Maps of Music

Back to the Well (2003)

Where the lyrics of Back to the Well take you, and where it was really made.

Kenny Rogers' 25th studio album had three singles that all peaked between 40th and 49th on the country chart.

Key places

Nashville recording studio linked to the album (2003)

Recording site Sound Emporium Studios — Nashville studio listed among the places where this album was recorded. It appears in the same list as several other Nashville studios. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Second Nashville studio in the recording list (2003)

Recording site Sound Stage Studios — Nashville studio listed among the album's recording places, grouped with other Nashville studios in the same sentence. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Franklin studio in the recording list (2003)

Recording site Sound Kitchen — Franklin, Tennessee studio listed among the album's recording places. Only the city centre is pinned, not the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Back to the Well: 25th studio album by American country singer Kenny Rogers
• Released in 2003
• Includes three singles: "Harder Cards", "I'm Missing You", and "Handprints on the Wall"
• All three singles charted on the Hot Country Songs chart between 2002 and 2003
• European release track listing: 12 songs
• Producers include Kenny Rogers, Joe Chemay and John Guess
• Executive producer: Jim Mazza

Background

• Singles peaked at 47, 49 and 40 on the Hot Country Songs chart
• The album reached number 52 on the Top Country Albums chart
• Phil Vassar and Brett Maher each produced some tracks

Recording

• Nashville studios listed in the source include Sound Emporium Studios and Sound Stage Studios
• Sound Kitchen in Franklin, Tennessee also appears in the list of studios
• Mastering by Benny Quinn at Masterfonics in Nashville
• Guest vocalists: Dolly Parton (track 4), Tim McGraw (track 11), Alison Krauss (track 12)
• Engineers and recording assistants credited include John Guess, Jim McKell and Patrick Murphy

Cover

• Art direction by Misti Filipiak and Luellyn Latocki
• Design by Don Bailey
• Photography credits: Kenny Rogers, Kelly Junkermann and Wanda Rogers

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Kenneth Donald Ray Rogers was born on August 21, 1938, in Houston, Texas, and began his recording career in the late 1950s with the Houston group the Scholars.
• He was an American country singer-songwriter who moved from teenage rock and roll through psychedelic rock to become a country-pop crossover artist of the 1970s and 1980s.
• In 1967 he co-founded the First Edition with former New Christy Minstrels members, later renamed Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.

Members

• The First Edition's members included Mike Settle, Terry Williams, Thelma Camacho, and Kin Vassy.
• Rogers's backing band Bloodline has toured with him since 1976.

Career

• The First Edition scored hits including "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" and "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" before the group disbanded in 1976.
• As a solo artist he charted more than 60 top-40 singles, including the number-one hits "Lady" and "Islands in the Stream".
• He recorded duets with Dottie West, Dolly Parton, and Sheena Easton, and partnered with Lionel Richie as songwriter.
• His signature song "The Gambler" won a Grammy in 1980 and was selected for the National Recording Registry in 2018.
• He sold more than 100 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
• He retired from touring in 2017 and died on March 20, 2020, at age 81.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The Tennessean's Peter Cooper rated the album 3 out of 4 stars
• Cooper wrote that the album is well-constructed and its songs are well-chosen
• Cooper said Rogers still sings with the quiver and husk of his 'Gambler' days

Records

• The album reached number 52 on the Top Country Albums chart
• "Harder Cards" peaked at number 47 on the Hot Country Songs chart
• "I'm Missing You" peaked at number 49
• "Handprints on the Wall" peaked at number 40
• All three singles charted between 2002 and 2003

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Dolly Parton sings vocals on track 4
• Tim McGraw adds vocals and backing vocals on track 11
• Alison Krauss sings vocals on track 12
• Kenny Rogers is credited for photography as well as producing
• Mastering was handled by Benny Quinn at Masterfonics in Nashville

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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