The Metropolitan Hotel is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Chely Wright. It was released on February 22, 2005, via Dualtone Records and her own label Painted Red. Following this album, Wright would take an extensive hiatus from the music industry before returning and coming out.
The album was highly acclaimed. Four singles in total were released. "Back of the Bottom Drawer" peaked at number 40. The military inspired song "The Bumper of My SUV" peaked at number 35 on the US Hot Country Songs chart. The third and fourth singles did not chart: "The River" and a cover of Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" (re-titled as "C'est La Vie (You Never Can Tell).
Singles "Back of the Bottom Drawer" was released as the lead single from the album on March 15, 2004, when Wright was signed under the Vivaton! label. The song was positively reviewed by music critics, with praise going towards Wright's vocals and the lyrics. It peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The second single "The Bumper of My SUV" was released on November 8, 2004. It received attention due to Wright performing the song in Iraq. When originally released, it peaked at number 54. It would be discovered that members of Wright's fan club were contacting country radio stations, posing as family or friends of military members when requesting the single.Campaign of deception used to push patriotic song up charts This would go on to lead both the single to be re-released and Wright firing the club's leader.CMT.com : Chely Wright : Chely Wright Dismisses Fan Club President This re-issue did help the single, reaching a peak of number 35. The third single "The River" was first released on May 24, 2005, to CMT and June 18, 2005, to GAC. Although a release to radio was planned following the single's video release, it was never commissioned. A cover of Chuck Berry's "C'est La Vie (You Never Can Tell)" would be released on October 31, 2005, as the fourth and final single. It failed to enter any charts.
Track listing
Personnel As listed in liner notes:
Steve Brewster – drums Tom Bukovac – electric guitar Jimmy Carter – bass guitar Eric Darken – percussion Chip Davis – background vocals Stuart Duncan – mandolin Shannon Forrest – drums Vince Gill – background vocals Tony Harrell – keyboards Aubrey Haynie – fiddle Mark Hill – bass guitar Sean Hurley – bass guitar Travis Javis – piano Jeff King – electric guitar Chris McHugh – drums Greg Morrow – drums Gordon Mote – piano, keyboards James T. Olsen – electric guitar Russ Pahl – steel guitar Billy Panda – acoustic guitar Scotty Sanders – steel guitar Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar Michael Hart Thompson – electric guitar Emily West – background vocals John Willis – acoustic guitar Chely Wright – lead vocals Jonathan Yudkin – mandolin
Strings on "Back of the Bottom Drawer" and "The River" performed by the Nashville String Machine, conducted and arranged by Steve W. Maldin. Strings on "Between a Mother and a Child" performed and arranged by Jonathan Yudkin.
Charts Chart (2005) PeakpositionUK Country Albums (OCC)3
References