cameron Whitcomb under exclusive license to Atlantic Recording Corporation. September 26, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.