Stones in the Road
Stones in the Road is the fifth album by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and her first and only #1 Country Album on the Billboard charts. The album also contains her first and only #1 Hot Country Singles hit, "Shut Up and Kiss Me." Other charting singles were "Tender When I Want to Be" at #6, "House of Cards" at #21, and "Why Walk When You Can Fly?" at #45. The nostalgically themed title track was first recorded by folk singer Joan Baez for her 1992 studio album Play Me Backwards, to whom Carpenter first pitched the song during a joint concert appearance before she recorded it herself. It was also featured in the 1995 film Bye Bye Love.
| Stones in the Road | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 4, 1994 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 55:35 | |||
| Label | Columbia Nashville | |||
| Producer | Mary Chapin Carpenter John Jennings | |||
| Mary Chapin Carpenter chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Stones in the Road | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Chicago Tribune |  |
| Entertainment Weekly | B link |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| Q | |
Carpenter earned two Grammy Awards in 1995 for her work on the album: Best Country Album and Best Female Country Vocal Performance (for "Shut Up and Kiss Me"), the fourth straight year she won the latter category.
Country Universe called it the best Contemporary Country Album.[1]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mary Chapin Carpenter.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Why Walk When You Can Fly?" | 3:31 |
| 2. | "House of Cards" | 3:45 |
| 3. | "Stones in the Road" | 4:31 |
| 4. | "A Keeper for Every Flame" | 3:46 |
| 5. | "Tender When I Want to Be" | 2:54 |
| 6. | "Shut Up and Kiss Me" | 3:40 |
| 7. | "The Last Word" | 3:25 |
| 8. | "The End of My Pirate Days" | 5:02 |
| 9. | "John Doe No. 24" | 5:44 |
| 10. | "Jubilee" | 4:36 |
| 11. | "Outside Looking In" | 4:42 |
| 12. | "Where Time Stands Still" | 3:40 |
| 13. | "This Is Love" | 6:19 |
| Total length: | 55:35 | |
Personnel
Adapted from Stones in the Road liner notes.[2]
- Musicians
- Kenny Aronoff - drums (2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13), percussion (11, 13)
- Paul Brady - tin whistle (10), background vocals (10)
- J. T. Brown - fretless bass (1, 8), bass guitar (4, 7)
- Mary Chapin Carpenter - vocals; acoustic guitar (all tracks except 12), background vocals (1, 2, 4, 10)
- Jon Carroll - piano (1, 7, 8), accordion (1)
- Shawn Colvin - background vocals (10)
- Don Dixon - bass guitar (2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13), arco bass (5)
- Stuart Duncan - fiddle (1), mandolin (1)
- John Jennings - electric guitar (2, 4, 5, 7, 13), acoustic guitar (1, 3, 4), baritone guitar (5, 6, 11), background vocals (2, 4, 6), Hammond C-3 organ (4), percussion (4), cowbell (6), plucked piano (8), bass guitar (8), "beach guitar" (10, 13)
- Robbie Magruder - drums (1, 4, 7, 8)
- Branford Marsalis - soprano saxophone (9)
- Alan O'Bryant - background vocals (1)
- Lee Roy Parnell - electric slide guitar (6, 13)
- Matt Rollings - piano (1, 4, 12, 13)
- Steuart Smith - electric guitar (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13)
- Benmont Tench - Hammond C-3 organ (2, 3, 11), piano (3, 6, 10, 11, 13)
- Robin and Linda Williams - background vocals (1)
- Trisha Yearwood - background vocals (5, 6)
- Production
- Mary Chapin Carpenter - producer
- Dave Chavez - recording assistant
- Bob Dawson - recording, mixing
- Caroline Greyshock - photography
- John Jennings - producer
- Bill Johnson - art direction
- Denny Purcell - mastering
- James Saez - additional recording
Chart performance
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 10 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 29 |