"Record Year" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eric Church. It was released in February 2016 as the second single from his 2015 album Mr. Misunderstood. Church wrote this song with Jeff Hyde. [1] The song peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Country Airplay chart.

"Record Year"
Single by Eric Church
from the album Mr. Misunderstood
ReleasedFebruary 16, 2016 (2016-02-16)
Recorded2015
GenreCountry
Length2:59
LabelEMI Nashville
Songwriter(s)
  • Eric Church
  • Jeff Hyde
Producer(s)Jay Joyce
Eric Church singles chronology
"Mr. Misunderstood"
(2015)
"Record Year"
(2016)
"Kill a Word"
(2016)

Content

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The song is about a man who recovers from a broken heart by listening to a collection of vinyl record albums. Its lyrics include references to various musical artists to whom the narrator is listening.[2]

Critical reception

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Billy Dukes of Taste of Country reviewed the single favorably, praising the songwriting and saying that "Eric Church has never sung heartbreak the same way twice — a streak that remains intact with Record Year. The second single from his Mr. Misunderstood album finds him hurting in a whole new way."[3]

Commercial performance

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"Record Year" reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart, which is Church's seventh No. 1 on the chart.[4] It also peaked at No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song has sold 447,000 copies in the US as of November 2016.[5] It was certified double Platinum by the RIAA on April 29, 2019 for two million units in sales and streams.[6]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Reid Long and John Peets and premiered in April 2016.[7]

Charts and certifications

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References

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  1. ^ "Eric Church Announces 'Record Year' as Next Single [LISTEN]". The Boot. 4 February 2016.
  2. ^ Asker, Jim (August 2, 2016). "Eric Church Earns His Seventh No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart With 'Record Year'". Billboard. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  3. ^ Dukes, Billy (February 4, 2016). "Eric Church, 'Record Year' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  4. ^ Asker, Jim (August 2, 2016). "Eric Church Earns His Seventh No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart With 'Record Year'". Billboard.
  5. ^ a b Bjorke, Matt (November 8, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Singles Sales Report: November 8, 2016". Roughstock.
  6. ^ a b "American single certifications – Eric Church – Record Year". Recording Industry Association of America.
  7. ^ Stefano, Angela (April 29, 2016). "Eric Church Drops 'Record Year' Music Video". The Boot. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  8. ^ "Eric Church Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Eric Church Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Eric Church Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Eric Church Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Eric Church Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Country Airplay: Year End 2016". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  14. ^ "Hot Country Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  15. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Eric Church – Record Year". Music Canada.