Hillbilly Rock is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Marty Stuart. It was released in October 1989 by MCA Nashville. It peaked at #19 on the Top Country Albums chart but failed to chart on the Canadian charts. It was certified Gold in both countries. The songs "Cry! Cry! Cry!", "Don't Leave Her Lonely Too Long", "Hillbilly Rock", and "Western Girls" were released as singles.
Musical style and composition Hillbilly Rock has been described as a neotraditional country, honky-tonk, and country rock album, with elements of rockabilly, bluegrass, and Western music.
Critical reception Peter Saros of Country Universe praised the album in a retrospective review, referring to it as "an essential album from the early '90s country canon that bristles with 'gutsy, imaginative, guitar-gramed [sic] arrangements, and stormy sensuality' even as it is too often overshadowed by the bigger commercial successes of its era."
Content Several songs on this album are covers or would later be covered by other artists. Johnny Cash's "Cry! Cry! Cry!" first appeared on his 1957 album With His Hot and Blue Guitar. "Me and Billy the Kid" was written and recorded by Joe Ely for his album Lord of the Highway and would later be covered by Pat Green and Kevin Welch and the Overtones. "Don't Leave Her Lonely Too Long" was covered by Gary Allan on his 1998 album It Would Be You.
Track listing
Personnel Richard Bennett - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 6 string bass Paul Franklin - steel guitar Glen Hardin - piano Paul Kennerley - background vocals Kostas - background vocals Joey Miskulin - concertina Ralph Mooney - steel guitar Leland Sklar - bass guitar Harry Stinson - background vocals WS "Fluke" Holland - drums Marty Stuart - lead vocals, electric guitar, mandolin, acoustic guitar Billy Thomas - drums, background vocals Alan Messer- photographer
Production Produced By Tony Brown & Richard Bennet Engineers, Assistant Engineers: Dave Boyer, Mark J. Coddington, Marty Williams Mixing: Chuck Ainlay Overdub Engineers: Chuck Ainlay, Mark J. Coddington Digital Editing: Milan Bogdan Mastering, Master Tape Preparation: Glenn Meadows
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (1989–1990) Peak position
Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 36
Singles Year Single Peak positions US Country CAN Country 1989 "Cry! Cry! Cry!" 32 59 1990 "Don't Leave Her Lonely Too Long" 42 25 "Hillbilly Rock" 8 6 "Western Girls" 20 16
Certifications
References