I Am the Rain

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I Am The Rain
An abstract black-lined caricature of a woman against a background. The background is mostly white with red spots, featuring various lines written in cursive.
Studio album by
Chely Wright
ReleasedSeptember 9, 2016
RecordedLos Angeles, California, Culver City, California, Nashville, Tennessee
GenreCountry Folk, Americana
Length56:49
LabelMRI/Sony/PaintedRed
ProducerJoe Henry
Chely Wright chronology
Lifted Off the Ground
(2010) 		I Am The Rain
(2016) 		Santa Will Find You!
(2018)

I Am the Rain is the eighth studio album released by singer-songwriter Chely Wright. The album was released via MRI/Sony/Painted Red Records on September 9, 2016 after being funded by fans through a Kickstarter campaign which was launched in September 2014.

I Am the Rain is Wright's second highest debuting album of her career on the Billboard Country Chart at No. 13 and her highest charting album of her career on the Top Album Sales Chart at No. 54.

Background[edit]

After a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, funded by over 2,000 backers, Wright's album campaign became the most successful Kickstarter campaign of any country artist. The album's recording process began in September 2015. The album, unlike any previous of Wright's was recorded almost entirely in California and was her first new material since coming out as a lesbian in May 2010. Beginning on September 8, 2015 and concluding on September 12, 2015, the album was recorded mainly at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California with additional recording done in Culver City and Nashville, Tennessee.

In an update to Kickstarter supporters on April 19, 2016, Wright revealed that Grammy award-winning producer, Joe Henry was the producer for the record, a suggestion given to her by close friend Rodney Crowell.[1] She also confirmed the album's release and distribution through SonyRed.[2]

In addition to Henry at the helm of production, singer songwriters, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, and The Milk Carton Kids served as guest vocalists on the album. Crowell provided background vocals on "Holy War," while Harris appears on, "Pain." The Milk Carton Kids make two appearances on the album during, "You Are the River," and the Bob Dylan cover, "Tomorrow Is A Long Time."[3]

"What About Your Heart" was made available as an instant download track for all pre-orders while fans who pre-ordered the album through Wright's website received "Mexico" as an instant download track.[4]

Commercial reception[edit]

The album debuted at No. 13 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, selling 4,100 copies in the first week.[5] It also reached No. 181 on Billboard 200.[6] It also marks her first appearance on the Billboard Folk/Americana Chart debuting in the top 10 at No. 9.

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Inside" (Chely Wright) - 4:18
  2. "Where Will You Be" (Wright) - 4:14
  3. "At The Heart Of Me" (Rodney Crowell, Joe Henry, Wright) - 4:45
  4. "You Are The River" (Edie Carey, Wright) - 5:01
  5. "Holy War" (Henry, Wright) - 4:52
  6. "What About Your Heart" (Wright) - 3:59
  7. "Pain" (Wright) - 3:58
  8. "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" (Bob Dylan) - 3:35
  9. "Blood And Bones And Skin" (Wright) - 3:59
  10. "Mexico" (Wright) - 4:41
  11. "Next To Me" (Wright) - 3:52
  12. "Halona" (Wright) - 4:12
  13. "See Me Home" (Henry, Wright) - 5:18

Personnel[edit]

Per album liner notes:[7]

  • Joe Henry - Producer
  • Ryan Freeland - Recording and Mixing
  • Drew Bollman - Recording and Mixing
  • Reed Black - Engineer
  • Clinton Welander - Assistant Engineer
  • Mike Stankiewicz - Assistant Engineer
  • Kim Rosen - Mastering
  • Jay Bellerose - Drums, Percussion
  • Mark Goldenberg - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
  • Levon Henry - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
  • Eric Haywood - Pedal Steel
  • Adam Levy - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
  • David Piltch - Upright Bass, Electric Bass
  • Patrick Warren - Piano, Pump and Hammond organ, additional keys
  • Jedd Hughes - Electric Guitar
  • Jeremy Lister - background vocals
  • Rodney Crowell - background vocals
  • Emmylou Harris - background vocals
  • Joey Ryan - background vocals
  • Kenneth Pattengale - background vocals
  • Katherine H. Almedia - background vocals
  • Karen M. Bosia - background vocals
  • Althea Champagnie - background vocals
  • Kate Cotter-Reilly - background vocals
  • Jeff Parshley - background vocals
  • Marla Pasquale - background vocals
  • Tamara Lynn Peterson - background vocals
  • Julie Shiflett - background vocals

Charts[edit]

Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[8] 181
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[9] 13
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[10] 17
US Americana/Folk Albums 9
US Top Album Sales 54

Release History[edit]

Region Date Label Format
Worldwide September 9, 2016 MRI/Sony/Painted Red CD, Digital Download
Worldwide November 4, 2016 MRI/Sony/Painted Red Vinyl

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chely Wright Reflects on Coming Out as a Country Singer & the Ups and Downs of 'Gang Mentality'". Billboard.
  2. ^ "Update 35: ALBUM RELEASE INFORMATION! · Chely Wright's New Studio Album!". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
  3. ^ "I AM THE RAIN – New Release 9/9/16 – Chely Wright". chely.com. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
  4. ^ "I Am The Rain | Chely Wright | Online Store, Apparel, Merchandise & More". chely.merchtable.com. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
  5. ^ Bjorke, Matt (September 19, 2016). "Country Album Sales Chart: September 19, 2016". Roughstock.
  6. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. October 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "Chely Wright - I Am The Rain". Discogs. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Chely Wright Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  9. ^ "Chely Wright Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  10. ^ "Chely Wright Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
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