Midnight Special (Uncle Kracker album)

Midnight Special is the fifth studio album by Uncle Kracker, released on November 20, 2012, under Sugar Hill Records. It his first full-length country album and his first not to involve Kid Rock in any capacity.

Personnel

 * Robert Bailey Jr. - background vocals
 * Mark Beckett - drums
 * Tom Bukovac - electric guitar
 * John Catchings - cello
 * Mark Douthit - saxophone
 * Dan Dugmore - slide guitar
 * Nick Garvin - background vocals
 * Vicki Hampton - background vocals
 * J. T. Harding - background vocals
 * Mike Haynes - trumpet
 * Uncle Kracker - lead vocals
 * Randy McCormick - Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, piano, Wurlitzer
 * Brent Mason - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar
 * Gary Prim - accordion, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, piano, Wurlitzer
 * John Wesley Ryles - background vocals
 * Bobby Terry - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
 * Michael White - background vocals
 * Justin Wilson - background vocals
 * Glenn Worf - bass guitar
 * Joe Geis - album art

Critical reception
Reception of the album has been mostly mixed to positive. Allmusic described the album as "a sunny, laid-back ride, a record made for lazy afternoons of day drinking." Roughstock gave the album 4/5 stars and stated "It'd be easy to dismiss Uncle Kracker's first full-length country album as yet another attempt by a pop/rock has-been trying to cash in on mainstream country music's popularity." They also added that Uncle Kracker's transition to Country felt like "A natural one." In a mixed review, Country Weekly noted Uncle Kracker "seeks to have him ingrained further in the genre, despite no hint of country instrumentation." On a more positive note, they added the album is "like tuning in to 1970s AM radio, full of sunny melodies and smooth grooves."