Rodney Crowell (album)

Rodney Crowell
Studio album by
Released1981
GenreCountry, country rock, rockabilly
Length35:57
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
ProducerRodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell chronology
But What Will the Neighbors Think
(1980)
Rodney Crowell
(1981)
Street Language
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauC+[2]

Rodney Crowell is the third studio album by American country music artist Rodney Crowell. It was released in 1981 (see 1981 in country music) by Warner Bros. Records and was his last album on that label before switching to Columbia. It was the first album Crowell produced by himself. It reached #47 on the Top Country Albums chart and #105 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The songs, "Stars on the Water" and "Victim or a Fool" were released as singles. "Stars on the Water" reached #30 on the Hot Country Songs chart, his highest-charting song up to that point. It peaked at #21 on the Canadian country charts. "Victim or a Fool" reached #34 in the U.S. The album was rereleased on compact disc in 2005 paired with his previous album But What Will the Neighbors Think.

Content

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"She Ain't Goin' Nowhere" was written and recorded by Guy Clark in 1975 for his debut album Old No. 1. Later versions of the song change the "Goin'" to "going".

"Old Pipeliner" was first recorded in 1967 by Red Sovine on his album Dear John Letter. “Pipeliner Blues” AKA “Old Pipeliner” was written, published, and first recorded in 1940 by, piano playing Grand Ole Opry Star, Moon Mullican.

The opening track, "Stars on the Water" was first covered in 1983 by Jimmy Buffett on his album One Particular Harbour. George Strait included a cover on his album The Road Less Traveled in 2001.

"Shame on the Moon" was covered in 1982 by Mac Davis and Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band. The latter released the song as a single from their album The Distance where it became a #2 hit. Tanya Tucker also covered the song in 1983 for her album Changes.

"'Til I Gain Control Again" had been recorded by Emmylou Harris on her 1975 album Elite Hotel, by Waylon Jennings on his 1977 album Ol' Waylon, and by Willie Nelson on Willie and Family Live. It became a number 1 hit for Crystal Gayle in late 1982. In 1993, the song was covered by Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo for their album Five Days in July. Released as a single in 1994, the song peaked at number 24 on the RPM Country Tracks chart. Guitarist Albert Lee would record a version in 2002 for his album Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes.

Track listing

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All tracks composed by Rodney Crowell; except where indicated

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Stars on the Water" 3:47
2."Just Wanta Dance"Keith Sykes2:27
3."She Ain't Going Nowhere"Guy Clark3:51
4."Don't Need No Other Now" 3:25
5."Shame on the Moon" 4:44
6."Only Two Hearts"Crowell, Hank DeVito2:56
7."Victim or a Fool" 3:00
8."All You've Got to Do"Crowell, DeVito3:34
9."'Til I Gain Control Again" 5:11
10."Old Pipeliner"Tommy Hill, Ray King3:02

Personnel

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Chart performance

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Album

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Chart (1981) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 47
U.S. Billboard 200 105
Australia (Kent Music Report) 63[3]

Singles

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Year Single Peak chart positions
US Country US AUS CAN Country
1981 "Stars on the Water" 30 105 39 21
"Victim or a Fool" 34

Sources

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  1. ^ AllMusic - review
  2. ^ "Rodney Crowell". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 78. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.