Life Changes (Thomas Rhett album)

Life Changes is the third studio album by American country pop singer Thomas Rhett. Released on September 8, 2017, through Valory Music Group, Rhett produced the album alongside Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Julian Bunetta and Joe London.[2] It includes the chart-topping singles "Craving You" with Maren Morris, and "Unforgettable".[3] The album debuted at No. 1 with 123,000 album-equivalent units, giving Rhett his first number one album on the Billboard 200.

Life Changes
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2017 (2017-09-08)
Recorded2017
StudioBlackbird Studio, Sound Stage Studios, Rhythm House and RTBGV (Nashville, Tennessee); Hound's Ear Studios (Franklin, Tennessee); Enemy Dojo Studios (Calabasas, California); MixStar Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia); Sarm Music Village and Echo Beach Management (London, UK)
Genre
Length46:28
LabelValory
Producer
Thomas Rhett chronology
Tangled Up
(2015)
Life Changes
(2017)
Center Point Road
(2019)
Singles from Life Changes
  1. "Craving You"
    Released: April 3, 2017
  2. "Unforgettable"
    Released: July 28, 2017
  3. "Marry Me"
    Released: November 20, 2017
  4. "Life Changes"
    Released: April 16, 2018
  5. "Sixteen"
    Released: October 1, 2018
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Singles

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"Craving You", a duet with Maren Morris, was released digitally on March 31, 2017 as the record's lead single.[4] It was promoted to country radio on April 3, 2017.[5] The song hit number one on both the US Country Airplay chart and the Canada Country chart. The second single, "Unforgettable", was released to radio on July 28, 2017.[6] "Marry Me" was released to radio on November 20, 2017, as the album's third single.[7]

The title track was released to radio April 9, 2018, as the fourth single.[8]

Promotional singles

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A promotional single, "Sixteen", was released on August 11, 2017.[9] A second promotional single, "Grave", was released on August 18, 2017.[10] The title track was released as the third promotional single on September 1, 2017.[11]

Rhett released a song, titled "Sweetheart", exclusively to Billboard on September 7, a day ahead of the release of the album.[12] A remix extended play for the track "Leave Right Now" was released April 13, 2018, as the album's fifth promotional single.[13]

Commercial performance

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Life Changes debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, giving Rhett his first chart-topping album. It sold 94,000 copies in the first week (with 123,000 album-equivalent units total), Rhett's best sales and units week.[14] The album is also the first country album to top the Billboard 200 chart in 2017.[15] It sold a further 20,400 copies in its second week.[16] The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA for a million units in sales and streams on September 6, 2018.[17] It has sold 319,600 copies in the United States as of March 2019.[18]

Track listing

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Life Changes[3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Craving You" (featuring Maren Morris)
3:43
2."Unforgettable"
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
2:37
3."Sixteen"
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
2:58
4."Drink a Little Beer" (featuring Rhett Akins)
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
3:34
5."Marry Me"
  • Rhett
  • Frasure
  • Gorley
  • McAnally
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
3:26
6."Leave Right Now"
  • Rhett
  • Bunetta
  • Edward Drewett
  • John Henry Ryan
  • Rhett
  • Bunetta
3:16
7."Smooth Like the Summer"
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
2:48
8."Life Changes"
  • Rhett
  • Akins
  • Frasure
  • Gorley
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
3:10
9."When You Look Like That"
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
3:23
10."Sweetheart"
  • Rhett
  • Akins
  • Boggs
  • Douglas
  • Spargur
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Bunetta
  • London
3:26
11."Kiss Me Like a Stranger"
  • Rhett
  • Barnes
  • Jordan Reynolds
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Bunetta
  • London
3:47
12."Renegades"
  • Rhett
  • Bunetta
  • Ryan
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Bunetta
  • London
3:43
13."Gateway Love"
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Bunetta
  • London
3:26
14."Grave"
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
3:11
Total length:46:28
Deluxe Edition (CD)[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Country Gold"
  • Rhett
  • Akins
  • Frasure
  • Gorley
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
3:50
16."Cardboard Heart"
  • Rhett
  • Akins
  • Douglas
  • Frasure
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
2:46
17."When We're 80"
  • Rhett
  • Frasure
  • McAnally
  • Osborne
  • Rhett
  • Huff
  • Frasure
2:57
Total length:56:01
Deluxe Edition (Digital/Streaming only)
No.TitleLength
18."Life Changes" (radio edit)3:11
19."Leave Right Now" (Martin Jensen mix)2:42
20."Leave Right Now" (Nashville mix)3:19
21."Leave Right Now" (radio edit)3:09
Total length:68:22

Personnel

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Musicians

  • Thomas Rhett – lead vocals, backing vocals (6)
  • Charlie Judge – keyboards (1–4, 7–14), synthesizers (5), strings (5)
  • Julien Bunetta – keyboards (1, 6, 10, 13), programming (1, 6, 10, 11, 12), electric guitar (1, 10, 13), guitars (6), drums (6), backing vocals (6)
  • Joe London – programming (1, 10–13), keyboards (10, 13), electric guitar (10, 12)
  • Jesse Frasure – programming (2–5, 7, 8, 9, 14)
  • John Ryan – programming (6)
  • Matt Dragstrem – programming (9), backing vocals (9)
  • Sam Ellis – keyboards (13), programming (13)
  • Dann Huff – electric guitar (1–5, 7–14), ganjo (1), mandolin (1)
  • Derek Wells – electric guitar (1–5, 7–14)
  • Danny Rader – acoustic guitar (1, 10–13)
  • Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar (2–9, 14)
  • Paul Franklinsteel guitar (2, 9, 13)
  • Skip Edwards – steel guitar (10)
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (1–5, 7–14)
  • Chris Kimmerer – drums (1–5, 7–14)
  • Stuart Duncanfiddle (4)
  • Tom Peyton – trombone (11)
  • Nate Mercereau – French horn (11)
  • Maren Morris – lead and harmony vocals (1)
  • Russell Terrell – backing vocals (1–4, 7, 8, 10, 13)
  • Rhett Akins – lead and backing vocals (4)
  • Jessi Alexander – backing vocals (9)
  • David Lee Murphy – backing vocals (9)
  • Dave Barnes – backing vocals (11)
  • Ben Caver – backing vocals (11, 12)
  • Jordan Reynolds – backing vocals (11)
  • Emily Weisband – backing vocals (13)
  • Bob Bailey – backing vocals (14)
  • Jason Eskridge – backing vocals (14)
  • Vicki Hampton – backing vocals (14)
  • Wendy Moten – backing vocals (14)

Technical and design

  • Joe Baldridge – recording (1–5, 7–14)
  • Julien Bunetta – additional recording (1, 10), recording (6)
  • Joe London – additional recording (1, 10)
  • Jesse Frasure – additional recording (2–5, 8, 9)
  • Russell Terrell – additional recording (2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13)
  • Seth Morton – recording assistant (1–5, 7–14), additional recording (14)
  • Kam Luchterhand – recording assistant (7, 14)
  • John Hanes – mix engineer (1)
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing (1)
  • Justin Niebank – mixing (2–5, 7, 8, 9, 11–14)
  • Ash Howes – mixing (6, 10)
  • Chris Small – digital editing (1–5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14)
  • Adam Ayan – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine)
  • Mike "Frog" Griffith – production coordinator
  • Laurel Kittleson – production coordinator
  • Janice Soled – production coordinator
  • Brianna Steinitz – production coordinator
  • Becky Reiser – art direction, graphics
  • Sandi Spika Borchetta – art direction
  • John Shearer – photography

Awards

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Year Association Category Result
2018 Grammy Awards[20] Best Country Album Nominated
CMA Awards[21] Album of the Year Nominated

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[42] Platinum 80,000
United States (RIAA)[17] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Life Changes – Thomas Rhett". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Thomas Rhett's Life Changes Arrives Sept. 8". CMT. Viacom. July 27, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Gage, Gage (July 27, 2017). "Thomas Rhett Plots New Album 'Life Changes'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  4. ^ "Life Changes - Thomas Rhett | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  5. ^ "Add Dates" (PDF). Country Aircheck. 543: Chart Page 5. March 27, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  6. ^ Casey, Jim (July 28, 2017). "Listen to Thomas Rhett's New Single, "Unforgettable," + Lyrics". Nash Country Daily. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  7. ^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  8. ^ "Single Released : MusicRow". MusicRow. Archived from the original on April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  9. ^ Mosaki, Lauren. "Thomas Rhett Gets Nostalgic With New Song 'Sixteen'". HuffPost. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  10. ^ Hyman, Dan. "Exclusive Premiere: Thomas Rhett Gets Sentimental on His New Song, 'Grave'". Esquire. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  11. ^ Gugala, Jon. "Hear Thomas Rhett's Autobiographical New Song 'Life Changes'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  12. ^ Weatherby, Taylor. "Thomas Rhett Makes Fans Swoon All Over Again with 'Life Changes' Track 'Sweetheart': Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  13. ^ McKenna, Brittney (April 17, 2018). "Hear Thomas Rhett's 'Nashville Mix' of EDM Song 'Leave Right Now'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  14. ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 17, 2017). "Thomas Rhett Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart & Country's First of 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  15. ^ Asker, Jim (September 19, 2017). "Thomas Rhett on Being First Country Act to Top Billboard 200 This Year: 'It Blows My Mind'". Billboard.
  16. ^ Bjorke, Matt (September 27, 2017). "TOP 10 Country Album Sales Chart: September 25, 2017". Roughstock.
  17. ^ a b "American album certifications – Thomas Rhett – Life Changes". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  18. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 5, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums: March 5, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  19. ^ "Thomas Rhett - Life Changes (Target Exclusive) : Target". Target. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  20. ^ "60th Annual Grammy Awards". Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  21. ^ "2018 CMA Awards: Chris Stapleton leads nominations". USA Today. August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  22. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Thomas Rhett – Life Changes". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  23. ^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  24. ^ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  27. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  28. ^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  29. ^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  30. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  31. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  32. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2018". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Canadian Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  34. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  35. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  36. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  37. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  38. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  39. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  40. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  41. ^ "Decade-End Charts: Top Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  42. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Thomas Rhett – Life Changes". Music Canada. Retrieved November 25, 2020.