CHRIS YOUNG’S NEW ALBUM – “FAMOUS FRIENDS” – AVAILABLE NOW (Audio & Video)
14-song project features collaborations with Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina, and Mitchell Tenpenny
Listen now at https://CY.lnk.to/FamousFriends
and watch “At The End Of A Bar” music video now at https://CY.lnk.to/ATEOABvideo
Commentary on “Famous Friends” Album (Video)
Commentary on “Famous Friends” Album (Audio)
Yeah, I think it’s funny because when I’ve talked with people about naming the album “Famous Friends,” obviously it’s an easy go-to because that song’s such a big hit, but it really kind of encompasses the way this project was made. There’s multiple different co-producers that I worked with; there are multiple different groups of songwriters that I’ve known, you know, the whole time that I’ve been here in town. Some people that I’ve met more recently, some people that you know, wrote stuff with me all the way back to the beginning of my career. And then there’s just so many people that have guested from the musicians to people sing in backgrounds, and I’m incredibly lucky to have that many friends that wanted to come together and help me make this record. So it just felt like the perfect name for the album.
Here are the Intro, Cut X Cut, & Outro Work Parts to Support Chris Young’s New Album, “Famous Friends.”
1. Raised on Country
“Raised On Country” is a special one because that is the first time I’ve ever singled anything that I wrote on a bus trip. I’ve had songs make an album before; this was the very first time where we had something that me, Cory Crowder, Cary Barlowe, just sitting on the bus, came up with this idea. We were really like, we want something anthemic. Something’s gonna be fun, that I can play the live show because they had been out and they had seen the reaction from the crowds in the arenas and the amphitheaters that we were playing in. And we wanted something that really brought that energy and was also, you know, a nod to what I grew up listening to. So we ended up with “Raised On Country,” and I can think of that working out any better than it did.
2. Famous Friends (with Kane Brown)
So the craziest thing is “Raised On Country” and “Famous Friends” were written on the same bus trip, it was the same weekend, we wrote both of those songs. And I remember right when we got done writing “Famous Friends,” I was like, “Dude, this could be a duet, if we do this right. Between two guys where it’s not just a song about going out partying, and it’s really kind of that lifting up the people you grew up with and given a nod to some of the people that don’t always get called out, right.” And so I sent the song to Kane, and I was just like, “Hey, man, see if you dig this. You’re the first person I’m sending it to.” We had toured together; obviously, I guested on stuff of his before, but I’ve never had him on one of my projects. And I was like; this just seems like the right time. And he loved the song just as much as I did. So everything just kind of worked out.
3. Town Ain’t Big Enough (with Lauren Alaina)
“Town Ain’t Big Enough” actually came about, we set aside an entire week in Nashville to just sit in the studio, invite people in and out, songwriter wise, and see what we came up with. And we didn’t really have that male/female duet for the record yet. Until we wrote, “Town Ain’t Big Enough.” And I’d done some shows with Lauren, obviously, I know her from around town in Nashville, but I just kind of picked up the phone and called her and her managers like, “Hey, I want to send y’all a song. See what you think. I know there’s a lot of stuff being thrown around in her career right now. But just check this out.” And they’re like, “Sure, we’ll give it a listen.” And actually hit us back the same day. And were like, “Yes, when can she come in and sing this.” So you know, so grateful for her wanting to be a part of that song. And she made this ten times better than if it had just been me singing the whole thing down. And I just love her voice and her personality, her in the studio. We did kind of a pseudo video; that was really cool. If people haven’t seen that yet, it’s a little black and white thing we put together with my videographer Jeff Johnson and just kind of encapsulates how much fun we were having in the studio together. So she made this song what it is for sure.
4. Drowning
You know, I’ve talked about “Drowning” so much since it released over the past several years. I don’t know what there is for me to say that I haven’t touched on yet. But obviously, this is a song that I wrote about a friend of mine who passed away suddenly, car accident. And you know, there one day gone the next and never got to really say goodbye to him. And, you know, one of the only funerals I’ve ever sung at in my life, and just one of my best friends. So took me a really long time to get to a point where I had an idea that I thought was worthy of his memory. And when Corey Crowder and Josh Hoge and I sat down, and this idea came out, we started passing it back and forth. You know each and every one of us had had somebody that we had lost and that we could relate to while we were writing the song. And trying to get that feeling across on a song is so difficult, and just to see everyone else’s response once it got out, there was just really such an amazing thing to get that energy back and have people come up and say thank you for the song. The writing process for “Drowning” was actually pretty easy. Singing it, it’s snuck up on me a couple times. I teared up on stage at the Opry once, which I don’t do; I’ve done it once live but kind of kept myself together. So it doesn’t happen often. I’m not somebody that that tears, cries hardly ever, but that song just means the world to me. So try to put a lot of different topics on this record. This one’s obviously something that’s very special to me.
5. Rescue Me
“Rescue Me” is this really cool concept, and I remember they had actually started the song without me. And this got brought to my attention because Josh Hoge, who’s a buddy and who I’ve written a bunch of hits with, was like, “Dude, we haven’t finished the song yet. I think this is really cool. Will you just give a listen.”? I was like, “You know, I don’t normally do that, but okay.” And then I was like, “I don’t normally do this, but I really liked this idea.” So I ended up getting together with him and Mark Holman and finishing the song out, and then actually recorded the vocal that day in my studio. And that’s the vocal that’s on the album. So it just came together really fast, really organically. And it was an opportunity for me and Mark to co-produce something together. We have not worked together in the past. So that was a really cool moment, finding somebody else that you really click with creatively from that production space. And you know, it’s just a straight-ahead love song, but the twist on it just makes it stand out makes a difference.
6. Break Like You Do
Man, “Break Like You Do” is a song that was done pretty early into the process of making this record. I think it was like, either at the beginning or like right around the middle. It’s always weird for me to try to like think about which what order that all these songs come in because it’s been, you know, a four year process making this album. This was just so much fun to sing. And it’s, you know, it’s a sad song. This is one of those where it’s that that breakup, and we were looking for a different way to put that into words. I was like, you know, I just I guess I don’t break the same way you do. You seem fine. I’m not. It’s a really interesting turn on that type of song.
7. At the End of a Bar (with Mitchell Tenpenny)
So this is the snow day song from the album. It iced over Nashville for about two days and shut the city down. And it was really funny because friends of mine are like, “It’s doesn’t look like there’s that much snow there,” and I’m like, “Well, you’re from Pittsburgh, like the state of Tennessee doesn’t have as many snowplows as your city does. We’re just not prepared for that at all.” And by like day three or four, it was really more snow than ice. And we had had this date on the books with me, Mitchell, and Chris Destefano for a while. And kind of all called each other. We’re all doing that thing of, should we reschedule? Are y’all good? You want to do this today? And me and Mitchell specifically had a conversation. We were like, if we don’t go, what if we’re supposed to write something really cool today and sat down in the room in the studio. I was talking about how I’d seen him the other day. And I’m like, “Remember, we were sitting at the end of a bar,” and he goes, “That’s the title.” I was like, “Yeah, yeah, it is.” And we just sat there, the song came together really fast. I don’t think it took us an hour to write this song. And then kind of spent the rest of the day in the studio, stacking vocals and doing everything else to make this what it is. And so happy to have him on the song and a lot of fun to get to sing with somebody that’s got that powerful of a voice. I mean, he is up there in the sky, at least for me and where my register is, so it was a lot of fun to sing this one with him.
8. Love Looks Good on You
“Love Looks Good On You” actually came out of like a two-and-a-half-day writing trip. I really don’t normally schedule trips out of town just to sit down and write. So we challenged ourselves with me, Chris DeStefano, and Ashley Gorley to try and write as many songs as we possibly could, good songs, in the time that we had. So I think we got like seven songs on that one trip. And this one just stood out because it’s got that R&B Country blend that I love. There’s something about having that kind of groove on a Country song. And just the melody on the chorus made this one a standout for me. I was like, “Yeah, this has to go on the record.”
9. One of Them Nights
“One Of Them Nights,” this is like a show opener song. I mean, this is just a whole lot of fun. It is right in your face, it is 100% tempo, party song, and it was fun, right? And this one, honestly, this is something that we didn’t have for the record yet. We didn’t have that kind of, you know, the lights come up at the top of a show moment song. And I think that’s what this is. It’s all about, you know, I mean, the end of the second verse just sounds like a party to me going back into the chorus. So it’s pretty straightforward and what this one’s about.
10. When You’re Drinking
“When You’re Drinking” is something I think everybody’s been on one end of or the other. You’ve either been the person getting the call from somebody where you’re like, “I probably shouldn’t pick this up,” or you’re the person making the call. And the person on the other end is like, “You’re gonna say stuff you don’t mean.” It’s not even a necessarily, a sad song outright. It’s just that moment of the ending of a relationship where both people are really trying to let go, but one still invested in it still hurts ’em. So it’s a really interesting take on that. And you know, one of those I really had a good time writing this song because it’s something different. It’s adding another layer of emotion to this record.
11. Cross Every Line
“Cross Every Line” is the one outside song on this record. Someone played it for me from my publisher, and I fell in love with it. And that’s always been kind of a hallmark for me if I cut outside songs. It’s “Man, I wish I’d have written that” like just that thought “I would cross every line in the world for you. I would do anything for you.” Everybody wants somebody to say that to them. So I just fell in love with the idea of this love song, and I couldn’t let it go.
12. Hold My Beer Watch This
“Hold My Beer Watch This” is a very nuanced, technical, deep… No, it’s not. It’s a beer drinking song. I love playing this one. This is one of the first ones I added into the set, actually, just because you know you got to have a beer song every now and then just for the crowd. And especially being able to be out again in the summer in front of crowds, that songs a lot of fun to play because everybody puts their cans up, they’re having a good time. And it definitely works really easy in a live set.
13. Best Seat in the House
“Best Seat In The House” gave me the opportunity to do something that I love so much, which is sing with Sarah Buxton. She is on the song singing harmonies and just create with her. She’s so much fun. This one, for me in particular, was important because it reminded me of when I would go to stuff back in the day when I lived Downtown. I didn’t really have a whole lot of money, but we could get like the cheap tickets and kind of sit up at the top of the arena Downtown Nashville and watch shows. So it’s that whole kind of idea of, you know, spending your last amount of your paycheck to take somebody out and be at a show, and it’s like it didn’t really matter where you’re sitting here with them. You get the best seat in the house.
14. Tonight We’re Dancing
“Tonight We’re Dancing” is really special to me for a couple reasons. One, I just think having that song where you get the image of two people slow dancing in the house together. It’s such a private moment that everybody has at some point. And I love that emotion carrying over into a song; it was what made this one stand out. And also, I got a chance to write this with two friends of mine, Josh Gleave and Josh Phillips, who have never had a cut on any of my projects before. So this one is special from the writing perspective, and also, just it’s one of my favorite things to play people off the album.
Nashville, TN — August 6, 2021 — With nearly five billion career streams and twelve No. 1 singles, multi-platinum global entertainer Chris Young releases his highly anticipated 8th studio album – Famous Friends – TODAY. Led by the Billboard and Mediabase multi-week No. 1 single and title track “Famous Friends,” the album opens with “Raised On Country” – an ode to his wide ranging influences in country music like Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Joe Diffie and George Strait. The fourteen songs on Famous Friends feature many of Chris’s own friends, including collaborations with Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina and Mitchell Tenpenny, twenty songwriters, four producers, Chris included, plus background vocals from Sarah Buxton and Hillary Lindsey. And Chris will take his “Famous Friends Tour” on the road beginning in October, joined by Mitchell and Callista Clark.
Listen to Chris Young’s Famous Friends album now at https://CY.lnk.to/FamousFriends
and purchase tickets for the “Famous Friends Tour”
at chrisyoungcountry.com.
Prior to headlining the Wisconsin State Fair tonight and signing for fans following the show, Chris and Mitchell premiered the music video for their “booming duet” (Tennessean), “At The End Of A Bar.” Watch now at https://CY.lnk.to/ATEOABvideo. The clip, directed by Jeff Johnson and filmed over two days in Nashville, features over 15,000 fans who were the first to hear the new song as they performed it on the massive riverfront stage at 1st and Broadway.
The Grand Ole Opry member will also step into the circle tomorrow night during the Opry’s live broadcast which can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM, and seen on the Circle Network. Purchase tickets at opry.com or call (800) SEE-OPRY. Chris’s Famous Friends album will also be available for purchase onsite in the Opry Shop on CD and vinyl. In addition, he will be hosting a special live taping of The Quad with Chris Young podcast after the show.
Chris will also be performing at “Losers Birthday Bash” on Monday, August 9th at 7pm. The free show, powered by Whiskey Jam, takes place in Losers Bar parking lot and celebrates 15 years of one of Nashville’s favorite venues.
TRACK LISTING: CHRIS YOUNG – FAMOUS FRIENDS
- Raised on Country
- Famous Friends (with Kane Brown)
- Town Ain’t Big Enough (with Lauren Alaina)
- Drowning
- Rescue Me
- Break Like You Do
- At the End of a Bar (with Mitchell Tenpenny)
- Love Looks Good on You
- One of Them Nights
- When You’re Drinking
- Cross Every Line
- Hold My Beer Watch This
- Best Seat in the House
- Tonight We’re Dancing
Download Chris Young Famous Friends liner notes HERE
For?more information, visit chrisyoungcountry.com and join @ChrisYoungMusic and his more than 5.9 Million fans on TikTok,?Instagram, Facebook and?Twitter.
ABOUT CHRIS YOUNG:
Multi-platinum RCA Records Nashville entertainer Chris Young has accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments, including membership in the iconic Grand Ole Opry, more than 4 Billion on-demand streams, 13 Million singles sold, 12 career No. 1 singles, 23 R.I.A.A. Gold/Platinum/Multi-Platinum certified projects, 2 Grammy nominations, 3 Country Music Association nominations and 4 Academy of Country Music nominations along with wins for Performance of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards.?These accomplishments and more landed him in the Top 20 of Billboard’s top country artists of the decade.
Chris’s multi-week chart-topping single, “Famous Friends” with Kane Brown, leads his 8th studio album, Famous Friends, available now, following back-to-back No. 1 Billboard Top Country Albums Losing Sleep and I’m Comin’ Over.
Named “one of his era’s finest traditionalists” by the Associated Press, Chris is an international ambassador for country music, performing to capacity crowds around the world. With a hit-packed set that highlights his twelve chart-toppers — including back-to-back No. 1s “Losing Sleep,” “Sober Saturday Night,” “Think Of You,” and “I’m Comin’ Over” — the Grammy and ACM nominated vocalist’s 2019 headlining tour played to over 400,000 fans in 3 countries. He’ll headline the “Famous Friends Tour 2021” with Mitchell Tenpenny and Callista Clark starting in October.
For?more information and to purchase tickets to the “Famous Friends Tour 2021,” visit chrisyoungcountry.com and join @ChrisYoungMusic and his more than 5.9 Million fans on TikTok,?Instagram, Facebook and?Twitter.
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Media Contact for Chris Young:??
Monarch Publicity
Cindy Hunt / Heather Conley / Taryn Pray
Label Contact for Chris Young:
Allen Brown??
Sony Music Nashville??
615-301-4300??
[email protected]