The Distance (Taylor Hicks album)

Untitled

The Distance is the third studio album by American blue-eyed soul singer Taylor Hicks, released on March 10, 2009. It is the first release by Hicks under his own independent label, Modern Whomp, after parting ways with Arista Records. The Distance was produced by Simon Climie and features 11 tracks on the main version, including the single "What's Right Is Right" and "Nineteen," which tells the story of a teenage football star who joins the armed forces after the 9/11 attacks. Several tracks feature Nathan East and Doyle Bramhall II, both long time members of Eric Clapton's band. "Seven Mile Breakdown" was originally recorded by Alabama indie band Spoonful James. It debuted at #58 on the Billboard 200 and at #5 on the Top Independent Albums charts with sales of 9,000 copies in its first week of release.

Reception

The critical reception to the album was mixed to positive, with publications like Allmusic saying that "Hicks doesn't show great sensitivity as an interpreter(...)but as an entertainer he pulls out all the stops, determined to get every last person in the joint to crack a smile. It's a trait that served him well in those small clubs and on television, and it still serves him well here." Entertainment Weekly, however, gave the album a decidedly negative review, with Entertainment Weekly writer Simon Levinson stating that Hicks is "no worse than any of the countless other graying dudes singing what they believe to be the blues in hotel lobbies and dive bars across the nation".

Track listing

1. "The Distance" (Taylor Hicks, Gary Nicholson, Kenny Greenberg)
2. "What's Right Is Right" (Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan)
3. "New Found Freedom" (Hicks, Climie, Morgan)
4. "Nineteen" (Jeffrey Steele, Nicholson, Tom Hambridge)
5. "Once Upon A Lover of Mine" (Hicks, Climie, Morgan)
6. "Seven Mile Breakdown" (Wynn Christian, Hicks)
7. "Maybe You Should" (Hicks, Nicholson, Mike Reid)
8. "Keepin It Real" (Hicks, Delbert McClinton, Nicholson, Hambridge)
9. "I Live on A Battlefield" (Paul Carrack, Nick Lowe)
10. "Wedding Day Blues" (Hicks, Alan Little)
11. "Woman's Got To Have It" (Darryl Carter, Bobby Womack, Linda Cooke)
    • featuring Elliott Yamin

Bonus tracks

1. "Yes We Can" (Allen Toussaint) (iTunes)
2. "Hide Nor Hair" (Ray Charles) (Walmart)
3. "Indiscriminate Act of Kindness" (Foy Vance) (Target)

Singles

• "What's Right Is Right" – peaked at No.24 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.
• "Seven Mile Breakdown" - released May 4, 2009 to country radio.

Chart performance

The album sold approximately 9,000 copies in the U.S. during its first official week of released; debuting at #58 on the Billboard 200 and #5 on the Top Independent Albums chart. It has sold 52,000 copies to date.

Chart (2009)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	58
U.S. Billboard Top Independent Albums	5