Gretchen Wilson - Here for the Party

Taking its cues from her hit single "Redneck Woman," Here for the Party's opening title track introduces Gretchen Wilson in no uncertain terms. "I'm here for the beer and the ball-bustin' band," she sings over its emphatic kick drum beat and barroom twang. "I may not be a ten, but the boys say I clean up good." The vocalist's brassy delivery -- not to mention her brazen honesty -- differs considerably from the songbirds that often surround her on country radio in 2004. In fact, she's closer to the leather pants and poppy honky tonk of Tanya Tucker's 1978 effort T.N.T. Tucker is referenced in the aforementioned "Redneck Woman," as are Hank Williams, Jr. and Kid Rock, who also seem like primary sources for Wilson's mix of traditional country, pop accessibility, and uncut rock & roll attitude. Though she happily belts out the harder edges of "Homewrecker" and the hometown tribute "Pocahontas Proud," Wilson is also convincing on the ballad "When I Think About Cheatin'," and the softer tones of "What Happened." These tracks give Party some welcome depth, playing off its more rowdy material nicely and proving that Wilson isn't just a loudmouth novelty. Sure, that mud on her jeans in the back cover photo is real. But so is the sentiment in "Holdin' You," when she declares that "Holdin' you/Holds me together." Gretchen Wilson may be a redneck woman, but she has a heart of gold. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Anderson Gut String Guitar Angela Primm Vocals (Background) Bart Pursley Mixing, Engineer, Audio Engineer Big Kenny Vocals (Background) Candy Burton Hair Stylist, Make-Up Carie Higdon Project Coordinator Clay Bradley A&R Deb Haus Art Direction, Artist Development, Stylist Eric Darken Percussion Gale West Vocals (Background) Glen Rose Photography Greg Droman Tracking Greg Morrow Drums, Percussion Gretchen Wilson Vocals (Background), Vocals Hank Williams Mastering Joe Scaife Producer, Vocals (Background), Audio Production John Rich Guitar (Acoustic) John Willis Guitar (Acoustic) Kay Smith A&R Kenny Greenberg Guitar (Electric) Larry Franklin Fiddle, Mandolin Mark Wright Producer, Audio Production Michael Penner Photography Michael Rhodes Baritone, Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Baritone) Mike Brignardello Baritone, Guitar (Baritone), Guitar (Bass) Paul Hart Assistant Reese Wynans Hammond B3, Organ (Hammond), Piano Russ Pahl Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Banjo, Guitar (Steel) Steve Marcantonio Engineer Steve Nathan Organ (Hammond), Hammond B3, Piano Sylvia Meiler Creative Producer Todd Gunnerson Engineer, Tracking Assistant Tom Bukovac Guitar (Electric) Tonya Derry A&R Tracy Baskette-Fleaner Art Direction, Design Wes Hightower Vocals (Background)