Midnight Special (Uncle Kracker album)

Midnight Special is the fifth studio album by Uncle Kracker, released on November 20, 2012, under Sugar Hill Records. It his first full-length country album and his first not to involve Kid Rock in any capacity.

Midnight Special
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 20, 2012
RecordedJuly–November 2012
GenreCountry
Length39:12
LabelSugar Hill Records
ProducerKeith Stegall
Uncle Kracker chronology
Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions
(2010)
Midnight Special
(2012)
Coffee & Beer
(2024)
Singles from Midnight Special
  1. "Nobody's Sad on a Saturday Night"
    Released: October 8, 2012
  2. "Blue Skies"
    Released: July 15, 2013
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Roughstock[2]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Got That Thang"J. T. Harding, Matthew Shafer3:49
2."I'd Be There"Harding, Shafer3:12
3."Four Letter Word"Shafer3:39
4."Blue Skies"Shafer, Scooter Carusoe3:45
5."When I Close My Eyes"Shafer4:01
6."In Between Disasters"Harding, Shafer, Trevor Rosen, Shane McAnally3:29
7."Happy"Harding, Shafer3:33
8."Nobody's Sad on a Saturday Night"Harding, Shafer3:18
9."Nuthin' Changes"Harding, Shafer3:45
10."Who We Are"Shafer3:13
11."It Is What It Is"Harding, Shafer3:35
Total length:39:12

Personnel

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Reception

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Critical reception

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Reception of the album has been mostly mixed to positive. Allmusic described the album as "a sunny, laid-back ride, a record made for lazy afternoons of day drinking."[1] Roughstock gave the album 4/5 stars and stated "It'd be easy to dismiss Uncle Kracker's first full-length country album as yet another attempt by a pop/rock has-been trying to cash in on mainstream country music's popularity." They also added that Uncle Kracker's transition to Country felt like "A natural one."[2] In a mixed review, Country Weekly noted Uncle Kracker "seeks to have him ingrained further in the genre, despite no hint of country instrumentation." On a more positive note, they added the album is "like tuning in to 1970s AM radio, full of sunny melodies and smooth grooves."[3]

Chart performance

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Album

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Chart (2012) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[4] 33
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[5] 16

Singles

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Year Single Peak chart
positions
US Country
[6]
US Country Airplay
[7]
2012 "Nobody's Sad on a Saturday Night" 42 43
2013 "Blue Skies" 47
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

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  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Midnight Special review". Allmusic. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Bjorke, Matt (November 20, 2012). "Album Review: Uncle Kracker - "Midnight Special"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  3. ^ Hudak, Joseph (November 20, 2012). ""Midnight Special" by Uncle Kracker". Country Weekly. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  4. ^ "Uncle Kracker Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Uncle Kracker Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  7. ^ "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 22, 2013.