Jason Aldean Keeps Racking Up the Country Hits
Singer's Relentless Pursuit of Stardom Pays Off, CMT Tour Kicks In
Sep 26, 2008
At 31, Aldean is in an enviable position in the world of country music. His 2005 self-titled debut album scored three top-10 singles—Hicktown, Why and Amarillo Sky—and achieved platinum status. And his current album, the dozen-song Relentless, has surpassed the gold-sales mark, thanks to its lead-off single,Johnny Cash, a former No. 6, and the follow-up track, Laughed Until We Cried, which gave Aldean his fifth consecutive top-10 cut to date.
Released May 29, 2007, the Relentless disc, like its Jason Aldean predecessor, was produced by Michael Knox, a fellow Georgian and son of early rock ‘n’ roller Buddy (“Party Doll”) Knox. Aldean’s sophomore CD debut sold an impressive 98,000 copies its first week and entered Billboard's country album charts at No. 1, further solidifying his seemingly overnight success that was 10-plus years in the making.
Moving Up the Charts : Platinum Sales for Broken Bow Records
During a Sept. 26, 2008, telephone interview from Grand Rapids, Mich., the now Nashville-based artist shared that his latest CD for independent label Broken Bow Records was nearing the platinum mark, as his third and current single, the album’s title track, was making its way up the U.S. country charts and sitting at the No. 15 position for the week ending Oct. 4, 2008.
Although Aldean can claim a handful of co-writing credits on his freshman CD, he said the rapid-fire jumpstart of his career and more than 200 days on the road annually for two years kept him from writing for the Relentless project. Don’t think his imprint isn’t felt within his latest record’s production, however, because he’s all over it, he assured.
“Even though I don’t get producer credits (on the album), it’s something where I’m in there, basically co-producing, anyway,” he said. “Right now, I don’t think I have enough time to put everything into it that I’d like to, but eventually, when things slow down, (producing is) definitely something I’d like to do.”
Making His Mark on the Record : The Voice Behind Relentless
As for the song selection contained on Relentless, the brunet performer said his voice is one that record execs hear loud and clear.
“When it comes to (choosing singles), I have a lot of say. That, and picking songs for the record are where I am the biggest pest to the label,” he confirmed, chuckling.
Moreover, while he considers each of the songs he cuts to be special, by his own admission, Aldean has a soft spot for the former No. 4-ranked Amarillo Sky, he said, because “I had a cousin—who was really more like a brother—and he grew up on a 300-acre farm down in Georgia. … I used to spend every weekend at their house. I spent a lot of time out there helping out and baling hay, feeding cattle and all that stuff, so I’ve done my share of that.”
Named Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music in 2006, Aldean will embark on a CMT-sponsored 20-date tour with country group Lady Antebellum beginning Oct. 8 that will last through November. Plus, if all goes as planned, he said, he'll also return to the studio in October to continue recording what will be his third CD for Broken Bow. And oh yes, he's hoping to find time to attend the Country Music Association’s 42nd annual awards in Nashville on Nov. 12, 2008, where he’s nominated for New Artist of the Year, a brand-new category that replaces the contest’s Horizon Award.
Jason Aldean : Life Under the Spotlight
But make no mistake, for the outlaw-looking, straw-hatted country-rocker is most at home on the road and beneath the live-stage spotlight. He is, in fact, “definitely classified as a live act,” first and foremost.
“To me, if there’s one thing that defines what I do, it’s the live show,” he noted. “I’m much more comfortable live than any other time. (And) to me, if people kinda like the music, but they’re not really a fan, I feel like if we can ever get them to a show, then they can really see what it’s about and have the opportunity to make a fan out of them.”
References
Billboard Hot Country Songs, Oct. 4, 2008. issue.
Michael Knox, MySpace page. Retrieved Sept. 26, 2008, at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=20568339
Personal communication, Jason Aldean, Sept. 26, 2008.
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