Savin' the Honky Tonk
Encyclopedia
Savin' the Honky Tonk is the eleventh studio album by American country music
artist Mark Chesnutt
. His first album for the Vivtaon! label, it features the singles "The Lord Loves the Drinkin' Man", "I'm a Saint", and "A Hard Secret to Keep", which reached #34, #33, and #59, respectively, on the Hot Country Songs
charts.
Three of this album's tracks were previously recorded by other artists. "Beer, Bait, and Ammo" was originally recorded by its writer, Kevin Fowler
, on his 2000 album of the same name, and later by Sammy Kershaw
on his 2003 album I Want My Money Back
. Fowler also recorded "The Lord Loves the Drinkin' Man" on his 2004 album Loose, Loud & Crazy
. "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" was originally recorded by Keith Whitley
on his 1988 album Don't Close Your Eyes.
The people pictured on the album cover include all of Chesnutt's road band and crew.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Mark Chesnutt
Mark Chesnutt
Mark Nelson Chesnutt is an American country music singer. Chesnutt recorded and released his first album, Doing My Country Thing, in the late-1980s on private independent record label, Axbar Records, with the vinyl album version now a collector's item...
. His first album for the Vivtaon! label, it features the singles "The Lord Loves the Drinkin' Man", "I'm a Saint", and "A Hard Secret to Keep", which reached #34, #33, and #59, respectively, on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts.
Three of this album's tracks were previously recorded by other artists. "Beer, Bait, and Ammo" was originally recorded by its writer, Kevin Fowler
Kevin Fowler
Kevin Fowler is an American Texas Country artist. He has released five studio albums, and has charted three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the top 40 hit "Pound Sign "...
, on his 2000 album of the same name, and later by Sammy Kershaw
Sammy Kershaw
Samuel Paul "Sammy" Kershaw is an American country music artist. A third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw and ex-husband of Lorrie Morgan, he has been active in country music since 1991. He has released ten studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications...
on his 2003 album I Want My Money Back
I Want My Money Back
I Want My Money Back is the title of an album released in 2003 by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. 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.Two songs on this album...
. Fowler also recorded "The Lord Loves the Drinkin' Man" on his 2004 album Loose, Loud & Crazy
Loose, Loud & Crazy
Loose, Loud, & Crazy is the third studio album of American country music singer Kevin Fowler, and his fourth album overall. It was his debut album for Equity Music Group, a label started by country music singer Clint Black. The album produced three singles: "Ain't Drinkin' Anymore", "Hard Man to...
. "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" was originally recorded by Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley
Jackie Keith Whitley , known professionally as Keith Whitley, was an American country music singer. Whitley's brief career in mainstream country music lasted from 1984 until his death in 1989, but he continues to influence an entire generation of singers and songwriters...
on his 1988 album Don't Close Your Eyes.
The people pictured on the album cover include all of Chesnutt's road band and crew.
Track listing
- "Somebody Save the Honky Tonks" (Mark Chesnutt, Bob Regan, Jimmy Ritchey) - 3:18
- "I'm a Saint" (Jason SellersJason SellersJason Sellers is an American country music artist. After several years of touring the United States in his family's band, Sellers joined the road band of Ricky Skaggs. By 1997, he was signed to a recording contract with BNA Records, for whom he recorded two studio albums: 1997's I'm Your Man and...
, Tony MartinTony Martin (songwriter)Tony Martin is a country music songwriter who has had twelve Number One hits as a songwriter. Among his compositions are "Third Rock from the Sun" by Joe Diffie and "Just to See You Smile" by Tim McGraw....
, Ritchey) - 2:59 - "The Lord Loves the Drinkin' Man" (Kevin FowlerKevin FowlerKevin Fowler is an American Texas Country artist. He has released five studio albums, and has charted three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the top 40 hit "Pound Sign "...
) - 4:03 - "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" (Vern GosdinVern GosdinVern Gosdin was an American country music singer. He idolized The Louvin Brothers and The Blue Sky Boys as a young man and sang in a gospel quartet called The Gosdin Brothers. An inheritor of the soulful honky tonk style of Lefty Frizzell and Merle Haggard, Gosdin was nicknamed "The Voice" by his...
, Hank CochranHank CochranGarland Perry "Hank" Cochran was an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold and others...
, Red Lane) - 3:11 - "You Can't Do Me This Way" (Roger MillerRoger MillerRoger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
) - 2:20 - "A Hard Secret to Keep" (Jim McBride, Jerry SalleyJerry SalleyJerry Salley is an American country and bluegrass singer-songwriter. Salley won SESAC's 2003 "Country Music Songwriter of the Year” award.Salley has been writing and singing in Nashville, Tennessee since 1982...
) - 3:22 - "What Are We Doing in Love" (Dean MillerDean MillerRoger Dean Miller, Jr. is an American country music artist, known professionally as Dean Miller. He is the son of Roger Miller, a country pop artist who had several hit singles between the 1960s and 1980s...
) - 2:51 - "Don't Ruin It for the Rest of Us" (Annie Tate, Sam Tate, Georgia MiddlemanGeorgia MiddlemanGeorgia Leigh Middleman is an American country singer. Middleman sang from age ten at the Texas Star Inn in San Antonio, and began writing songs shortly thereafter. She sold recordings of her first song, There's a Rainbow in Everybody's Heart, on her elementary school playground...
, Ritchey) - 3:54 - "Mama's House" (Neal CotyNeal CotyNeal Lee Coty is an American country music artist. A musician from an early age, Coty has recorded two studio albums, both on divisions of Mercury Records...
, Jimmy Melton) - 3:04 - "Since You Ain't Home" (Shawn Camp, Ken MellonsKen MellonsKenneth Edward "Ken" Mellons is an American country music artist who released his self-titled debut album in 1994. This album produced the single "Jukebox Junkie", a Top Ten hit on the Hot Country Songs charts...
, Dale Dodson) - 3:54 - "Think Like a Woman" (Jim CollinsJim Collins (singer)Jim Collins is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1985 and 1998, Collins released three studio albums. He also charted seven singles on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
, Mark NeslerMark NeslerMark Nesler is an American country music artist. Signed to Elektra Records as a recording artist in 1998, Nesler charted three singles on the U.S. Billboard country charts...
, Martin) - 3:11 - "Then We Can All Go Home" (Regan, Ritchey) - 3:18
- "Beer, Bait and Ammo" (Fowler) - 4:15
- "My Best Drinkin'" (Collins, Chuck Jones, Ritchey) - 4:02
- "Honky Tonk Heroes" (Billy Joe ShaverBilly Joe ShaverBilly Joe Shaver is a Texas country music singer and songwriter. Shaver's 1973 album Old Five and Dimers Like Me is a classic in the outlaw country genre.-Biography:...
) - 1:36
Production
- All tracks produced By Jimmy Ritchey with assistance by Mike Griffith.
- Recorded at The Money Pit and The Sound Kitchen by Clarke Schreicher, assisted by Erik Hellerman and J.C. Monterrosa.
- Overdubs recorded by Erik Hellerman at Fox Ridge Studios.
- Mixed by Clarke Schreicher and Rich Hanson at Loud Studios.
- Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Inc.
Personnel
As listed in liner notes.- Eddie BayersEddie BayersEddie Bayers is an American session drummer who has played on 150 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for eight straight years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year'...
- drums - Larry Franklin - fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
- Paul FranklinPaul Franklin (musician)Paul Franklin is an American multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; in addition he toured with Mel Tillis and Jerry Reed. He has since become a prolific session musician in Nashville,...
- steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use... - Wes Hightower - background vocals
- John Jarvis - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- B. James Lowry - acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
- Brent MasonBrent MasonBrent Mason is an American session guitarist and occasional songwriter. He is known primarily for his work in the field of country music. In addition to releasing two instrumental studio albums, he holds several credits as a songwriter...
- electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Jimmy Ritchey - tic tac bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- John Wesley RylesJohn Wesley RylesJohn Wesley Ryles is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1968 with the single "Kay", a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, and the title track to his debut album for Columbia Records.Ryles later recorded one album, Reconsider Me, for the Plantation label,...
- background vocals - Lee Ann WomackLee Ann WomackLee Ann Womack is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love....
- background vocals on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" - Glenn WorfGlenn WorfGlenn Worf is one of the premier Nashville session bassists. He was born in Dayton, Ohio but grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and has concentrated on the bass guitar since he was thirteen. He majored in music at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Inevitably his talents forced him to abandon the...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Chart performance
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 23 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 70 |
| U.S. Billboard Independent Albums | 15 |