Jump to content

Learn to Live: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Personnel: En dashes
 
(47 intermediate revisions by 29 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
| Name = Learn to Live
| name = Learn to Live
| Type = studio
| type = studio
| Artist = [[Darius Rucker]]
| artist = [[Darius Rucker]]
| Cover = LearntoLive.jpg
| cover = LearntoLive.jpg
| Released = {{Start date|2008|09|16}}
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2008|09|16}}
| Genre = [[Country music|Country]]
| Length = 43:28
| recorded =
| venue =
| Label = [[Capitol Records Nashville|Capitol Nashville]]
| studio =
| Producer = [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]]
| Last album = ''[[Back to Then]]''<br />(2002)
| genre = [[Country music|Country]]
| length = 43:28
| This album = '''''Learn to Live'''''<br />(2008)
| label = [[Capitol Records Nashville|Capitol Nashville]]
| Next album = ''[[Charleston, SC 1966]]''<br />(2010)
| producer = [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]]
| Misc = {{Singles
| Name = Learn to Live
| prev_title = [[Back to Then]]
| Type = Studio
| prev_year = 2002
| next_title = [[Charleston, SC 1966]]
| Single 1 = [[Don't Think I Don't Think About It]]
| next_year = 2010
| Single 1 date = May 27, 2008
| Single 2 = [[It Won't Be Like This for Long]]
| misc = {{Singles
| Single 2 date = November 3, 2008
| name = Learn to Live
| type = Studio
| Single 3 = [[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]
| single1 = [[Don't Think I Don't Think About It]]
| Single 3 date = April 20, 2009
| single1date = May 27, 2008
| Single 4 = [[History in the Making (song)|History in the Making]]
| single2 = [[It Won't Be Like This for Long]]
| Single 4 date = September 8, 2009
| single2date = November 3, 2008
}}}}
| single3 = [[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]
{{Album ratings
| single3date = April 20, 2009
| MC = (66/100)<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|title=Learn To Live Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/learn-to-live/darius-rucker|accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref>
| single4 = [[History in the Making (song)|History in the Making]]
| single4date = September 8, 2009
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| MC = (66/100)<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|title=Learn To Live Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic|website=[[Metacritic]]|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/learn-to-live/darius-rucker|accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusicreview">{{cite web|title=Learn to Live - Darius Rucker|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1421937|pure_url=yes}}|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusicreview">{{cite web|title=Learn to Live - Darius Rucker|website=[[Allmusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1421937|pure_url=yes}}|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''
| rev2 = ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''
| rev2Score = (favorable)<ref>{{cite news|last=Tucker|first=Ken|title=Metallica, Ne-Yo have new CDs|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|date=September 26, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26907533|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev2Score = (favorable)<ref>{{cite news|last=Tucker|first=Ken|title=Metallica, Ne-Yo have new CDs|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Today.com]]|date=September 26, 2008|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/metallica-ne-yo-have-new-cds-wbna26907533|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4Score = B-<ref>{{cite news|last=Pastorek|first=Whitney|title=Learn to Live|publisher=''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''|date=September 16, 2008|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20225094,00.html|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev4Score = B−<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Pastorek|first=Whitney|title=Learn to Live|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=September 16, 2008|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20225094,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912051847/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20225094,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2008|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev6 = [[PopMatters]]
| rev6 = [[PopMatters]]
| rev6Score = {{rating|5|10}}<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web|last=Boldt|first=Blake|title=Darius Rucker: Learn to Live|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|date=November 17, 2008|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/65285-darius-rucker-learn-to-live/|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev6Score = {{rating|5|10}}<ref name="popmatters">{{cite magazine|last=Boldt|first=Blake|title=Darius Rucker: Learn to Live|magazine=[[PopMatters]]|date=November 17, 2008|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/65285-darius-rucker-learn-to-live/|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Boston Globe]]''
| rev3 = ''[[The Boston Globe]]''
| rev3Score = (positive)<ref name="bostonglobe">{{cite news|last=Rodman|first=Sarah|title=A stroll down country roads|publisher=''[[The Boston Globe]]''|date=September 16, 2008|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/09/16/a_stroll_down_country_roads/|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev3Score = (positive)<ref name="bostonglobe">{{cite news|last=Rodman|first=Sarah|title=A stroll down country roads|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=September 16, 2008|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/09/16/a_stroll_down_country_roads/|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The New York Times]]''
| rev5 = ''[[The New York Times]]''
| rev5Score = (favorable)<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|title=New CDs|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=September 14, 2008|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/arts/music/15choi.html|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev5Score = (favorable)<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|title=New CDs|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 14, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/arts/music/15choi.html|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev7 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev7 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev7Score = {{rating-Christgau|hm3}}<ref name="robertchristgau">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|title=CG: Darius Rucker|publisher=RobertChristgau.com|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=darius+rucker|accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref>
| rev7Score = {{rating-Christgau|hm3}}<ref name="robertchristgau">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|title=CG: Darius Rucker|publisher=RobertChristgau.com|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=darius+rucker|accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Slant Magazine]]''
| rev8 = ''[[Slant Magazine]]''
| rev8Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="slant">{{cite web|last=Keefe|first=Jonathan|title=Darius Rucker: Learn to Live|publisher=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=September 21, 2008|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/darius-rucker-learn-to-live/1503|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
| rev8Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="slant">{{cite magazine|last=Keefe|first=Jonathan|title=Darius Rucker: Learn to Live|magazine=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=September 21, 2008|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/darius-rucker-learn-to-live/1503|accessdate=November 24, 2009}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Learn to Live''''' is the second solo studio album by American [[Country music|country]] artist, [[Darius Rucker]]. The album was released September 16, 2008 on [[Capitol Records Nashville|Capitol Nashville Records]] and was produced by [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]]. ''Learn to Live'' was Rucker's first studio album marketed towards [[country music]], and is also his first release since 2002 R&B release ''[[Back to Then]].'' The album spawned three number one singles on the ''Billboard'' country music chart: "[[Don't Think I Don't Think About It]]," "[[It Won't Be Like This for Long]]," and "[[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]." ''Learn to Live'' is Rucker's best-selling solo album to date, and is his only solo album to go platinum.
'''''Learn to Live''''' is the second studio album and country debut by American [[country music]] artist [[Darius Rucker]]. The album was released September 16, 2008 on [[Capitol Records Nashville|Capitol Nashville Records]] and produced by [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]]. ''Learn to Live'' was Rucker's first studio album marketed towards [[country music]], and is also his first release since the 2002 R&B release of ''[[Back to Then]].'' The album spawned three number one singles on the ''Billboard'' country music chart: "[[Don't Think I Don't Think About It]]," "[[It Won't Be Like This for Long]]," and "[[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]." ''Learn to Live'' is Rucker's best-selling solo album to date, and is his only solo album to go [[Recording Industry Association of America|Platinum]].


== Background ==
== Background ==
''Learn to Live'' was recorded both in [[Franklin, Tennessee]], and [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. Brady Vercher of ''Engine 145'' praised the album's overall production and sound, finding nearly every track to, "sound as if it were crafted to be a potential single, with solid hooks and melodies aplenty, but at times the phrasing is more focused on selling those aspects at the expense of emotion."<ref name="engine145">{{cite web|url=http://www.engine145.com/album-review-darius-rucker-learn-to-live/|title=Album review: Darius Rucker - ''Learn to Live''|last=Vercher|first=Brady|publisher=''Engine 145''|accessdate=22 November 2009}}</ref> ''[[Slant Magazine]]'''s Johnathan Keefe praised the album's production, saying that the record makes, "a concerted effort to sound like a modern country album." He also gave credit to the album's producer, [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]] (who had previously produced [[Brad Paisley]]'s albums), who had co-written most of the album's twelve tracks.<ref name="slant"/>
''Learn to Live'' was recorded both in [[Franklin, Tennessee]], and [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. Brady Vercher of ''Engine 145'' praised the album's overall production and sound, finding nearly every track to, "sound as if it were crafted to be a potential single, with solid hooks and melodies aplenty, but at times the phrasing is more focused on selling those aspects at the expense of emotion."<ref name="engine145">{{cite web|url=http://www.engine145.com/album-review-darius-rucker-learn-to-live/|title=Album review: Darius Rucker - ''Learn to Live''|last=Vercher|first=Brady|publisher=Engine 145|accessdate=November 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912083702/http://www.engine145.com/album-review-darius-rucker-learn-to-live/|archive-date=September 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Slant Magazine]]'''s Johnathan Keefe praised the album's production, saying that the record makes, "a concerted effort to sound like a modern country album." He also gave credit to the album's producer, [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]] (who had previously produced [[Brad Paisley]]'s albums), who had co-written most of the album's twelve tracks.<ref name="slant"/>


Many of the tracks are a variety of country music styles. The second track, "All I Want" is set in a two-step shuffle, while "Drinkin' and Dialin'" is a "clever barroom crawl," according to ''[[Allmusic]].''<ref name="allmusicreview"/> "All I Want" features [[guitar]] played by [[Brad Paisley]] and its fifth track, "If I Had Wings," features harmony vocals from country artists [[Vince Gill]] and [[Alison Krauss]].
Many of the tracks are a variety of country music styles. The second track, "All I Want" is set in a two-step shuffle, while "Drinkin' and Dialin'" is a "clever barroom crawl," according to ''[[Allmusic]].''<ref name="allmusicreview"/> "All I Want" features [[guitar]] played by [[Brad Paisley]] and its fifth track, "If I Had Wings," features harmony vocals from country artists [[Vince Gill]] and [[Alison Krauss]].
Line 53: Line 59:
''Learn to Live'' received a score of 66 out of 100 from [[Metacritic]] based on "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="metacritic"/> Blake Boldt of ''[[PopMatters]]'' gave the album overall solid review, praising the single, "[[Don't Think I Don't Think About It]]," by calling Rucker's delivery, "honest and heartfelt." Boldt was also pleased with the fact that Rucker attracted, "the attention of the country radio audience with that single, and it’s helped boost the profile of his first full country album, Learn to Live, a release that owns a variety of country music’s common topics and musical techniques." Boldt concluded his review by saying, "Learn to Live is well-produced and well-sung, but too many of the songs fail to fit the artist behind them."<ref name="popmatters"/> Sarah Rodman of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' also praised ''Learn to Live'', calling the single, "[[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]," an "essential" track. Rodman later stated, "If you're going to be tooling down the middle of the road, "Learn to Live" is perfectly pleasant accompaniment."<ref name="bostonglobe"/>
''Learn to Live'' received a score of 66 out of 100 from [[Metacritic]] based on "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="metacritic"/> Blake Boldt of ''[[PopMatters]]'' gave the album overall solid review, praising the single, "[[Don't Think I Don't Think About It]]," by calling Rucker's delivery, "honest and heartfelt." Boldt was also pleased with the fact that Rucker attracted, "the attention of the country radio audience with that single, and it’s helped boost the profile of his first full country album, Learn to Live, a release that owns a variety of country music’s common topics and musical techniques." Boldt concluded his review by saying, "Learn to Live is well-produced and well-sung, but too many of the songs fail to fit the artist behind them."<ref name="popmatters"/> Sarah Rodman of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' also praised ''Learn to Live'', calling the single, "[[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]," an "essential" track. Rodman later stated, "If you're going to be tooling down the middle of the road, "Learn to Live" is perfectly pleasant accompaniment."<ref name="bostonglobe"/>


''Learn to Live'' was also reviewed by [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of ''[[Allmusic]],'' who gave the release three out of five stars. Like ''PopMatters,'' Erlewine was pleased that Rucker chose to make a "leap" into country music. Erlewine frequently compared the album to [[Hootie & the Blowfish]]'s ''[[Cracked Rear View]],'' saying that the material was, "written with Rucker in mind, not a jam band, they're more pop in form and feel than anything he's done since." Erlewine then stated, "...these songs aren't knockouts, but they're friendly and comfortable, the kind of sturdy roots-pop that seems like it'd be easy to pull off but must not be, as this delicate balance of conversational melody and guy-next-door appeal has proven elusive to Rucker for over a decade now."<ref name="allmusicreview"/> ''[[The New York Times]]'' favored the album as well. Critic, Jon Caramanica found Rucker to be "well-suited" to country music and called the tracks, "impressively eclectic and sharply written." He compared "Alright" to that of the recent hits by country singer, [[Craig Morgan (singer)|Craig Morgan]], and then concluded by saying, "Such missteps [the song "If I Had Wings"] are few, though, and “Learn to Live” is seamless enough that it almost slips by unnoticed that Mr. Rucker is the first African-American to have a Top 10 country hit (the muscular “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”) since Charley Pride."<ref name="nytimes"/>
''Learn to Live'' was also reviewed by [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of ''[[Allmusic]],'' who gave the release three out of five stars. Like ''PopMatters,'' Erlewine was pleased that Rucker chose to make a "leap" into country music. Erlewine frequently compared the album to [[Hootie & the Blowfish]]'s ''[[Cracked Rear View]],'' saying that the material was, "written with Rucker in mind, not a jam band, they're more pop in form and feel than anything he's done since." Erlewine then stated, "...these songs aren't knockouts, but they're friendly and comfortable, the kind of sturdy roots-pop that seems like it'd be easy to pull off but must not be, as this delicate balance of conversational melody and guy-next-door appeal has proven elusive to Rucker for over a decade now."<ref name="allmusicreview"/> ''[[The New York Times]]'' favored the album as well. Critic, Jon Caramanica found Rucker to be "well-suited" to country music and called the tracks, "impressively eclectic and sharply written." He compared "Alright" to that of the recent hits by country singer, [[Craig Morgan (singer)|Craig Morgan]], and then concluded by saying, "Such missteps [the song "If I Had Wings"] are few, though, and “Learn to Live” is seamless enough that it almost slips by unnoticed that Mr. Rucker is the first African-American to have a Top 10 country hit (the muscular “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”) since [[Charley Pride]]."<ref name="nytimes"/>


== Chart performance ==
== Commercial performance ==
The album's lead single, "[[Don't Think I Don't Think About It]]" was released May 27, 2008. The song became Rucker's first number one single by September 2008, becoming the first African-American country artist to have a major hit since [[Charley Pride]] in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1595777/darius-rucker-has-top-album-and-song.jhtml|title=Darius Rucker Has Top Album and Song|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=27 September 2008|publisher=''[[Country Music Television]]''|accessdate=27 November 2009}}</ref> ''Learn to Live'' debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and at #5 on the overall Billboard 200, selling 60,000 copies in its first week. As of February 2010, the album has sold 1,298,274 copies in the United States,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roughstock.com/blog/lady-antebellum-storms-the-charts-with-need-you-now- |title=Lady Antebelllum storms the charts with Need you now |first=Matt |last=Bjorke |publisher=roughstock.com |accessdate=21 November 2010 }}</ref> according to [[Nielsen SoundScan]], and has now been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments to retailers of a million copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3i6981db61c01d2a4dc258a2a3119dde7b|title=Metallica Holds At No. 1, Ne-Yo Arrives In Second|publisher=''[[Billboard.com]]''|accessdate=27 November 2009}}</ref> After releasing the album's second single in late 2008 entitled, "[[It Won't Be Like This for Long]]," the song became his second number one single on the ''[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1607417/darius-ruckers-it-wont-be-like-this-for-long-tops-billboard-songs-chart.jhtml|title=Darius Rucker's "It Won't Be Like This for Long" Tops Billboard Songs Chart|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=21 March 2009|publisher=''Country Music Television''|accessdate=27 November 2009}}</ref> The album's seventh track entitled, "[[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]," was released as a single shortly afterward. The song became Rucker's third number one single on the ''Billboard'' country chart, spending two weeks at #1 in early August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1617880/darius-rucker-claims-no-1-song-spot-with-alright.jhtml|title=Darius Rucker Claims No. 1 Song Spot With "Alright"|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=8 August 2009|publisher=''Country Music Television''|accessdate=27 November 2009}}</ref> On September 8, 2009, the album's fourth single, "[[History in the Making (song)|History in the Making]]," was released, debuting at #51 on the ''Billboard'' country chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1621296/jason-aldean-and-taylor-swift-again-dominate-billboard-country-charts.jhtml|title=Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift Again Dominate Billboard Country Charts|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=12 September 2009|publisher=''Country Music Television''|accessdate=27 November 2009}}</ref>
The album's lead single, "[[Don't Think I Don't Think About It]]" was released May 27, 2008. The song became Rucker's first number one single by September 2008, becoming the first African-American country artist to have a major hit since [[Charley Pride]] in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1595777/darius-rucker-has-top-album-and-song.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930091608/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1595777/darius-rucker-has-top-album-and-song.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2008|title=Darius Rucker Has Top Album and Song|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=September 27, 2008|publisher=[[Country Music Television]]|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> ''Learn to Live'' debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and at #5 on the overall Billboard 200, selling 60,000 copies in its first week. As of February 2010, the album has sold 1,298,274 copies in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roughstock.com/blog/lady-antebellum-storms-the-charts-with-need-you-now- |title=Lady Antebelllum storms the charts with Need you now |first=Matt |last=Bjorke |publisher=roughstock.com |accessdate=November 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207005314/http://www.roughstock.com/blog/lady-antebellum-storms-the-charts-with-need-you-now- |archivedate= February 7, 2010 |df= }}</ref> according to [[Nielsen SoundScan]], and has now been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments to retailers of a million copies.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3i6981db61c01d2a4dc258a2a3119dde7b|title=Metallica Holds At No. 1, Ne-Yo Arrives In Second|magazine=[[Billboard.com]]|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> After releasing the album's second single in late 2008 entitled, "[[It Won't Be Like This for Long]]," the song became his second number one single on the ''[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1607417/darius-ruckers-it-wont-be-like-this-for-long-tops-billboard-songs-chart.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323042641/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1607417/darius-ruckers-it-wont-be-like-this-for-long-tops-billboard-songs-chart.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2009|title=Darius Rucker's "It Won't Be Like This for Long" Tops Billboard Songs Chart|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=March 21, 2009|publisher=Country Music Television|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> The album's seventh track entitled, "[[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]," was released as a single shortly afterward. The song became Rucker's third number one single on the ''Billboard'' country chart, spending two weeks at #1 in early August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1617880/darius-rucker-claims-no-1-song-spot-with-alright.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812074200/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1617880/darius-rucker-claims-no-1-song-spot-with-alright.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2009|title=Darius Rucker Claims No. 1 Song Spot With "Alright"|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=8 August 2009|publisher=Country Music Television|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> On September 8, 2009, the album's fourth and final single, "[[History in the Making (song)|History in the Making]]," was released, debuting at #51 on the ''Billboard'' country chart,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1621296/jason-aldean-and-taylor-swift-again-dominate-billboard-country-charts.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916224922/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1621296/jason-aldean-and-taylor-swift-again-dominate-billboard-country-charts.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 16, 2009|title=Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift Again Dominate Billboard Country Charts|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=September 12, 2009|publisher=Country Music Television|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> and went on to be an additional Top Five hit.


== Track listing ==
== Track listing ==
{{track listing
{{tracklist
| collapsed =
| headline =
| headline =
| writing_credits = yes
| title1 = Forever Road
| title1 = Forever Road
| writer1 = [[Darius Rucker]], [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]], [[Chris Stapleton]]
| writer1 = [[Darius Rucker]], [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]], [[Chris Stapleton]]
Line 100: Line 104:
| length12 = 3:26
| length12 = 3:26
}}
}}
{{track listing
{{tracklist
| collapsed = yes
| headline = iTunes Bonus Track
| headline = iTunes Bonus Track
| title13 = I Want to Thank You
| writing_credits = yes
| title1 = I Want to Thank You
| note13 =
| note1 =
| writer13 =
| writer1 =
| length13 = 3:57
| length1 = 3:57
}}
}}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
{{colbegin||32em}}
{{Div col}}
*David Angell – [[string section|strings]]
*David Angell – [[violin]] {{small|(track 5)}}
*Manisa Angell – [[violin]]
*Manisa Angell – [[viola]] {{small|(track 5)}}
*[[Ron Block]] – [[banjo]]
*[[Ron Block]] – [[banjo]] {{small|(track 4)}}
*Mike Brignardello – [[bass guitar]]
*Mike Brignardello – [[bass guitar]] {{small|(tracks 1, 6, 7, 10)}}
*Jim "Moose" Brown – [[piano]], [[Wurlitzer electric piano|Wurlitzer]]
*Jim "Moose" Brown – [[piano]] {{small|(track 8)}}, [[Wurlitzer electric piano|Wurlitzer]] {{small|(track 8)}}
*Pat Buchanan – [[electric guitar]], [[Steel-string acoustic guitar|acoustic guitar]], [[baritone guitar]], [[mandolin]]
*[[Pat Buchanan (musician)|Pat Buchanan]] – [[electric guitar]] {{small|(tracks 2–4, 7, 11, 12)}}, [[baritone guitar]] {{small|(track 9)}}, [[mandolin]] {{small|(track 9)}}
*Bradley Clark – [[Backing vocalist|background vocals]]
*Bradley Clark – group vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
*[[J. T. Corenflos]] – electric guitar
*[[J. T. Corenflos]] – electric guitar {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 6–8, 10, 12)}}
*Eric Darken – [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]
*[[Eric Darken]] – [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]
*David Davidson – strings
*David Davidson – violin {{small|(track 5)}}
*[[Dan Dugmore]] – [[steel guitar]], [[Dobro]]
*[[Dan Dugmore]] – [[steel guitar]] {{small|(tracks 1–4, 6, 7, 9–12)}}, [[Dobro]] {{small|(track 5)}}
*Shannon Forrest – [[Drum kit|drums]]
*[[Shannon Forrest]] – [[Drum kit|drums]] {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 6–8, 10, 12)}}
*Melissa Fuller – background vocals
*Melissa Fuller – group vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
*[[Vince Gill]] – background vocals
*[[Vince Gill]] – [[Backing vocalist|background vocals]] {{small|(track 5)}}
*[[Aubrey Haynie]] – [[fiddle]], mandolin
*[[Aubrey Haynie]] – [[fiddle]] {{small|(tracks 1–6, 8–12)}}, mandolin {{small|(tracks 5, 7, 11)}}
*Wes Hightower – background vocals
*Wes Hightower – background vocals {{small|(tracks 1–4, 6–12)}}
*John Hobbs – [[conductor (music)|conductor]], string arrangements
*John Hobbs – [[conductor (music)|conductor]] and string arrangements {{small|(track 5)}}
*Ann Inman – group vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
*Mike Johnson – steel guitar
*Mike Johnson – steel guitar {{small|(track 8)}}
*[[Alison Krauss]] – background vocals
*[[Alison Krauss]] – background vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
*Anthony LaMarchina – [[cello]], [[viola]]
*Anthony LaMarchina – [[cello]] {{small|(track 5)}}
*B. James Lowry – acoustic guitar, [[resonator guitar]]
*B. James Lowry – [[steel-string acoustic guitar|acoustic guitar]] {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 5, 9, 11)}}, [[resonator guitar]] {{small|(track 11)}}
*[[Brent Mason]] – electric guitar, baritone guitar
*[[Brent Mason]] – electric guitar {{small|(tracks 4, 5, 9, 11)}}, baritone guitar {{small|(track 4)}}
*Greg Morrow – drums
*[[Greg Morrow]] – drums {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 5, 9, 11)}}
*Gordon Mote – piano, [[Hammond organ]]
*[[Gordon Mote]] – piano {{small|(tracks 1–7, 9–12)}}, [[Hammond organ]] {{small|(track 5, 11, 12)}}
*[[Brad Paisley]] – electric guitar
*[[Brad Paisley]] – electric guitar {{small|(track 2)}}
*Frank Randazzo – background vocals
*Frank Randazzo – group vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
*Michael Rhodes – bass guitar
*[[Michael Rhodes (musician)|Michael Rhodes]] – bass guitar {{small|(tracks 2–5, 8, 9, 11, 12)}}
*Sarah Ross – background vocals
*Sarah Ross – group vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
*Pamela Sixfin – strings
*Phillip Stein – background vocals
*[[Darius Rucker]] – lead vocals
*Pamela Sixfin – violin {{small|(track 5)}}
*[[Bryan Sutton]] – acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin
*Phillip Stein – group vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
*Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar, mandolin
*[[Bryan Sutton]] – acoustic guitar {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12)}}, banjo {{small|(track 1, 7, 12)}}, mandolin {{small|(track 1)}}
*Mary Kathryn Vanosdale – strings
*[[Ilya Toshinsky]] – acoustic guitar {{small|(track 8)}}, mandolin {{small|(track 8)}}
*Waylon Weatherholt – background vocals
*Kristin Wilkinson – violin, string arrangements
*Mary Kathryn Vanosdale – violin {{small|(track 5)}}
*Waylon Weatherholt – group vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
{{colend}}
*Kristin Wilkinson – viola {{small|(track 5)}}, string arrangements {{small|(track 5)}}
{{Div col end}}


== Chart performance ==
==Chart positions==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}


===Album===
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
! Chart (2008)
! scope="col"| Chart (2008)
! Peak<br>position
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position
|-
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|5|artist=Darius Rucker|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}
| U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Top Country Albums]]
| align="center"| 1
|-
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCountry|1|artist=Darius Rucker|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}
| U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]
| align="center"| 5
|}
|}
{{col-2}}


===End of year charts===
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
!Chart (2010)
! scope="col"| Chart (2008)
! scope="col"| Position
!Year-end<br />2010
|-
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]
| 198
|align="center"|56<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/the-billboard-200 |title=Best of 2010 - Billboard Top 200 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc]] |accessdate=2010-12-31}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2008|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
|US ''Billboard'' [[Top Country Albums]]
| 34
|align="center"|13<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-country-albums |title=Best of 2010 - Top Country Albums |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc]] |accessdate=2010-12-31}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2009)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| 27
|-
! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2009|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| 7
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2010)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2010|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| 56
|-
! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2010|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| 13
|}
|}
{{col-end}}


===Singles===
===Singles===
Line 212: Line 235:
|-
|-
|}
|}

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before= ''[[Do You Know (Jessica Simpson album)|Do You Know]]'' by [[Jessica Simpson]]}}
{{s-ttl | title= [[Top Country Albums]] [[List of number-one country albums of 2008 (U.S.)|number-one album]] | years= October 4–11, 2008}}
{{s-aft | after= ''[[Kellie Pickler (album)|Kellie Pickler]]'' by [[Kellie Pickler]]}}
{{s-end}}


==Certifications==
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|format=2col}}
{{Certification Table Top|format=2col}}
{{Certification Table Entry|format=2col|region=United States|type=album|title=Learn to Live|artist=Darius Rucker|award=Platinum|autocat=yes}}
{{Certification Table Entry|format=2col|region=United States|type=album|title=Learn to Live|artist=Darius Rucker|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|format=2col}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|format=2col}}


Line 228: Line 245:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{metacritic album|learn-to-live/darius-rucker}}
*{{Metacritic album}}


{{Darius Rucker}}
{{Darius Rucker}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:2008 albums]]
[[Category:2008 albums]]

Latest revision as of 03:02, 9 September 2024

Learn to Live
Studio album by
Darius Rucker
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2008 (2008-09-16)
GenreCountry
Length43:28
LabelCapitol Nashville
ProducerFrank Rogers
Darius Rucker chronology
Back to Then
(2002) 		Learn to Live
(2008) 		Charleston, SC 1966
(2010)
Singles from Learn to Live
  1. "Don't Think I Don't Think About It"
    Released: May 27, 2008
  2. "It Won't Be Like This for Long"
    Released: November 3, 2008
  3. "Alright"
    Released: April 20, 2009
  4. "History in the Making"
    Released: September 8, 2009
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(66/100)[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Billboard(favorable)[3]
The Boston Globe(positive)[6]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[4]
The New York Times(favorable)[7]
PopMatters[5]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[8]
Slant Magazine[9]

Learn to Live is the second studio album and country debut by American country music artist Darius Rucker. The album was released September 16, 2008 on Capitol Nashville Records and produced by Frank Rogers. Learn to Live was Rucker's first studio album marketed towards country music, and is also his first release since the 2002 R&B release of Back to Then. The album spawned three number one singles on the Billboard country music chart: "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," "It Won't Be Like This for Long," and "Alright." Learn to Live is Rucker's best-selling solo album to date, and is his only solo album to go Platinum.

Background

[edit]

Learn to Live was recorded both in Franklin, Tennessee, and Nashville, Tennessee. Brady Vercher of Engine 145 praised the album's overall production and sound, finding nearly every track to, "sound as if it were crafted to be a potential single, with solid hooks and melodies aplenty, but at times the phrasing is more focused on selling those aspects at the expense of emotion."[10] Slant Magazine's Johnathan Keefe praised the album's production, saying that the record makes, "a concerted effort to sound like a modern country album." He also gave credit to the album's producer, Frank Rogers (who had previously produced Brad Paisley's albums), who had co-written most of the album's twelve tracks.[9]

Many of the tracks are a variety of country music styles. The second track, "All I Want" is set in a two-step shuffle, while "Drinkin' and Dialin'" is a "clever barroom crawl," according to Allmusic.[2] "All I Want" features guitar played by Brad Paisley and its fifth track, "If I Had Wings," features harmony vocals from country artists Vince Gill and Alison Krauss.

Critical reception

[edit]

Learn to Live received a score of 66 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews".[1] Blake Boldt of PopMatters gave the album overall solid review, praising the single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," by calling Rucker's delivery, "honest and heartfelt." Boldt was also pleased with the fact that Rucker attracted, "the attention of the country radio audience with that single, and it’s helped boost the profile of his first full country album, Learn to Live, a release that owns a variety of country music’s common topics and musical techniques." Boldt concluded his review by saying, "Learn to Live is well-produced and well-sung, but too many of the songs fail to fit the artist behind them."[5] Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe also praised Learn to Live, calling the single, "Alright," an "essential" track. Rodman later stated, "If you're going to be tooling down the middle of the road, "Learn to Live" is perfectly pleasant accompaniment."[6]

Learn to Live was also reviewed by Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic, who gave the release three out of five stars. Like PopMatters, Erlewine was pleased that Rucker chose to make a "leap" into country music. Erlewine frequently compared the album to Hootie & the Blowfish's Cracked Rear View, saying that the material was, "written with Rucker in mind, not a jam band, they're more pop in form and feel than anything he's done since." Erlewine then stated, "...these songs aren't knockouts, but they're friendly and comfortable, the kind of sturdy roots-pop that seems like it'd be easy to pull off but must not be, as this delicate balance of conversational melody and guy-next-door appeal has proven elusive to Rucker for over a decade now."[2] The New York Times favored the album as well. Critic, Jon Caramanica found Rucker to be "well-suited" to country music and called the tracks, "impressively eclectic and sharply written." He compared "Alright" to that of the recent hits by country singer, Craig Morgan, and then concluded by saying, "Such missteps [the song "If I Had Wings"] are few, though, and “Learn to Live” is seamless enough that it almost slips by unnoticed that Mr. Rucker is the first African-American to have a Top 10 country hit (the muscular “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”) since Charley Pride."[7]

Commercial performance

[edit]

The album's lead single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" was released May 27, 2008. The song became Rucker's first number one single by September 2008, becoming the first African-American country artist to have a major hit since Charley Pride in the 1980s.[11] Learn to Live debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and at #5 on the overall Billboard 200, selling 60,000 copies in its first week. As of February 2010, the album has sold 1,298,274 copies in the United States,[12] according to Nielsen SoundScan, and has now been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments to retailers of a million copies.[13] After releasing the album's second single in late 2008 entitled, "It Won't Be Like This for Long," the song became his second number one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[14] The album's seventh track entitled, "Alright," was released as a single shortly afterward. The song became Rucker's third number one single on the Billboard country chart, spending two weeks at #1 in early August.[15] On September 8, 2009, the album's fourth and final single, "History in the Making," was released, debuting at #51 on the Billboard country chart,[16] and went on to be an additional Top Five hit.

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Forever Road"Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers, Chris Stapleton4:01
2."All I Want"Rucker, Rogers3:49
3."Don't Think I Don't Think About It"Rucker, Clay Mills3:03
4."Learn to Live"Rucker, Rogers3:48
5."If I Had Wings"Rucker, Rogers, Rivers Rutherford4:03
6."History in the Making"Rucker, Mills, Rogers3:29
7."Alright"Rucker, Rogers3:51
8."It Won't Be Like This for Long"Rucker, Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley3:39
9."Drinkin' and Dialin'"Rucker, DuBois, Gorley3:04
10."I Hope They Get to Me in Time"Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby3:26
11."While I Still Got the Time"Rogers, Rucker, Rutherford3:49
12."Be Wary of a Woman"Rucker, Dave Berg, Patrick Davis3:26
iTunes Bonus Track
No.TitleLength
13."I Want to Thank You"3:57

Personnel

[edit]

Chart positions

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions
US Country US CAN
2008 "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" 1 35 47
"It Won't Be Like This for Long" 1 36 59
2009 "Alright" 1 30 61
"History in the Making" 3 63 73

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification
United States (RIAA)[25] Platinum

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Learn To Live Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Learn to Live - Darius Rucker". Allmusic. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  3. ^ Tucker, Ken (September 26, 2008). "Metallica, Ne-Yo have new CDs". Billboard. Today.com. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  4. ^ Pastorek, Whitney (September 16, 2008). "Learn to Live". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Boldt, Blake (November 17, 2008). "Darius Rucker: Learn to Live". PopMatters. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Rodman, Sarah (September 16, 2008). "A stroll down country roads". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  7. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (September 14, 2008). "New CDs". The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  8. ^ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Darius Rucker". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Keefe, Jonathan (September 21, 2008). "Darius Rucker: Learn to Live". Slant Magazine. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  10. ^ Vercher, Brady. "Album review: Darius Rucker - Learn to Live". Engine 145. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
  11. ^ Morris, Edward (September 27, 2008). "Darius Rucker Has Top Album and Song". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  12. ^ Bjorke, Matt. "Lady Antebelllum storms the charts with Need you now". roughstock.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  13. ^ "Metallica Holds At No. 1, Ne-Yo Arrives In Second". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  14. ^ Morris, Edward (March 21, 2009). "Darius Rucker's "It Won't Be Like This for Long" Tops Billboard Songs Chart". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  15. ^ Morris, Edward (8 August 2009). "Darius Rucker Claims No. 1 Song Spot With "Alright"". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on August 12, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  16. ^ Morris, Edward (September 12, 2009). "Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift Again Dominate Billboard Country Charts". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on September 16, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  17. ^ "Darius Rucker Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  18. ^ "Darius Rucker Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  19. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  20. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  21. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  22. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  23. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  24. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  25. ^ "American album certifications – Darius Rucker – Learn to Live". Recording Industry Association of America.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Learn_to_Live&oldid=1244773304"