Traveling Circus

Traveling Circus is the fifth studio album by American country music singer Phil Vassar. It was released on December 15, 2009 as his second album for the Universal South Records label. The album contains the singles "Bobbi with an I" and "Everywhere I Go," both of which have charted on the U.S. country singles charts. Vassar produced the album on his own, and wrote or co-wrote every song on it as well.

For the event, see Circus.
Traveling Circus
Studio album by
Phil Vassar
ReleasedDecember 15, 2009 (2009-12-15)
Recorded2009
GenreCountry
Length43:46
LabelUniversal South
ProducerPhil Vassar
Phil Vassar chronology
Prayer of a Common Man
(2008)		 Traveling Circus
(2009)		 Noel
(2011)
Singles from Traveling Circus
  1. "Bobbi with an I"
    Released: June 15, 2009
  2. "Everywhere I Go"
    Released: September 8, 2009

Content

The album's first single was "Bobbi with an I," a song about a transvestite man, which peaked at #46 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Following it was the ballad "Everywhere I Go," which peaked at #36 in late 2009.

Vassar wrote or co-wrote every song on the album, collaborating with Nashville songwriters such as Jeffrey Steele, Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols, as well as singer Kenny Chesney on the track "I Will Remember You."[1] Vassar produced the album himself, and used his road band on it.[2] His high school art teacher, Jason Erwin, painted the album cover,[1] and a young director named Chris Cella directed the music video for "Everywhere I Go."[3]

The album was originally slated for a February 2010 release, but in November 2009, it was announced that the release date would be moved to December 15, 2009.[1][4] It is Vassar's second release on the Universal South Records label, following 2008's Prayer of a Common Man.

Critical reception

Album
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Billboard(60/100)[6]
The New York Times(positive)[7]
USA Today[8]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album three stars out of five, citing the up-tempo songs as standouts: "Unfortunately, Vassar leans a little too heavily on placid power ballads to give this a truly carnivalesque kick, but when he does take the time to lay back he’s as good as he ever was."[5]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Life"Phil Vassar3:34
2."Lemonade"Vassar, Charlie Black, Tim Ryan3:34
3."Everywhere I Go"Vassar, Jeffrey Steele4:17
4."John Wayne"Vassar, Tom Douglas4:10
5."Tequila Town"Vassar, Kelley Lovelace4:00
6."Bobbi with an I"Vassar, Craig Wiseman4:38
7."She's On Her Way"Vassar, Jeff Outlaw, Tim Nichols3:57
8."A Year from Now"Vassar, Wiseman4:17
9."Save Tonight for Me"Vassar, Ryan, Juliana Cole3:59
10."I Will Remember You"Vassar, Kenny Chesney3:57
11."Where Have All the Pianos Gone"Vassar, James T. Slater3:23
Total length:43:46

Personnel
  • Larry Beaird - banjo
  • Jason Fausset - keyboards
  • Jason Fitz - fiddle, mandolin, strings
  • Blair Mingus - handclapping
  • Russ Pahl - six-string bass guitar, banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar
  • Greg Rausch - handclapping
  • Norb Rausch - handclapping
  • Seth Rausch - drums, handclapping, percussion
  • Tim Ryan - acoustic guitar
  • Scott Saunders - Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards
  • Jeff Smith - acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, electric guitar, background vocals
  • Pete Sternberg - bass guitar
  • Phil Vassar - piano, lead vocals
  • Craig Wiseman - background vocals

Chart performance
Chart (2009) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 29
U.S. Billboard 200 198
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References
  1. Stephen L. Betts (2009-11-23). "Phil Vassar Brings Circus to Town Earlier than Expected". The Boot. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  2. Sarah Norton (2009-11-02). "Phil Vassar Is Ringmaster of Traveling Circus". Country Hound. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  3. "Phil Vassar's New Album Scheduled for Dec. 15". CMT. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  4. "Vassar releases CD ahead of schedule". Country Standard Time. 2009-11-26. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Traveling Circus - Phil Vassar". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  6. Jessen, Wade (2010-01-19). "Phil Vassar, 'Traveling Circus'". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  7. Caramanica, Jon (2010-01-03). "New CDs (Phil Vassar: 'Traveling Circus')". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  8. Mansfield, Brian (2009-12-14). "Phil Vassar, Traveling Circus: Piano Pitchman". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
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