''Relentless'' is the second studio album by American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
artist
Jason Aldean. It was released on May 29, 2007 via
Broken Bow Records. The album debuted at number 4 on the U.S.
''Billboard'' 200 and at number one on the Top Country Albums chart, selling about 98,000 copies in its first week.
[Katie Hasty]
"R. Kelly Flirts His Way To No. 1 Album Chart Debut"
Billboard.com, June 6, 2007. On October 4 of the same year, the album was certified
gold
Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...
by the
RIAA. It was certified
platinum
Platinum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a density, dense, malleable, ductility, ductile, highly unreactive, precious metal, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name origina ...
in September 2012.
''Relentless'' has produced three chart singles for Aldean on the
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States.
This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...
charts. The lead-off single "
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...
" (originally recorded by
Tracy Byrd
Tracy Lynn Byrd (born December 17, 1966) is an American country music artist. Signed to Universal Music Group Nashville, MCA Nashville Records in 1992, Byrd broke through on the country music scene that year with his 1993 single "Holdin' Heaven" ...
on his 2004 album ''
Greatest Hits'') and "
Laughed Until We Cried" both reached No. 6 on that chart, and the
title track reached No. 15 in late 2008. Thus, it is Aldean's only album to date to not produce a number one single.
Critical reception
Ken Tucker of ''
Billboard'' gave a positive review, saying that "every cut features full, guitar-driven production". He considered "Johnny Cash", "Back in This Cigarette" and "I Break Everything I Touch" standout tracks.
Track listing
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Singles
Certifications
Personnel
Musicians
*
Jason Aldean – lead vocals
*Kurt Allison – electric guitar
*Tony Harrell – piano,
B3 organ,
Wurlitzer
*Wes Hightower – background vocals
*Michael Johnson –
steel guitar
*Tully Kennedy – bass guitar
*Steve King – B3 organ on "Johnny Cash"
*
Miranda Lambert – vocals on "Grown Woman"
*Liana Manis – background vocals
*
Wendell Mobley – background vocals on "No"
*Mike Noble – acoustic guitar
*
Danny Rader – acoustic guitar
*
Rich Redmond – drums, percussion
*
Adam Shoenfeld – electric guitar
*Jack Sizemore – electric guitar on "Johnny Cash"
Technical
*
Michael Knox –
production
*Peter Coleman –
mixing,
engineering
Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...
*Richard Dodd –
mastering
*Neena Wright – production assistance
*Brandon Epps – engineering assistance
*Sam Martin – engineering assistance
Visuals
*Luellyn Latocki – art direction
*Ron Roark – art direction
*Kristin Barlowe – photography
*Marcus Melton – cover design
*Latocki Team Creative – graphic design
References
{{Authority control
2007 albums
Jason Aldean albums
BBR Music Group albums
Albums produced by Michael Knox (record producer)