Rodney Atkins Releases Album, Take A Back Road, In Stores Now!

Rodney Atkins Releases Album, Take A Back Road, on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Fourth Studio Album Featuring Sixth Career No. 1  Single “Take A Back Road” Available in Stores Nationwide

Curb Records’ platinum-selling hit-maker Rodney Atkins has proven sometimes taking the back road pays off. After celebrating a two-week No. 1–his sixth U.S. No. 1 and second No. 1 in Canada– with “Take A Back Road,” Atkins reached the fourth largest audience at country radio since 2005 according to Nielsen. Not to mention, single sales have rung in over 600,000 at the pace of close to 40,000 per week. Today, Tuesday, October 4, Atkins releases the new album TAKE A BACK ROAD, which features additional stand-out tracks including “Cabin In The Woods,” “He’s Mine” and more, available now on iTunes and in stores nationwide. The new music video, directed by Andy Tennant, can be viewed HERE.

Teaming up once again with producer Ted Hewitt, who co-produced both the platinum “If You’re Going Through Hell,” and “It’s America,” Atkins worked hard to capture the unconventional vision he had in mind for this new release. Atkins spent hours in his home studio crafting each vocal and track–paying attention to every minor detail. It’s a process he cherishes almost as much as being onstage, and one he takes extremely seriously.

“What does it mean to follow your own path? I try to think about that a lot when I’m making an album,” Atkins explains. “To me, it’s going somewhere you’ve never been, because when you do that, you wind up seeing things that no one has seen before… which means you can paint the picture differently.”

The songs on TAKE A BACK ROAD tell the stories of the every-day middle American — from the sweetly honest battling couple who’ve drawn lines down the middle of the bed in “Feet,” to the fiercely parental pride-even-through-the-tough-times in “He’s Mine,” the tunes are chock full of the authentic emotion Atkins strives for in each and every note.

TAKE A BACK ROAD Track Listing
Produced by Ted Hewitt and Rodney Atkins
1.)    “Take A Back Road” (Rhett Akins, Luke Laird)
2.)    “He’s Mine” (Casey Beathard, Phil O’Donnell, Tim James
3.)    “Family” (Jim Collings, George Teren)
4.)    “The Corner” (Dale Dodson, Dean Dillon, Jessie Jo   Dillon)
5.)    “She’s A Girl Ain’t She” (Tony Martin, Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley)
6.)    “She’d Rather Fight” (Tom Martin, Tom Shapiro, David Lee Murphy)
7.)    “Feet” (Tony Haselden, Walker Hayes)
8.)    “Cabin In The Woods” (David Lee Murphy, Jim Collins)
9.)    “Just Wanna Rock N Roll” (Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins)
10.)   “Growing Up Like That” (Rodney Aktins, Ted Hewitt, Ben Hayslip)
11.)   “Tips” (Rodney Atkins, Ted Hewitt, Bob Regan)
12.)   “Lifelines” (Rodney Atkins, Ted Hewitt, Ben Hayslip)

In celebration of today’s debut, Atkins is spending time in the place where all roads in America lead, Chicago’s Wrigley Field.  He’ll chat with press, throw some pitches with the Chicago Cubs players and even mow the field with a Massey Ferguson tractor. A small-town boy from Greenville, Tenn., Atkins has always been a huge baseball fan and avid supporter of the Cubs; and spending time outside with his 10-year-old son Elijah preparing him for his all-star games is one of his favorite past times.

Moreover, on Oct. 12, Great American Country (GAC) will give fans the chance to get an in insider’s view on Atkins’ career and the stories behind the new songs on TAKE A BACK ROAD with Origins: Rodney Atkins which premieres at 10 p.m. ET with a re-air at 2 a.m. ET.

Atkins is currently out on tour with Darius Rucker, performing for fans in arenas across the country. For a full list of dates, visit www.rodneyatkins.com.

Related articles

• Album Review: Rodney Atkins – Take A Back Road (roughstock.com)
• Rodney Atkins Takes A Back Road (wycd.radio.com)
• Rodney Atkins Takes A ‘Back Road’ In New Music Video! (wycd.radio.com)
• Rodney Atkins Takes A ‘Back Road’ To The No. 1 Spot (wycd.radio.com)
• The picture you didn’t know you wanted to see….Rodney Atkins without a hat (nashvillegab.com)
• Rodney Atkins’ New Album (countrymusicnewsblog.com)
• Rodney Atkins Bursting With Pride About His ‘Little Man’ With A Big Heart! (wycd.radio.com)
• Rodney Atkins Receives Key to His Hometown and Performs at Food City Family Race Night (focusonthe615.com)
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Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “Sunshine (Hey Little Girl)” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “Sunshine (Hey Little Girl)” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Official video for Deric Ruttan‘s “Sunshine (Hey Little Girl)“, from his Juno-nominated album Sunshine. Directed by Warren P. Sonoda. © 2011 Black T Records. Music, tour dates, merchandise and more available at www.dericruttan.net

Deric Ruttan, Sunshine (Hey Little Girl) Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: Sunshine (Hey Little Girl)
Album: Sunshine

There’s a chain on the factory gate
They say they’re gonna shut it down
There’s a whole lot of hopeless heads
Hangin’ all around this town
There’s a sky up above me lately
Showin’ more black than blue
Woo, hoo, hoo – baby, then there’s you

Hey little girl, sun on your shoulders
And the light in your eyes
I got a feelin’ you ain’t been readin’ the news
These days they say there’s no silver linin’
Still you find it every time
The see the rain, you see the sunshine

You know I love to watch you
Water the roses by the garden gate
Smilin’ like maybe you know somethin’
The world ain’t figured out yet
Well, here I am with my glass half empty
Need a little shot of you
Woo, hoo, hoo – just one shot of you

Hey little girl, sun on your shoulders
And the light in your eyes
I got a feelin’ you ain’t been readin’ the news
These days they say there’s no silver linin’
Still you find it every time
The see the rain, you see the sunshine

Woo, hoo, hoo – baby then there’s you
Hey little girl, sun on your shoulders
Hey little girl, sun on your shoulders
And the light in your eyes
I got a feelin’ you ain’t been readin’ the news
These days they say there’s no silver linin’
Still you find it every time
The see the rain, you see the sunshine
You see the sunshine

Related articles

• Hey Girl… With Ryan Gosling! (perezhilton.com)

Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “That’s How I Wanna Go Out.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “That’s How I Wanna Go Out.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Official video for Deric Ruttan‘s “That’s How I Wanna Go Out“, from his 2010 album Sunshine. Directed by Warren P. Sonoda. © 2010 Black T Records. Music, tour dates, merchandise and more available at www.dericruttan.net

Deric Ruttan, That’s How I Wanna Go Out Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: That’s How I Wanna Go Out
Album: Sunshine

The doctor said, “We’ve run out of options
But we can stop the pain and help you sleep”
That ol’ man laughed, and slowly put his shirt on
Said, “Son, dyin’ here with you don’t comfort me

I’ll turn 88 next Tuesday if the good Lord let’s me tarry
And I’ll spend it on the front porch with my arm around my Mary
I’ve learned a lot ’bout livin’ but the only thing I’m sure about now
Is I came into this world in the arms of a woman who loved me –
And that’s how I wanna go out
That’s how I wanna go out”

He said, “I once backpacked across Europe
With my buddies in the 2nd infantry
Back when it was rainin’ German bullets
I never should have made it past nineteen
But I lived to see an angel at the altar
And lovin’ her is the reason I’m alive
Doc, it feels like I’m just gettin’ started
So sittin’ here with you, I’m just wastin’ time

I’ll turn 88 next Tuesday if the good Lord let’s me tarry
And I’ll spend it on the front porch with my arm around my Mary
I’ve learned a lot ’bout livin’ but the only thing I’m sure about now
Is I came into this world in the arms of a woman who loved me –
And that’s how I wanna go out
That’s how I wanna go out

I’ve learned a lot ’bout livin’ but the only thing I’m sure about now
Is I came into this world in the arms of a woman who loved me –
And that’s how I wanna go out
That’s how I wanna go out
That’s how I wanna go out”

Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “Up All Night.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “Up All Night.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Official video for Deric Ruttan‘s “Up All Night”, from his 2010 album Sunshine. Shot entirely on handheld cameras by Deric and his band and crew in 2009 and 2010. Most footage is from the January/February 2010 cross-Canada Sunshine Tour. A behind-the-scenes look at life on the road, shot (mostly) by the artist himself. © 2010 Black T Records. Music, tour dates, merchandise and more available at www.dericruttan.net

Deric Ruttan, Up All Night Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: Up All Night
Album: Sunshine

They got 50 cent drafts at the Legion bar
A band playin’ Skynard and CCR
The place is packed and they’re still pilin’ in
Hope nobody calls the cops again

Hey, oh – havin’ too much fun
Worked all week now the work’s all done
Everybody’s feelin’ alright
So what do you say – let’s stay up all night
Up all night

Sally called her sitter, said she’d be home late
Jenny threw beer in her boyfriend’s face
Tommy passed out still holdin’ his glass
Someone took a marker, drew a big moustache

Hey, oh – havin’ too much fun
Worked all week now the work’s all done
Everybody’s feelin’ alright
So what do you say – let’s stay up all night
Up all night

The joint’s still rockin’ at a quarter-to-two
We drank all the beer and the whiskey, too
The band just kicked off “Gimme Three Steps”
Ain’t nobody goin’ home just yet

Hey, oh – havin’ too much fun
Worked all week now the work’s all done
Everybody’s feelin’ alright
So what do you say – let’s stay up all night
Up all night

Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “First Time In A Long Time.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “First Time In A Long Time.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, First Time In A Long Time Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: First Time In A Long Time
Album: First Time in a Long Time

Written by Deric Ruttan/Jimmy Rankin

Lately I’ve been losin’ sleep
Stayin’ up with your memory
All my friends say, “Hey, we’re a little concerned”
But I got my wine and I got my smoke
And every letter you ever wrote
Tonight I’ll light one up, let it burn

Chorus:
Cause I feel all right for the first time
In a long time
And I see the light now that I’m walkin’
In the sunshine
I was singin’ my song and it goes
Shan na na na na na na
I feel all right for the first time
In a long time

This morning I took a look outside
And all the people passin’ by
Nobody noticed you were gone
Put on my shoes, a different man
Went to the docks where my ship came in
I watched that tide rollin’ on and on
And on and on and on

Repeat Chorus:
And I feel all right for the first time
In a long time
And I see the light now that I’m walkin’
In the sunshine
I was singin’ my song and it goes
Shan na na na na na na
I feel all right for the first time
In a long time

guitar solo/steel solo

It took a while for me to see
What everybody knew but me
And I don’t care where you are tonight
(‘Cause I feel all right)

Repeat Chorus:
Cause I feel all right for the first time
In a long time
And I see the light now that I’m walkin’
In the sunshine
I was singin’ my song and it goes
Shan na na na na na na
I feel all right for the first time
In a long time

I feel alright shan na na na na na na
I see the light shan na na na na na na

Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “California Plates.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “California Plates.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

The fourth single from the album ‘First Time In A Long Time‘, Deric Ruttan‘s “California Plates” video was shot live at The Dakota Tavern in Toronto, Ontario at the start of Ruttan’s 2008 cross-Canada tour. Directed by Joel Stewart.

Deric Ruttan, California Plates Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: California Plates
Album: First Time in a Long Time

Verse 1
met ya out on the west coast
fell in love in Frisco and brought you home
you said you loved this small town
we tried to put some roots down of our own

but the city lights burned so bright
in your memory
guess they were always calling you
away from me

Chorus:
should be good to go
I topped it off, I checked the oil
there’s a map on the dash,
but I guess you know your way

and I have to laugh I guess
as you point your Eldorado west
you changed my life
you changed your name
but you never changed your California plates

Verse 2:
bet you missed the beaches
warm ocean breezes rollin’ in
but I’ll miss the cool nights
nothin’ but the firelight on your skin

girl dry your eyes I know you tried
to make it work
but in your heart your
still a California girl

Chorus:
should be good to go
I topped it off, I checked the oil
there’s a map on the dash,
but I guess you know your way

and I have to laugh I guess
as you point your Eldorado west
you changed my life
you changed your name
but you never changed your California plates

bridge

and I have to laugh I guess
as you point your Eldorado west
you changed my life
you changed your name
but you never changed your California plates
no you never changed your California plates

Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “When You Come Around.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “When You Come Around.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

A #1 video on CMT Canada, the moody “When You Come Around” was filmed in Toronto. Released spring 2003, it was Deric’s debut single. His brother Matt is playing guitar in the band. “When You Come Around” appears on the full-length album, Deric Ruttan.

Deric Ruttan, When You Come Around Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: When You Come Around
Album: Deric Ruttan

The look in your eyes
when you left here that night
was like somebody’d stolen your soul
The trance you were in
made me crawl in my skin
You were under some outer control
But I won’t give up hopin’
The spell can be broken

CHORUS
When you come around
to your own good sence
When you break the chains and you’re free again
I’ll be waiting here to take you in
When you come around
If it takes a day or a hundred years
Me and my heart are gonna be right here
To pick love up where we put it down
When you come around

The moon can’t see out from behind the winter clouds
Don’t know how you could find your way home
So I’ll stay up all night
Like I do every night
To make sure that the porch light stays on
The winds may be blowin’
But these arms will be open

CHORUS

If it takes a day or a hundred years
Me and my heart are gonna be right here
To pick love up where we put it down
When you come around

When you come around
When you come around

Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “Take The Wheel.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “Take The Wheel.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Filmed entirely on location in-and-around Phoenix, Arizona. Deric’s dad makes a cameo appearance near the end of the video, as a love-jaded mechanic. Released spring 2005, “Take The Wheel” appears on the full-length album, Deric Ruttan.

Deric Ruttan, Take The Wheel Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: Take The Wheel
Album: Deric Ruttan

Headed south out of Thunder Bay
Hit the interstate
And let the hand of fate just lead him on
She was heading north out of Baton Rouge
Nothing left to lose
All she knew was she had to get gone

Her engine blew in some Mississippi river town
He was passing through when she flagged him down

Hey, you never ever know
Where the road will lead you
When you learn how to let go
They found something real
Something they could feel
When they let love take the wheel

Later on on down the road
When the radio
Played a song about Winslow Arizona
She said I’d love to stand on the corner there
He took it as a dare
Shifted gears and said tonight you’re gonna

He talked about the future, she cried about the past
They talked about forever and never looked back

(Chorus 2x)

Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “Unbeatable.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “Unbeatable.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

A fan favorite and Top 5 video at CMT Canada, “Unbeatable” appears on the full-length album, Deric Ruttan.

Deric Ruttan, Unbeatable Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: Unbeatable
Album: Deric Ruttan

I wasn’t the highschool All-Star quarterback
I graduated second-to-last in my class
But I learned economics in a union-code
when the company sent my job down in Mexico
bin’ barely gettin’ by for most of my life
you’re the first thing I’ve done right.

–CHORUS–

I know I’m a long shot baby but with you
I’m a sure thing
maybe the odds are against but odds don’t mean nothin’ to me
cause’ love makes the impossible believable
and you make me unbeatable.

I got some money down on an acre of land
I wanna carve us a life out of brush and sand
at the end of the day and the settin’ sun
we can kick back and watch our children run
I’ll never give in and I’ll never give up
and I’ll never give less than all my love

–CHORUS–

I know I’m a long shot baby but with you
I’m a sure thing
maybe the odds are against but odds don’t mean nothin’ to me
cause’ love makes the impossible believable
and you make me unbeatable.

Funny how the love of a perfect girl
can make a man like me think he could change the world

–CHORUS–

I know I’m a long shot baby but with you
I’m a sure thing
maybe the odds are against but odds don’t mean nothin’ to me
cause’ love makes the impossible believable
and you make me–
girl, you make me unbeatable.

I’m unbeatable

Deric Ruttan (@DericRuttan) “Love Did.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

Deric Ruttan, “Love Did.” Official Full Length Country Music Video with Lyrics.

With its strong message and organic, heavy-acoustic production, this was released as a ‘Christmas video’ in November, 2005. “Love Did” appears on the full-length album, Deric Ruttan.

Deric Ruttan, Love Did Lyrics.

Artist: Deric Ruttan
Song: Love Did
Album: Deric Ruttan

Standing in the ashes of what used to be his home
The old man wiped the sweat from his brow
He said if I was younger I could build it back
But I don’t have the strength to do it now

But love did
With the help of all his neighbours pitching in
There’s a house just like the one he lost
High up on that ridge
Look what love did

Jenny was eleven when the Jones’ took her home
They saw how much she needed a family
The decision wasn’t easy ’cause they didn’t really know
What they’d do with one more mouth to feed

But love did
It worked another miracle through them
She’s the wife of a lucky man these days
And the mother of three kids
Look what love did

One night a little baby was born in Bethlehem
Sent to Earth to die and save the lost
On the day of crucifixion they drove nails in his hands
But nails did not keep him on the cross

Love did
He shed his blood and washed away our sins
A father gave his only son
So you and I could live
Look what love did

Look what love… did