Hopechest
Encyclopedia
Hopechest is the only album released by country music
artist Stephanie Bentley
. It was released in 1996 on Epic Records
Nashville and it accounted for four singles, in addition to reprising a single from Ty Herndon
's debut album What Mattered Most
on which Bentley provided duet vocals. The album reached a peak of #60 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums charts.
's 1996 single "Heart Half Empty", the third single from his debut album What Mattered Most
, issued on Epic Records
. After this single (which is also included on Hopechest) was Bentley's first solo release, "Who's That Girl". This song, her only solo Top 40 country hit, peaked at #32 on the Billboard
country charts. Following it were "Once I Was the Light of Your Life" at #60, "The Hopechest Song" at #47, and finally "Dead Ringer", which failed to chart. The album was produced by Paul Worley
and Ed Seay, except for "Heart Half Empty", which Seay and Doug Johnson produced. "Half the Moon" was previously recorded by Tanya Tucker
on her 1992 album Can't Run from Yourself
.
critic Alanna Nash
. She thought that Bentley did not have a distinctive voice but still "delivered with smarts and sass". Nash also called the song selection "nearly faultless."
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Stephanie Bentley
Stephanie Bentley
Stephanie Kay Bentley is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 1996 as a duet partner on Ty Herndon's single "Heart Half Empty", which peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
. It was released in 1996 on Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
Nashville and it accounted for four singles, in addition to reprising a single from Ty Herndon
Ty Herndon
Boyd Tyrone "Ty" Herndon is an American country music and Christian singer. Signed to Epic Records in 1995, Herndon made his debut that year with the Number One single "What Mattered Most", followed by the release of his first album, also entitled What Mattered Most...
's debut album What Mattered Most
What Mattered Most
What Mattered Most is the debut album of American country music artist Ty Herndon, issued in 1995 on Epic Records. The album's title track, which was Herndon's debut single, reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in mid-1995...
on which Bentley provided duet vocals. The album reached a peak of #60 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums charts.
Content
Before the release of this album, Bentley had charted as a duet vocalist on Ty HerndonTy Herndon
Boyd Tyrone "Ty" Herndon is an American country music and Christian singer. Signed to Epic Records in 1995, Herndon made his debut that year with the Number One single "What Mattered Most", followed by the release of his first album, also entitled What Mattered Most...
's 1996 single "Heart Half Empty", the third single from his debut album What Mattered Most
What Mattered Most
What Mattered Most is the debut album of American country music artist Ty Herndon, issued in 1995 on Epic Records. The album's title track, which was Herndon's debut single, reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in mid-1995...
, issued on Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. After this single (which is also included on Hopechest) was Bentley's first solo release, "Who's That Girl". This song, her only solo Top 40 country hit, peaked at #32 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts. Following it were "Once I Was the Light of Your Life" at #60, "The Hopechest Song" at #47, and finally "Dead Ringer", which failed to chart. The album was produced by Paul Worley
Paul Worley
Paul Worley is an American record producer and session guitarist, known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG, he later joined the staff of Warner Bros. Records' Nashville division as chief creative officer...
and Ed Seay, except for "Heart Half Empty", which Seay and Doug Johnson produced. "Half the Moon" was previously recorded by Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
on her 1992 album Can't Run from Yourself
Can't Run from Yourself
Can't Run from Yourself is an album by Country singer Tanya Tucker. There were three Billboard Top Ten Country Singles from Can't Run from Yourself: "It's a Little Too Late" and "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane" both at #2, and "Tell Me About It," a duet with Delbert McClinton, at #4...
.
Reception
Hopechest received a B+ rating from Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
critic Alanna Nash
Alanna Nash
Alanna Nash is an American journalist and biographer.Nash holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is the author of several acclaimed books...
. She thought that Bentley did not have a distinctive voice but still "delivered with smarts and sass". Nash also called the song selection "nearly faultless."
Track listing
- "I'm Listening" (Matraca BergMatraca BergMatraca Maria Berg is an American country music singer and songwriter. She has released five albums: three for RCA Records, one for Rising Tide Records and one for Dualtone Records, and has charted in the top 40 of the U.S. Billboard country charts with "Baby, Walk On" and "The Things You Left...
, Ronnie Samoset) – 2:54 - "Who's That Girl" (Stephanie Bentley, Don Pfrimmer, George Teren) – 3:04
- "Once I Was the Light of Your Life" (Hugh PrestwoodHugh PrestwoodHugh Prestwood is an American songwriter whose work is primarily in country music. His first hit as a songwriter was "Hard Time for Lovers", which was recorded in 1978 by Judy Collins. Prestwood also wrote "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart", a Number One for Randy Travis in 1990, and a song for...
) – 3:40 - "What's Wrong With You (Is You Ain't Got Me)" (Kevin WelchKevin WelchKevin Welch is an American country music artist. He has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and released eight studio albums...
, Wally WilsonWally WilsonWally Wilson , is an American record producer and songwriter based in Nashville.-Career:Wally Wilson has worked with artists as diverse as Leon Russell, Bo Diddley, the Neville Brothers, Junior Wells, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Lone Star, Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Rick Trevino, Rascal Flatts...
) – 2:38 - "Half the Moon" (Prestwood) – 3:05
- "Permanent Hurt" (John HiattJohn HiattJohn Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
) – 3:25 - "The Hopechest Song" (Angela Kaset) – 4:11
- "If Promises Were Gold" (Shawna Harrington-Burkhart, Karl Hasten) – 3:24
- "Dead Ringer" (Todd CerneyTodd CerneyTodd Cerney was an American songwriter and musician.He composed "Good Morning Beautiful", a 2002 five-week country number one hit for Steve Holy ; "The Blues Is My Business" , part of Etta James' 2003 Grammy Award winning album "Let's Roll"; and "I'll Still Be Loving You", a 1987...
, Stewart Harris) – 4:00 - "Heart Half Empty" (Gary BurrGary BurrGary Burr, born in Meriden, Connecticut, is an American musician and songwriter and producer, mostly known for his stable of hits recorded by country music performers. Burr began his career as a member of the group Pure Prairie League from 1982 to 1985, taking over after Vince Gill departed the group...
, Desmond ChildDesmond ChildDesmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
) – 4:55- duet with Ty HerndonTy HerndonBoyd Tyrone "Ty" Herndon is an American country music and Christian singer. Signed to Epic Records in 1995, Herndon made his debut that year with the Number One single "What Mattered Most", followed by the release of his first album, also entitled What Mattered Most...
- duet with Ty Herndon
- "Think of Me" (Bentley, Spady Brannan) – 3:19
Personnel
- Stephanie Bentley - lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Bruce Bouton - steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
- Gerald Boyd - acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
- Spady Brannan - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Steve Brewster - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Mike Cass - steel guitar
- Joe Chemay - bass guitar
- Dan Dugmore - steel guitar
- Rob Hajacos - fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
- Tony Harrell - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Dann HuffDann HuffDann Huff is an American musician, session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. For his work as a producer in the Country music genre he has won several awards including the Musician of the Year award in 2001 and 2004 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award...
- electric guitar - Chris Leuzinger - electric guitar
- Carl Marsh - string sectionString sectionThe string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
- Steve Nathan - keyboards
- Bobby Ogdin - piano, keyboards
- Russ Pahl - acoustic guitar
- Billy Panda - electric guitar
- Robert Patin - piano, keyboards
- Brent Rowan - electric guitar
- Michael Severs - electric guitar
- Eric Silver - mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music... - Michael Spriggs - acoustic guitar
- Billy Joe Walker, Jr. - acoustic guitar
- Biff Watson - acoustic guitar
- Lonnie Wilson - drums, percussion
- Paul WorleyPaul WorleyPaul Worley is an American record producer and session guitarist, known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG, he later joined the staff of Warner Bros. Records' Nashville division as chief creative officer...
- acoustic guitar
Chart performance
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 60 |