Black (Dierks Bentley album)

Black is the eighth studio album by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released on May 27, 2016, by Capitol Nashville. Bentley explained that this is a record about relationships, and follows the same person throughout the track listing going through them. The lead single, "Somewhere on a Beach", was released to radio on January 18, 2016. The album's second single, "Different for Girls" (featuring Elle King), was released to country radio on June 6, 2016. The album's title track was released to country radio as the third single on November 14, 2016.[1] "What the Hell Did I Say" was revealed to be the fourth single from the album in an exclusive interview with Cody Alan of CMT.[2]

Black
Studio album by
Dierks Bentley
ReleasedMay 27, 2016
Recorded2015–16
GenreCountry
Length47:15
LabelCapitol Nashville
ProducerRoss Copperman
Dierks Bentley chronology
Riser
(2014)		 Black
(2016)		 The Mountain
(2018)
Singles from Black
  1. "Somewhere on a Beach"
    Released: January 18, 2016
  2. "Different for Girls"
    Released: June 6, 2016
  3. "Black"
    Released: November 14, 2016
  4. "What the Hell Did I Say"
    Released: June 26, 2017

Black garnered positive reviews from critics, praising the blend of classic and modern country aesthetics and its exploration of mature themes. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 101,000 equivalent album units and 88,000 copies in the first week. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales, streaming and track-sales equivalent of half-a-million units.

Summary

Bentley announced the album along with its first single "Somewhere on a Beach" on January 18, 2016, via his social media sites.[3] The second single, "Different for Girls" featuring Elle King, was released on June 6, 2016. The third single, also the title track, was released on November 14, 2016. The fourth single, "What the Hell Did I Say", was released on June 26, 2017.

Bentley also released a series of promo videos for "I'll Be the Moon", "What the Hell Did I Say", "Pick Up" and "Black".

Bentley commented on the album, saying it was named after his wife Cassidy's maiden name but it's intended to tell a universal story of breakups, hookups, mess-ups and everything in between, shining a light on the things that happen after the sun goes down. He also noted that "It's a relationship album that covers the ups and downs of the journey and ends with some self-realization and evolvement. The song 'Black' helps set all of that in motion at the top of the album by guiding you into the darkness and the shadows of the night. The same guy who sings 'Somewhere On a Beach' winds up growing and having enough perspective to sing something introspective like 'Different for Girls'. By the last song, he's taking a look back on love and life."[4]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Music Connection8/10[6]
NewsdayB+[7]
The Plain DealerA[8]
Rolling Stone[9]

Indicating in a review by Rolling Stone, Stephen L. Betts says, "But what lifts Black past merely being a good concept album is an old-school musicality that never takes a backseat to modern-country conventionality."[9] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, doing the review for AllMusic, describes, "It's mood music, sometimes playing as smooth as a seduction but better suited for moments of introspection when you're surrounded by a crowd and need to isolate."[5] Reviewing the album from Newsday, Glenn Gamboa writes, "expertly weaving styles and storytelling tricks to build memorable tales to sing along with."[7] Chuck Yarborough, giving a review of the album at The Plain Dealer, states, "It is a grownup album, with grownup themes, grownup lyrics and grownup performances, especially from Bentley with his pen and on the microphone."[8] In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin placed two tracks from the album on his top 10 list of Bentley's best songs: the title track at number three and "Different for Girls" at number six.[10]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 with 101,000 equivalent album units; it sold 88,000 copies in its first week.[11] It was the best-selling album of the week.[11] Black became Bentley's highest charting album on the Billboard 200 and largest sales week.[11] The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on February 22, 2017.[12] The album has sold 276,400 copies in the US as of November 2017.[13]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Black"
3:30
2."Pick Up"
3:34
3."I'll Be the Moon" (featuring Maren Morris)
3:30
4."What the Hell Did I Say"
3:27
5."Somewhere on a Beach"
  • Michael Tyler
  • Jaron Boyer
  • Alexander Palmer
  • Dave Kuncio
  • Josh Mirenda
3:17
6."Freedom"
  • Bentley
  • Copperman
  • Gorley
3:36
7."Why Do I Feel"
3:59
8."Roses and a Time Machine"
  • Luke Dick
  • Adam James
3:39
9."All the Way to Me"
  • Bentley
  • Dick
  • Scooter Carusoe
3:39
10."Different for Girls" (featuring Elle King)
3:00
11."Mardi Gras" (featuring Trombone Shorty)
3:50
12."Light It Up"
3:36
13."Can't Be Replaced"
5:38
Total length:47:15

Personnel

Charts

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions
US Country
[23]		 US Country Airplay
[24]		 US
[25]		 CAN Country
[26]		 CAN
[27]
2016 "Somewhere on a Beach" 1 1 35 1 59
"Different for Girls" 3 1 42 1 49
"Black" 4 2 56 8 74
2017 "What the Hell Did I Say" 35 46 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 276,400[13]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, editions, and reference
Region Date Format(s) Label Edition(s) Ref
United Kingdom May 27, 2016
Capitol Nashville Standard [28]
United States [29]
August 12, 2016 Vinyl [30]

Notes
    gollark: Neither.
    gollark: Atomic clocks are superior.
    gollark: <@330678593904443393> Quartz things don't keep time that well.
    gollark: TAI doesn't do leap seconds. I think that's it.
    gollark: Er. Some reference frame.

    References
    1. "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
    2. "Dierks Bentley's 'Black' Marks Third-Straight No. 1 Single". CMT. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
    3. Dierks Bentley, “Somewhere On a Beach” [Listen]
    4. Dierks Bentley Reveals Details for Upcoming 'Black' Album
    5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (May 27, 2016). "Black – Dierks Bentley | Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
    6. Wirdan, Jonathan (June 7, 2016). "Music Album Review: Dierks Bentley – "Black" (8/10)". Music Connection. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
    7. Gamboa, Glenn (May 25, 2016). "'Black' review: Dierks Bentley tackles solid relationship storytelling". Newsday. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
    8. Yarborough, Chuch (May 16, 2016). "Dierks Bentley scores with relationship concept album, 'Black' (CD review)". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
    9. Betts, Stephen L. (May 27, 2016). "Dierks Bentley's New Album: Black". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
    10. Dauphin, Chuck (July 14, 2017). "Dierks Bentley's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
    11. "Drake's 'Views' Rules at No. 1 for Fifth Week on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. June 5, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
    12. "American album certifications – Dierks Bentley – Black". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
    13. Bjorke, Matt (November 21, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: November 20, 2017". Roughstock.
    14. "Australiancharts.com – Dierks Bentley – Black". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
    15. "Dierks Bentley Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
    16. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
    17. "Dierks Bentley Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
    18. "Dierks Bentley Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
    19. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
    20. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
    21. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
    22. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
    23. "Dierks Bentley Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
    24. "Dierks Bentley Album & Song Chart History - Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
    25. "Dierks Bentley Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
    26. "Dierks Bentley Album & Song Chart History - Canada Country". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
    27. "Dierks Bentley Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
    28. "Black– Album by Dierks Bentley". United Kingdom: Amazon.com. May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
    29. "iTunes (U.S.) - Music - Dierks Bentley - Black". iTunes (U.S.). May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
    30. "Black Vinyl Album". Dierks Bentley Store. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
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