Lonely Grill is the third studio album by American country music group Lonestar, released in the United States on June 1, 1999, by BNA Records. It reached number 28 on the Billboard 200 chart, and number three on the Top Country Albums chart. With sales of three million copies in the United States, it has been certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA. This was Lonestar's first studio album to have a crossover-friendly country-pop sound, which was a departure from their earlier neotraditional country sound. It is also their first studio album to be recorded as a four-piece as bassist and second lead vocalist John Rich left the band the previous year in 1998. Instead of replacing him with a new member, the band hired several session bassists to play the album's bass parts.

Content The singles released from Lonely Grill were, in order of release, "Saturday Night", "Amazed", "Smile", "What About Now", and "Tell Her". While "Saturday Night" peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, all other singles from this album reached number one on that same chart as well as reaching the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Amazed" was also the group's biggest crossover hit, also peaking at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. Also included on this album is an acoustic rendition of the group's late-1998 hit "Everything's Changed" (from their Crazy Nights album). Dann Huff produced all but the last track, which was produced by Sam Ramage and Bob Wright.

This was Lonestar's first album after the departure of bass guitarist John Rich, who recorded a solo album for BNA that same year before pairing up with Big Kenny in the duo Big & Rich. Richie McDonald became the band's sole lead vocalist after Rich's departure, and studio bass guitarists are used in Rich's place.

Critical reception

Giving it three stars out of five, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that Lonestar "take[s] a middle ground, moving back toward hardcore country while retaining elements of the pop sheen of Crazy Nights. The results aren't always successful, but overall, the album is stronger than its immediate predecessor."

Track listing All tracks produced by Dann Huff except where noted.

Personnel As listed in liner notes.

Lonestar Richie McDonald – lead vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar Dean Sams – acoustic piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, harmonica, backing vocals Michael Britt – acoustic guitar, electric guitars, backing vocals Keech Rainwater – drums, percussion

Additional musicians Tim Lauer – accordion Steve Nathan – acoustic piano, synthesizers Matt Rollings – acoustic piano, Hammond B3 organ Gary Burnette – acoustic guitar, mandolin Dann Huff – electric guitars Biff Watson – acoustic guitar Bruce Bouton – pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar Aubrey Haynie – fiddle, mandolin Jonathan Yudkin – mandolin Mike Brignardello – bass guitar Robbie Cheuvront – bass guitar, backing vocals Paul Leim – drums Eric Darken – percussion Chuck Cannon – backing vocals Russell Terrell – backing vocals

Technical and Design Lonestar – arrangements (12) Jeff Balding – tracking, overdub recording, mixing Mark Hagen – tracking assistant, additional engineer, overdub assistant, mix assistant Bob Wright – engineer (12), mixing (12) Phil Barnett – assistant engineer (12), mix assistant (12) Giles Reaves – digital editing Ken Love – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee) Mike "Frog" Griffith – production coordinator Susan Eaddy – art direction Torne White – design Jim "Señior" McGuire – photography Debra Wingo – hair, make-up Ann Waters – stylist

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999) Peak position Canadian Country Albums (RPM) 2

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position US Billboard 200 102 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 8 Chart (2000) PositionCanadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) 65 US Billboard 200 57 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 5 Chart (2001) Position Canadian Country Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) 24 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 34 Chart (2002) PositionCanadian Country Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)63

Certifications

References