Work Hard, Play Harder

Last updated

"Work Hard, Play Harder"
WorkHardPlayHarder.jpg
Single by Gretchen Wilson
from the album I Got Your Country Right Here
ReleasedOctober 26, 2009 [1]
Recorded2008
Genre Country rock
Length3:09
Label Redneck Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Gretchen Wilson singles chronology
"If I Could Do It All Again"
(2009)		"Work Hard, Play Harder"
(2009)		"I Got Your Country Right Here"
(2010)

"Work Hard, Play Harder" is a song by American country music artist Gretchen Wilson. It was released on October 26, 2009, as the lead single from her fourth studio album, I Got Your Country Right Here (2010), and first to be issued under Wilson's own label, Redneck Records. Wilson co-wrote the song with John Rich and Vicky McGehee and produced it with Rich and Blake Chancey. Chris and Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes were also given credits due to the results of a lawsuit. It reached a peak of number 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming Wilson's highest-charting single since "All Jacked Up" in 2005.

Contents

Background

In 2009, Wilson formed her own independent record label, Redneck Records, following her departure from Columbia Nashville. [3] "Work Hard, Play Harder" was released as the label's debut single. [4]

Lawsuit

In July 2008, the song was featured in a commercial for the TNT show Saving Grace . Rock band The Black Crowes would file a lawsuit against Wilson. They claimed that Wilson had copied their song "Jealous Again", a 1990 song by the group which peaked at number five on the Mainstream Rock chart. This lawsuit also covered her then label Columbia Nashville, J. Money Music (her publishing company) and the TNT network. [5] The group's manager, Pete Angelus, said he found the verses to be "such an obvious example of copyright infringement" and that he expected all parties to reach a "relatively quick resolution to avoid litigation." [6] The lawsuit would eventually be settled out of court for an undisclosed amount of money. [7] This also lead Black Crowes members Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson to be given writer's credits on the song. [8]

Critical reception

The song has received mixed reception among music critics. Juli Thanki of Engine 145 gave the song a thumbs down, noted that while "it is catchy, and far from horrible," the song was too similar in theme to several of Wilson's previous singles. [9] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock positively described the song as "the perfect kind of song to play while driving to and from work or getting ready to go out on the weekend." He also thought that it would re-capture Wilson's fanbase. [10] Leeann Ward of Country Universe gave the song a B− rating, describing its theme and production as an "inferior carbon copy" of her debut single "Redneck Woman." She felt that although Wilson is a "decidedly talented artist," she should be free to make better music now on her own record label. [11]

Commercial performance

"Work Hard, Play Harder" debuted on the US Hot Country Songs chart the week of November 14, 2009, at number 56. It reached a peak position of number 18 on the chart the week of June 26, 2010, becoming her highest charting single since "All Jacked Up" peaked at number eight in 2005. It spent 33 weeks in total on the chart, becoming her longest charting song.

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions, premiered on CMT on October 13, 2009. In the video, Wilson is shown driving through the countryside, standing beside a barn with a projector screen showing footage of her previous music videos; The Saving Grace version of the video features scenes from the show on the projector screen instead of her music videos and performing with her band in the evening at an outdoor concert.

Charts

Chart (2009–2010)Peak
position
Canada Country ( Billboard ) [12] 28
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard) [13] 15
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [14] 18


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gretchen Wilson</span> American country singer

Gretchen Frances Wilson is an American country music singer and songwriter. She made her debut in March 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman", a number-one hit on the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, Here for the Party. Wilson followed this album one year later with All Jacked Up, the title track of which became the highest-debuting single for a female country artist upon its 2005 release. A third album, One of the Boys, was released in 2007.

<i>Here for the Party</i> 2004 studio album by Gretchen Wilson

Here for the Party is the debut studio album by American country music singer Gretchen Wilson. It was released on May 11, 2004 through Epic Records Nashville. After singing in a bar, she met John Rich of Big & Rich, who invited her to work with him. She would later join the MuzikMafia, a collection of Nashville singers and songwriters that gathered weekly to play songs. Wilson recorded the album in Nashville, Tennessee. The album was produced by Joe Scaife, Mark Wright, and John Rich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Rich</span> American country musician

John Rich is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar, co-writing his inaugural #1 hit song called "Come Cryin' to Me" and sharing lead vocal duties with Richie McDonald. Departing from Lonestar in 1998, he ventured into a solo career under BNA Records in the late 1990s, where he released two singles and recorded Underneath the Same Moon, which was delayed until 2006. In 2001, he singlehandedly released Rescue Me, an album inspired by a cancer patient named Katie Darnell. By 2003, he teamed up with Big Kenny to establish the duo Big & Rich, achieving success with three albums under Warner Bros. Records as well as ten singles, notably chart topper "Lost in This Moment". After Big & Rich went on hiatus in 2007, Rich began work on a third solo album, Son of a Preacher Man, yielding two more chart singles including the Top Ten hit song "Shuttin' Detroit Down." In 2011, he released two extended plays, Rich Rocks and For the Kids, before re-vitalizing Big & Rich in 2012. They launched Big and Rich Records in 2014, experiencing considerable success with big hits like "Look At You", "Loving Lately", and "Run Away with You."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Kenny</span> American country music singer

William Kenneth Alphin, best known by his stage name Big Kenny, is an American country music singer. He and John Rich comprise the duo Big & Rich, who recorded four studio albums and charted fifteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Chad Brock is an American country music singer and disc jockey. Before beginning his musical career in the late 1990s, he was a professional wrestler in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), until an injury forced him to retire.

<i>One of the Boys</i> (Gretchen Wilson album) 2007 studio album by Gretchen Wilson

One of the Boys is the third studio album by American country music singer Gretchen Wilson. It was released on May 15, 2007 by Columbia Nashville after Wilson's previous label, Epic Nashville, was shut down. The album was produced by the team of Wilson, John Rich, and Mark Wright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Otto</span> American country music artist (born 1973)

James Allen Otto is an American country music singer and songwriter. Otto began his career on Mercury Nashville Records in 2002, charting three minor singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and recording his debut album Days of Our Lives for the label before being dropped in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redneck Woman</span> 2004 Gretchen Wilson song

"Redneck Woman" is the debut single of American country music artist Gretchen Wilson, released on March 15, 2004, from her debut studio album, Here for the Party (2004). Wilson co-wrote the song with John Rich. It is Wilson's only number-one single on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The song also reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, the song found modest success in Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, reaching number 50 on the Australian Singles Chart, number 45 on the Irish Singles Chart, and number 42 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gretchen Wilson discography</span>

The discography of American country music artist Gretchen Wilson consists of twenty-three singles and seven studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey + Rory</span> American country and bluegrass duo

Joey + Rory was an American country and bluegrass duo composed of singer-songwriters Rory Feek and Joey Feek, who were husband and wife. Both members of the duo were vocalists and songwriters, with Rory also playing acoustic guitar. Rory Lee Feek had written singles for other artists prior to the duo's foundation. The duo was the third-place finalist on CMT's competition Can You Duet in 2008. The duo recorded eight studio albums for Vanguard Records and Gaither Music Group and charted three singles on Hot Country Songs.

<i>I Got Your Country Right Here</i> 2010 studio album by Gretchen Wilson

I Got Your Country Right Here is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Gretchen Wilson. It was released on March 30, 2010 through Redneck Records, her own label. It was her first album since One of the Boys (2007) and her first as an independent artist following her departure from Columbia Nashville in early 2009. Wilson co-produced the album with long-time collaborator John Rich alongside new collaborator Blake Chancey. Unlike her previous three studio albums, Wilson had very little input in the writing, co-writing only two of the eleven tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jealous Again (song)</span> 1990 single by the Black Crowes

"Jealous Again" is the debut single of American band the Black Crowes, released as the lead single from their 1990 debut album, Shake Your Money Maker. The song reached number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts. It also charted in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom throughout 1990 and 1991.

<i>Coal Miners Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn</i> 2010 compilation album by Various Artists

Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn is a tribute album compiled by various music artists that is dedicated to country music icon Loretta Lynn. It was released in the United States on November 9, 2010 through Columbia Records. The release celebrates Lynn's 50th anniversary in the music industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big & Rich</span> American country music duo

Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo artist for Hollywood Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Farr</span> American country singer

Tyler Lynn Farr is an American country music singer and songwriter. Originally signed to BNA Records Farr released two singles for the label before it closed. He transferred to Columbia Records Nashville, releasing two albums: Redneck Crazy in 2013 and Suffer in Peace in 2015. Overall he has charted eight singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. His highest ranking on the latter chart is "A Guy Walks Into a Bar" which placed at No. 1 in 2015.

The Lacs is an American country rap duo that consists of Robert Clayton (Clay) "Uncle Snap" Sharpe and Brian Andrew "Rooster" King. At first, the group also featured Brandon Herndon on the three self-released albums on Side Ya Mouth Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Thousand Horses</span>

A Thousand Horses is an American country music band formed in 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The band is composed of Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher, Zach Brown, and Graham Deloach. Their first EP, A Thousand Horses, was released under Interscope Records in 2010. In 2014, the band signed with Republic Nashville of Big Machine Label Group and released its first single "Smoke", which set a record for the highest debut by a new act when it opened at number 28 on the Country Aircheck radio chart.

Michael Ray Roach is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Warner Music Nashville. He has released two albums for the label: Michael Ray and Amos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come to Bed</span> 2006 single by Gretchen Wilson with John Rich

"Come to Bed" is a song by American country music artist Gretchen Wilson. The song is a duet with long-time collaborator John Rich. It is one of two songs on the album Wilson did not co-write. Rich co-wrote the single with Vicky McGehee, while Rich, Wilson, and Mark Wright produced the track. It was released on October 30, 2006 as the lead single from Wilson's third studio album One of the Boys (2007). It is about a couple who fight and the only way to resolve their conflict is in the bedroom. Wilson debuted the single live for the first time at the 2006 CMA Awards, which aired on November 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lainey Wilson</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1992)

Lainey Denay Wilson is an American country music singer-songwriter and actress. Wilson performed from an early age, before going to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a career as a country performer. In 2014, she released her first album on Cupit, followed by a second on Lone Chief in 2016. Wilson secured a publishing deal and later released an extended play (EP) in 2019, which included the song "Things a Man Oughta Know". In 2020, it was issued as a single through the BBR Music Group and eventually reached number one on the American country songs chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Aircheck Add Dates" (PDF). Country Aircheck. No. 163. October 19, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  2. 1 2 BMI - Repertoire Search [ dead link ]
  3. ↑ "Gretchen Wilson creates new label, Redneck Records". CMT . October 5, 2009. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  4. ↑ "CMT News: Gretchen Wilson, Sony Music Part Ways". CMT. July 28, 2009. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ Serpe, Gina (July 30, 2008). "Black Crowes Caw Out Gretchen Wilson for Alleged Song Stealing". E! Online. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Black Crowes accuse Gretchen Wilson of copyright infringement". CMT . July 30, 2008. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Gretchen Wilson battles (And gives) back". March 4, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Redneck Woman Gretchen Wilson's search for radio redemption | Cover Story | Nashville Scene". Archived from the original on April 12, 2010.
  9. ↑ Engine 145: Gretchen Wilson – “Work Hard, Play Harder”
  10. ↑ "Roughstock Blog: Gretchen Wilson - "Work Hard, Play Harder"". Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Review: Gretchen Wilson, 'Work Hard, Play Harder'". Country Universe. October 12, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Gretchen Wilson Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  13. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 978. ISBN   978-0-89820-188-8.
  14. ↑ "Gretchen Wilson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
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.