Bell Bottom Country
Bell Bottom Country is the fourth studio album by American country singer Lainey Wilson. Released on October 28, 2022, by BBR Music Group, the album serves as the follow-up to her third studio album, Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'. It was preceded by the single "Heart Like a Truck". Sonically, the album combines country with elements of '70s rock, funk and soul.
It won Best Country Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, Academy of [Country Music Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year] at the 58th [Academy of Country Music Awards], and Album of the Year at the 57th Annual [Country Music Association Awards].
Background
Wilson co-wrote all of the album's sixteen tracks, with the exception of a cover of "What's Up?", originally recorded by 4 Non Blondes, which Wilson had been performing during her live shows. Sonically, the album has been described as "country at its core", with elements of '70s rock, funk and soul.The album was announced on August 16, 2022, alongside the promotional single "Watermelon Moonshine". In an interview with Taste Of Country, Wilson explained of the album's title "Sure, I love a good pair of bell bottoms, but Bell Bottom Country to me has always been about the flare and what makes someone unique—I have really embraced mine, and I hope y'all can hear that across this project". Of the short time frame between her debut and sophomore major label albums, Wilson stated ""I've lived quite a bit of life in the past few years, and I have a lot more to say." The song "Those Boots " is a tribute to Wilson's father, who suffered a medical emergency that caused her to cancel a number of live shows.
"Live Off", the album's second promotional single, was released on September 23, 2022, following an acoustic performance of the track that was posted to her Instagram a week earlier. Describing the song, Wilson expressed "this one's one of my favorites off of my new album. 'Live Off' is all about the things that make my world go 'round... my backroad hometown, my dog, my family, my friends, and music, of course."
Upon making her acting debut on Yellowstone in November 2022, Wilson released two new songs—"Smell Like Smoke" and "New Friends"—that were tacked onto the streaming and digital versions of Bell Bottom Country.
"Watermelon Moonshine" and "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" were released as the album's second and third singles, respectively.
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.Musicians
- Lainey Wilson – lead vocals, claps, background vocals, gang vocals
- Fred Eltringham – drums, timpani, claps, percussion, gang vocals
- Brad Pemberton – drums
- Joel King – bass, claps, gang vocals
- Rob McNelley – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, claps, Dobro, sitar, gang vocals
- Charlie Worsham – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, mandolin
- Aslan Freeman – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, claps, gang vocals
- Billy Justineau – keyboards, piano, pump organ, B3, Moog, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, Omnichord, gang vocals
- Jay Joyce – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, B3, programming, percussion, drums, bass, Dobro, ganjo, background vocals, gang vocals, claps
- Jason Hall – claps, background vocals, gang vocals
- Jimmy Mansfield – claps, gang vocals
- Josh Groppel – claps, gang vocals
- Ashland Craft – background vocals
- Kasey Tyndall – background vocals
- Joanna Janét – background vocals
- Derek George – background vocals
- Molly Tuttle – background vocals, acoustic guitar
- Jason Hargrove – gang vocals
Technical
- Jay Joyce – production, mixing (recorded music)|mixing]
- Jason Hall – mixing, recording
- Andrew Mendelson – mastering
- Court Blankenship – production assistance
- Jimmy Mansfield – engineering assistance
- Josh Groppel – engineering assistance
- Jaxon Hargrove – engineering assistance
Visuals
- Alyse Gafkjen – photography
- CeCe Dawson – creative direction, design
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
| Chart | Position |
| Australian Country Albums | 30 |
| US Billboard 200 | 128 |
| US Top Country Albums | 28 |