Sundown Heaven Town
Studio album by
Tim McGraw
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2014 (2014-09-16)
GenreCountry
Length50:08
LabelBig Machine Records
Producer
Tim McGraw chronology
Two Lanes of Freedom
(2013)		 Sundown Heaven Town
(2014)		 Damn Country Music
(2015)
Singles from Sundown Heaven Town
  1. "Lookin' for That Girl"
    Released: January 13, 2014
  2. "Meanwhile Back at Mama's"
    Released: April 14, 2014
  3. "Shotgun Rider"
    Released: September 8, 2014
  4. "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools"
    Released: January 26, 2015

Sundown Heaven Town is the thirteenth studio album by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released on September 16, 2014 by Big Machine Records.

Content

The album has produced two singles in advance of its release: "Lookin' for That Girl" and "Meanwhile Back at Mama's", the latter of which features backing vocals from McGraw's wife, Faith Hill. These singles peaked at numbers 15 and 2, respectively, on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. "Shotgun Rider" was released as the album's third single and became a Number One hit on the Billboard Country Airplay charts. McGraw previously recorded a different song also entitled "Shotgun Rider" on his 2007 album Let It Go. "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools was released as the album's fourth and final single in 2015 and reached the Top 5.

McGraw produced the album with Byron Gallimore, who has produced all of his albums. In an interview with Country Weekly, McGraw stated that, ""I think it’s a good microcosm of what my 20 or so years in music have been, in a lot of ways. You can certainly hear parts of my career throughout all of these songs, as well as the future and where my music is headed. To me, the title of the album is all about that time where you stop doing what you have to do, and start doing what you want to do."[1]

McGraw revealed the album's cover art and track listing on July 28, 2014. One day later, the album was made available for preorder via Amazon MP3 and the iTunes Store.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Billboard88/100[5]
NewsdayB+[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
USA Today[8]
Vice (Expert Witness)(1-star Honorable Mention)[9]

Sundown Heaven Town received positive reviews from critics. According to Metacritic, where they assign a weighted average score out of 100 to ratings and reviews from mainstream critics, Sundown Heaven Town received an average of 71, based on 4 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[3] Writing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine suggested the music "come[s] on smooth and easy but have the foundation to last."[10] Chuck Dauphin saying for Billboard how "the singer stretches a little more than usual... and takes a few musical chances."[5] On behalf of USA Today, Jerry Shriver commenting how the project contains "many wise nuggets on the vet's solid outing."[8] Glenn Gamboa stating for Newsday how it is an "Eclectic collection of country styles that brings (usually) great results."[6] Writing for Rolling Stone, Will Hermes opined "its hit-or-miss" with this project that's "best when he's feeling your pain."[7] On behalf of The Boston Globe, Sarah Rodman found "a solid effort featuring a few stand-out tracks, slightly better than average radio fare, and some pleasant filler", which is done in "a creditable job of sidestepping any naked pandering to trends, balancing authentic country atmosphere with pop polish."[11]

Track listing

Sundown Heaven Town — Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Overrated"Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Rivers Rutherford3:28
2."City Lights"Deric Ruttan, Jonathan Singleton4:19
3."Shotgun Rider"Marv Green, Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges3:56
4."Dust"Rhett Akins, Rodney Clawson, Ben Hayslip3:46
5."Diamond Rings and Old Barstools" (duet with Catherine Dunn)Barry Dean, Singleton, Luke Laird,3:18
6."Words Are Medicine"Tom Douglas, David Hodges, Zac Maloy4:32
7."Sick of Me"Andrew Dorff, Singleton4:05
8."Meanwhile Back at Mama's" (featuring Faith Hill)Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele3:47
9."Keep On Truckin'"Blair Daly, Tim McGraw, Brad Warren, Brett Warren3:06
10."Last Turn Home"Eric Arjes, Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris3:56
11."Portland, Maine"Abe Stoklasa, Donovan Woods3:43
12."Lookin' for That Girl"Mark Irwin, James T. Slater, Chris Tompkins4:20
13."Still on the Line"Bob DiPiero, Jon Nite, Steven McMorran3:52
Sundown Heaven Town — Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Lincoln Continentals and Cadillacs" (featuring Kid Rock)Clawson, Laird4:20
15."Kids Today"Daly, Brad Warren, Brett Warren4:12
16."I'm Feelin' You"Derek George, Brad Warren, Brett Warren3:27
17."The View"Eric Frederic, Crista Russo, Joe Spargur3:42
18."Black Jacket"Daly, Brad Warren, Brett Warren4:12

Personnel

Musicians

  • Tim McGraw – lead vocals
  • Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards
  • Steve Nathan – keyboards (1-7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18)
  • David Levita – electric guitar, additional acoustic guitar (16)
  • Michael Landau – electric guitar (1–7, 9, 11, 12, 15–18)
  • Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar (1–9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18), banjo (1-9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18), mandolin (1–9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18)
  • Dan Dugmore – steel guitar (1-13, 15–18), additional acoustic guitar (2), dobro (8)
  • Byron Gallimore – additional electric guitar (3), additional backing vocals (4), additional keyboards (8, 17, 18)
  • Bryan Sutton – additional acoustic guitar (10, 13, 14), additional banjo (10)
  • Paul Bushnell – bass
  • Shannon Forrest – drums, percussion, loop programming (4, 7, 9)
  • Erik Lutkins – loop programming (4, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17)
  • David Campbell – string arrangements and conductor (6, 15)
  • Suzie Katayama – string contractor (6, 15)
  • Dave Stone – acoustic bass (6, 15)
  • John Acosta – cello (6, 15)
  • Timothy Landauer – cello (6, 15)
  • Steve Richards – cello (6, 15)
  • Robert Brophy – viola (6, 15)
  • Luke Maurer – viola (6, 15)
  • Dave Walther – viola (6, 15)
  • Charlie Bisharat – violin (6, 15), concertmaster (6, 15)
  • Julian Hallmark – violin (6, 15)
  • Tamara Hallmark – violin (6, 15)
  • Songa Lee – violin (6, 15)
  • Alyssa Park – violin (6, 15)
  • Tereza Stanislov – violin (6, 15)
  • Sarah Thornblade – violin (6, 15)
  • Josefina Vergara – violin (6, 15)
  • Shalini Vajayan – violin (6, 15)
  • John Wittenberg – violin (6, 15)
  • Greg Barnhill – backing vocals (1–4, 6, 7, 9–18)
  • Catherine Dunn – backing vocals (5)
  • Faith Hill – backing vocals (8)
  • Perry Coleman – additional backing vocals (10, 14)
  • Herschel Boone – additional backing vocals (14)
  • Kid Rock – lead vocals (14)

Production

  • Byron Gallimore – producer, mixing
  • Tim McGraw – producer
  • Julian King – recording
  • Stephen Allbritten – additional recording, editing
  • Erik Lutkins – additional recording, editing, recording (8, 9, 12, 16, 17)
  • Mike E. Clark – additional recording (14)
  • David Bryant – recording assistant (1)
  • Ernesto Olivera – recording assistant (1)
  • Steve Churchyard – string engineer (6, 15)
  • Scott Moore – assistant string engineer (6, 15)
  • Adam Ayan – mastering
  • Sandi Spika Borchetta – creative director
  • Kelly Clauge – creative director
  • Karri Bowman – art producer
  • Nick Egan – art direction, design
  • Nino Muñoz – photography

Studios

  • Recorded and Mixed at Blackbird Studios (Nashville, Tennessee).
  • Strings recorded at Ocean Way (Nashville, Tennessee).
  • Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine).

Chart performance

The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and at number 3 on the Billboard 200, selling over 71,000 copies.[12] The album has sold 299,000 copies in the US as of September 2015.[13]

The album also debuted at number 3 on the Canadian Albums Chart, with 5,500 copies sold in its first week.[14]

Weekly charts

Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[15] 3
UK Country Albums Chart (Official Charts Company) 1
UK Albums Chart (Official Charts Company) 72[16]
US Billboard 200[17] 3
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[18] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
US Billboard 200[19] 128
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[20] 28
Chart (2015) Position
US Billboard 200[21] 128
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[22] 28

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Country US Country Airplay US CAN Country CAN
2014 "Lookin' for That Girl" 18 15 85 30 47
"Meanwhile Back at Mama's" 7 2 41 1 47
"Shotgun Rider" 1 1 38 1 54
2015 "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools" 11 3 55 10 78

References

  1. ↑ Country Music News | Nash Country Daily
  2. ↑ Tim McGraw’s ‘Sundown Heaven Town’ To Release in September : MusicRow – Nashville's Music Industry Publication – News, Songs From Music City
  3. 1 2 Metacritic. "Critic Reviews for Sundown Heaven Town". CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Sundown Heaven Town - Tim McGraw". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Dauphin, Chuck (September 16, 2014). "Tim McGraw, 'Sundown Heaven Town': Track-by-Track Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Gamboa, Glenn (September 15, 2014). "'Sundown Heaven Town' review: Tim McGraw shows his versatility". Newsday. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Hermes, Will (September 23, 2014). "Tim McGraw's New Album: Sundown Heaven Town". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Shriver, Jerry (September 16, 2014). "Listen Up: Tim McGraw, Barbra Streisand and Train". USA Today. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ Christgau, Robert (July 1, 2016). "Expert Witness". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved July 9, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
  10. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (September 15, 2014). "Sundown Heaven Town - Tim McGraw | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ Rodman, Sarah (September 15, 2014). "Tim McGraw, 'Sundown Heaven Town'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ Wade Jessen (September 25, 2014). "Tim McGraw's 'Sundown' Shines at No. 1 on Top Country Albums". Billboard.
  13. ↑ "Upcoming Releases: Hits Daily Double". Hits Daily Double. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  14. ↑ A Journal of Musical ThingsWeekly Music Sales Report and Analysis: 25 September 2014 - A Journal of Musical Things
  15. ↑ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  16. ↑ sundown+heaven+town | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company
  17. ↑ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  18. ↑ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
  19. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums: Year-End top-selling albums across all genres". Billboard.
  20. ↑ "Top Country Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
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