Rock n Roll Jesus is the seventh studio album by Kid Rock, released on October 9, 2007. Rob Cavallo co-produced the album with Rock.Billboard Magazine (August 4, 2006) Rap Takes a Back Seat on New Kid Rock Album The album was not available at the iTunes Store in an act of protest by Kid Rock regarding a royalties dispute. It was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Best Male Vocal Performance for "All Summer Long" at the 2009 Grammy Awards. "All Summer Long" from the album was named the official theme song for WWE Backlash 2008 as well as "So Hott" for WrestleMania XXV and "New Orleans" for WrestleMania 34.

Musical style The album features the vocals of golfer John Daly on "Half Your Age" and the rock hit "All Summer Long" which has brought the album to triple platinum status in the U.S. and in Canada. "Sugar" is the only song on the album that features rapping vocals. This would be the last album that Rock raps on until 2017's Sweet Southern Sugar.

Singles The album's first two singles, "So Hott" and "Amen", both did relatively well on the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts. On the Mainstream Rock chart, the singles peaked at No. 2 and No. 11, respectively—the former one becoming the biggest rock hit of his career. The tracks peaked at No. 13 and No. 27, respectively, on the Modern Rock chart.

The album's third single, "All Summer Long", was a massive worldwide hit. It peaked at No. 23 on the Hot 100 chart, despite Rock boycotting iTunes and receiving minimum digital downloads, and No. 4 on the country chart. It went to number one on charts in eight countries across Europe and Australia. "Roll On" and "Rock n Roll Jesus" were released at the same time as follow ups to "All Summer Long". "Roll On" failed to chart in the U.S. but reached No. 59 in Germany and No. 67 in Austria. "Rock n Roll Jesus" peaked at No. 34 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart.

The album's sixth single, "Blue Jeans and a Rosary", was released in January 2009. It would peak at No. 50 on the U.S. Country Chart. "Lowlife (Living the Highlife)" was released as the album's seventh single on March 8, 2009.

Critical reception

Rolling Stone gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating "His good-hearted faith in rock & roll delivers a powerful kick. As he well knows—and Rock N Roll Jesus proves—roaring guitars, truckloads of attitude and an unquenchable lust for life make up for a multitude of sins." Billboard stated "We may be more entertained at times by Rock's extramusical affairs, but the "Devil" should still be given his due as a clever and creative musical force." Allmusic was less enthusiastic, calling it "big, bold, and brainless" and stating, "splashy and silly though it may be, at least it gets the basic sound right, even if it's way too polished and precise."

Commercial performance The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 172,000 copies in its first week.Jonathan Cohen, "Kid Rock Rolls To #1 Album Chart Debut", Billboard.com, October 17, 2007. It is Kid Rock's first and only album so far to top the Billboard 200. The album rebounded in March 2008 when "All Summer Long" was released as a single climbing back into the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 staying for 17 weeks. It has been certified 3 times platinum by the RIAA and it had sold 3,493,000 copies in the US as of December 2013.

The album was certified 2 times platinum in Canada and gold in Germany, Austria and Australia.

Track listing

Bonus tracks

Sample credits "All Summer Long" – "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd (piano outro, guitar solo, guitar hook before chorus), "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon (piano) "Sugar" – "I'm Bad" by LL Cool J (vocal sample only)

Demos "30 Days in the Hole" (Humble Pie cover) "Top Billin" (Audio Two cover)

Personnel

Kid Rock – lead vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, 12 string guitar, rhythm guitar, lap steel guitar, piano, percussion, moog synth, talkbox, turntables, vox organ Marlon Young – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, mandolin Jason Krause – guitar Aaron Julison – bass guitar Jimmie Bones – piano, organ, harmonica Stefanie Eulinberg – drums Larry Fratangelo – conga drums, timbales, wave drum Billy Powell – piano David McMurray – saxophone Dan Dugmore – pedal steel Rayse Biggs – trumpet Paul Franklin – pedal steel David Campbell – string arrangements Barbara Payton – backing vocals Sylver Logan Sharp – backing vocals Jessica Wagner – backing vocals Hershel C Boone – backing vocals Vinnie Dombroski – drums on "Rock n Roll Jesus" and "So Hott" Jeff Fowlkes – drums on "New Orleans" and "Lowlife" Bobby East – slide guitar on "Lowlife" John Daly – vocals on "Half Your Age"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2007–2008)Peakposition

Year-end charts Chart (2007)PositionUS Billboard 200128US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)21 Chart (2008)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)56Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)22Canadian Albums (Billboard)15German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)34Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)30UK Albums (OCC)146US Billboard 2006US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)1 Chart (2009)PositionUS Billboard 20045US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)13

Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009)Position US Billboard 200 Digit page 168 on the PDF archive.125

Certifications

References