Labor of Love (Sammy Kershaw album)
Encyclopedia
Labor of Love is the fifth studio album released by American country music
artist Sammy Kershaw
. It was released in 1997 (see 1997 in country music
) on Mercury Records
. It was the third album of his career to achieve RIAA platinum certification. It was also his highest-charting album on the Top Country Albums charts, where it peaked at #5.
In order of release, this album's singles were "Love of My Life", "Matches", "Honky Tonk America" and "One Day Left to Live", which respectively reached #2, #22, #31, and #35 on the Hot Country Songs
charts. "Little Did I Know" was co-written by Dave Gibson (formerly of the Gibson/Miller Band
) and Pirates of the Mississippi
lead vocalist Bill McCorvey.
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 Sammy Kershaw
Sammy Kershaw
Samuel Paul "Sammy" Kershaw is an American country music artist. A third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw and ex-husband of Lorrie Morgan, he has been active in country music since 1991. He has released ten studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications...
. It was released in 1997 (see 1997 in country music
1997 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1997.-Events:* July 12 — The song, "It's Your Love," by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill becomes the first song in 20 years to spend six weeks atop Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The last song to do so...
) on Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. It was the third album of his career to achieve RIAA platinum certification. It was also his highest-charting album on the Top Country Albums charts, where it peaked at #5.
In order of release, this album's singles were "Love of My Life", "Matches", "Honky Tonk America" and "One Day Left to Live", which respectively reached #2, #22, #31, and #35 on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts. "Little Did I Know" was co-written by Dave Gibson (formerly of the Gibson/Miller Band
Gibson/Miller Band
The Gibson/Miller Band was an American country music band founded in 1990 by Dave Gibson and Bill "Blue" Miller, the latter of whom was a former guest musician in rock musician Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band...
) and Pirates of the Mississippi
Pirates of the Mississippi
Pirates of the Mississippi was an American country music group. It was founded in 1987 by Rich Alves , Bill McCorvey Jimmy Lowe , Pat Severs , and Dean Townson...
lead vocalist Bill McCorvey.
Track listing
- "Honky Tonk America" (Bob McDillBob McDillRobert Lee "Bob" McDill is an American country music songwriter. Active from the 1960s until 2000, he has written several songs for country music artists, including more than thirty Number One hits...
) – 3:56 - "Shootin' the Bull (In an Old Cowtown)" (Monty Criswell, Michael WhiteMichael White (singer)Larry Michael White is an American country music artist. The son of songwriter L.E. White, who has written for Conway Twitty, Michael was signed to Reprise Records in 1992, releasing his debut album Familiar Ground that year...
) – 3:01 - "One Day Left to Live" (Randy BoudreauxRandy BoudreauxRandy Boudreaux is a producer and songwriter of country music.-Early life:Boudreaux grew up in Southern, Louisiana and early in his career, performed in honky tonks all over Louisiana and the south...
, Dean DillonDean DillonDean Dillon is an American country music artist. Between 1982 and 1993, Dillon recorded six studio albums on various labels, and charted several singles on the Billboard country charts. Although he has not charted since 1993, Dillon has continued to write several hit songs for other artists, most...
, John Northrup) – 2:54 - "Cotton County Queen" (Phil Barnhart, Sam Hogin, 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...
) – 3:35 - "Matches" (Skip EwingSkip EwingDonald Ralph "Skip" Ewing is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1988, Ewing has recorded nine studio albums, and has charted fifteen singles on the Billboard country charts.-Career:...
, Roger SpringerRoger SpringerRoger Springer is an American country music artist. Springer's only single as a solo artist, "The Right One Left," was released in 1992 on MCA Nashville and peaked at #69 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.In 1998, Springer formed the country music trio Springer! with Shara...
) – 3:52 - "Labor of Love" (Larry BooneLarry BooneLarry Eugene Boone is an American country music artist. Between 1985 and 1993, Boone recorded five major label studio albums, in addition to charting several singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. His highest-charting single, "Don't Give Candy to a Stranger", reached #10 in 1988...
, Billy Lawson) – 2:27 - "Thank God You're Gone" (Sammy Kershaw, Mike Fornes) – 3:22
- "Little Did I Know" (Greg Crowe, Dave Gibson, Bill McCorvey) – 2:45
- "Arms Length Away" (White, Monty Criswell, Lee Thomas MillerLee Thomas MillerLee Thomas Miller is an American country music songwriter and occasional record producer. His credits include the Number One country hits "The World" and "I'm Still a Guy" for Brad Paisley and "You're Gonna Miss This" for Trace Adkins, as well as Top Ten hits for Terri Clark, Joe Nichols, and...
) – 3:19 - "Roamin' Love" (Kershaw) – 3:08
- "Love of My LifeLove of My Life (Sammy Kershaw song)"Love of My Life" is the title of a song co-written by Keith Stegall, and recorded by country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in October 1997 as the lead-off single from his 1997 album Labor of Love. It peaked at #2 in the United States, and #3 in Canada...
" (Keith StegallKeith StegallRobert Keith Stegall is an American country music recording artist and record producer. Active since 1980, Stegall has recorded two-major label studio albums: 1985's Keith Stegall and 1996's Passages...
, Ed Hill) – 4:20
Personnel
As listed in liner notes.- Eddie BayersEddie BayersEddie Bayers is an American session drummer who has played on 150 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for eight straight years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year'...
- drums - Stuart DuncanStuart DuncanStuart Duncan is a bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. Born in Quantico, Virginia and raised in Santa Paula, California, where he played in the school band, he has been a member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band since 1985, and is a much-in-demand session musician...
- 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... - Paul FranklinPaul Franklin (musician)Paul Franklin is an American multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; in addition he toured with Mel Tillis and Jerry Reed. He has since become a prolific session musician in Nashville,...
- 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... - Brent MasonBrent MasonBrent Mason is an American session guitarist and occasional songwriter. He is known primarily for his work in the field of country music. In addition to releasing two instrumental studio albums, he holds several credits as a songwriter...
- electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Hargus "Pig" Robbins - 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...
- John Wesley RylesJohn Wesley RylesJohn Wesley Ryles is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1968 with the single "Kay", a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, and the title track to his debut album for Columbia Records.Ryles later recorded one album, Reconsider Me, for the Plantation label,...
- background vocals - Joe Spivey - fiddle
- John D. Willis - 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...
- Glenn WorfGlenn WorfGlenn Worf is one of the premier Nashville session bassists. He was born in Dayton, Ohio but grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and has concentrated on the bass guitar since he was thirteen. He majored in music at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Inevitably his talents forced him to abandon the...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Chart performance
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 49 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 9 |