Then & Now: The Hits Collection
Encyclopedia
Then & Now: The Hits Collection is the second greatest-hits collection from American country music
artist Tracy Lawrence
. It is composed several hits from his previous albums, as well as the newly-recorded tracks "Used to the Pain" and "If I Don't Make It Back". Both of these were released as singles, peaking at #35 and #42, respectively, on the country charts. "Used to the Pain" was previously a #45-peaking single in 1998 for Mark Nesler
, while "If I Don't Make It Back" was later recorded by Bobby Pinson
on his 2007 album Songs for Somebody.
Lawrence re-recorded all of the previously-released material for this album (except for "Paint Me a Birmingham") because Mercury Nashville Records, the label to which he was signed at the time, did not own the rights to his older material. This album is also his only release for Mercury.
APreviously unreleased track.
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 Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence is an American country music artist. He started at a country music restaurant called "Live At Libby's" where owner Libby Knight would help local talent find their way into country music...
. It is composed several hits from his previous albums, as well as the newly-recorded tracks "Used to the Pain" and "If I Don't Make It Back". Both of these were released as singles, peaking at #35 and #42, respectively, on the country charts. "Used to the Pain" was previously a #45-peaking single in 1998 for Mark Nesler
Mark Nesler
Mark Nesler is an American country music artist. Signed to Elektra Records as a recording artist in 1998, Nesler charted three singles on the U.S. Billboard country charts...
, while "If I Don't Make It Back" was later recorded by Bobby Pinson
Bobby Pinson
Bobby Olen Pinson is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records in 2005, Pinson made his debut that year with his album Man Like Me. Its lead-off single, "Don't Ask Me How I Know", peaked at #16 on the Hot Country Songs charts, and was his only Top 40 country hit...
on his 2007 album Songs for Somebody.
Lawrence re-recorded all of the previously-released material for this album (except for "Paint Me a Birmingham") because Mercury Nashville Records, the label to which he was signed at the time, did not own the rights to his older material. This album is also his only release for Mercury.
Track listing
- "Used to the Pain" (Mark NeslerMark NeslerMark Nesler is an American country music artist. Signed to Elektra Records as a recording artist in 1998, Nesler charted three singles on the U.S. Billboard country charts...
, Tony MartinTony Martin (songwriter)Tony Martin is a country music songwriter who has had twelve Number One hits as a songwriter. Among his compositions are "Third Rock from the Sun" by Joe Diffie and "Just to See You Smile" by Tim McGraw....
)A – 3:14 - "Paint Me a BirminghamPaint Me a Birmingham"Paint Me a Birmingham" is a song written by Buck Moore and Gary Duffy. It was concurrently released by American country music artists Ken Mellons and Tracy Lawrence, whose versions entered the country charts within one week of each other...
" (Buck Moore, Gary Duffy) – 3:49 - "If I Don't Make It Back" (Brett Jones, Bobby PinsonBobby PinsonBobby Olen Pinson is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records in 2005, Pinson made his debut that year with his album Man Like Me. Its lead-off single, "Don't Ask Me How I Know", peaked at #16 on the Hot Country Songs charts, and was his only Top 40 country hit...
)A – 4:04 - "If the World Had a Front PorchIf the World Had a Front Porch"If the World Had a Front Porch" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. It was released in July 1995 as the fourth and final single from his album, I See It Now. The song reached the number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks...
" (Tracy Lawrence, Paul Nelson, Kenny Beard) – 3:05 - "Sticks and StonesSticks and Stones (song)"Sticks and Stones" is the title of a song written by Elbert West and Roger Dillon, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in November 1991 as the title track and first single from Lawrence's 1991 debut album...
" (Elbert WestElbert West-Track listing:#"Crawlin' Time" – 3:22#"Side of the Road" – 3:46#"Diddley" – 2:52#"Neon Light" – 3:35...
, Roger Dillon) – 3:39 - "Is That a TearIs That a Tear"Is That a Tear" is the title of a song written by John Jarrard and Kenny Beard, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in October 1996 as the fourth and final single from his 1996 album Time Marches On...
" (John Jarrard, Beard) – 3:21 - "Time Marches OnTime Marches On (song)"Time Marches On" is the title of a country music song recorded by Tracy Lawrence. It was written by Bobby Braddock, who also wrote Lawrence's 1995 Number One hit "Texas Tornado". The title track and second single from his fourth studio album, it was the fifteenth chart single of his career...
" (Bobby BraddockBobby BraddockRobert Valentine Braddock is an American country music songwriter and record producer. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Braddock has contributed numerous hit songs during more than 40 years in the industry, including 13 number-one hit...
) – 3:07 - "I See It NowI See It Now (song)"I See It Now" is the title of a song written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson, and Woody Lee. It was recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in August 1994 as the lead-off single from his album of the same name. It peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country...
" (Nelson, 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...
, Woody LeeWoody LeeWoody Lee is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Atlantic Records in 1995, he released his debut album Get Over It that year...
) – 3:37 - "How a Cowgirl Says GoodbyeHow a Cowgirl Says Goodbye"How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in May 1997 as the second single from his 1997 album The Coast Is Clear...
" (Boone, Nelson, Lawrence) – 3:35 - "AlibisAlibis (song)"Alibis" is the title of a song written by Randy Boudreaux and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in February 1993 as the lead single from his album Alibis. The song became Lawrence's second Number One country hit in 1993 on the U.S...
" (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...
) – 3:07 - "Today's Lonely FoolToday's Lonely Fool"Today's Lonely Fool" is the title of a song co-written by Kenny Beard and Stan Paul Davis and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in February 1992 as the second single from his debut album, Sticks and Stones. The song peaked at number 3 on the U.S...
" (Beard, Stan Paul Davis) – 3:53 - "Can't Break It to My HeartCan't Break It to My Heart"Can't Break It to My Heart" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. It was released in June 1993 as the second single from his album, Alibis.' The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 2 on the...
" (Kirk Roth, Lawrence, Earl Clark, West) – 3:40 - "Lessons LearnedLessons Learned (song)"Lessons Learned" is the title of a country music song written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone, and Tracy Lawrence, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence on his album of the same title, from which it was released as the lead-off single...
" (Lawrence, Nelson, Boone) – 3:00 - "Texas TornadoTexas Tornado (song)"Texas Tornado" is the title of a song written by Bobby Braddock and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in April 1995 as the third single from Lawrence's 1994 album I See It Now...
" (Braddock) – 3:33 - "Stars over TexasStars over Texas"Stars over Texas" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in July 1996 as the third single from his 1996 album, Time Marches On. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 42...
" (Boone, Lawrence, Nelson) – 3:37 - "My Second HomeMy Second Home"My Second Home" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. It was released in September 1993 as the third single from his album, Alibis. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 6 on the...
" (Lawrence, Beard, Nelson) – 2:47 - "If the Good Die YoungIf the Good Die Young"If the Good Die Young" is the title of a song, written by Craig Wiseman and Paul Nelson, and recorded by Tracy Lawrence for his 1993 album Alibis. The song was released in January 1994 as that album's fourth and final single, and in April of that year, it became that album's fourth consecutive...
" (Nelson, Craig WisemanCraig WisemanCraig Michael Wiseman is an American country music songwriter. Active since the late 1980s as a songwriter, he has had his songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, and several other acts....
) – 2:29
APreviously unreleased track.
Personnel
- 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'...
– 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 .... - Mike Brignardello – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mark Casstevens – harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
- Dan Dugmore – 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...
, DobroDobroDobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar... - 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 guitar, Dobro - Aubrey HaynieAubrey HaynieAubrey Haynie is an American bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle and mandolin. In his career, he has recorded three studio albums for the Sugar Hill Records label, all three of which contained mostly songs that he wrote himself...
– 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...
, 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... - 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... - Wes Hightower – background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- B. James Lowry – acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
- Liana Manis – background vocals
- 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... - Steve Nathan – piano, keyboards
- 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 - 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 guitar - Curtis WrightCurtis WrightCurtis Blaine Wright is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1989 with the single "She's Got a Man on her Mind" on a branch of MCA Records, before recording a solo album in 1992 on Liberty Records...
– background vocals - Curtis Young – background vocals
Chart performance
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 35 |