Tougher Than Love is the debut extended play recorded by Canadian country music artist Bobby Wills, released through MDM Recordings Inc. on March 18, 2016.[1] It includes the singles "Won't You Be Mine", "Down by the River", and "Tougher Than Love", the first two of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Canada Country airplay chart. Wills co-wrote all six tracks.
| Tougher Than Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | March 18, 2016 | |||
| Recorded | 2015–16 (Calgary, AB and Nashville, TN) | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 21:44 | |||
| Label | MDM Recordings | |||
| Producer | Michael Pyle | |||
| Bobby Wills chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Tougher Than Love | ||||
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Singles
edit"Won't You Be Mine" was released to digital retailers on October 9, 2015.[2] It officially impacted Canadian country radio on October 28, 2015.[3] The song debuted on the Canada Country chart dated November 14, 2015 and reached a peak position of 9 on the chart dated February 20, 2016 in its fifteenth week.[4]
The second single, "Down by the River", was serviced to Canadian and American country radio stations on March 29, 2016.[5] It entered the Canada Country chart at number 45 in April 2016 and reached a peak position of 9 in its twelfth week, on the chart dated July 16, 2016.[6]
"Tougher Than Love" was released to radio as the EP's third single on September 28, 2016.[7] It debuted at number 47 on the Canada Country chart dated October 15, 2016, and has so far reached a peak position of 11.[8]
Critical reception
editMike Bell of the Calgary Herald wrote that the record is "very much a complete and well-crafted album," despite comprising only six songs. He also said that, while the collection is "stylistically... all over the map," it is tied together by "Wills's steady voice and likable personality."[9]
Accolades
editTougher Than Love was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2016 Canadian Country Music Association Awards.[10] "Won't You Be Mine" was nominated for Single of the Year at the same awards ceremony, with Wills also receiving a nomination for the song in the category of Songwriter of the Year.[10] He lost all three awards.[11]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "30,000 Feet" |
| 3:28 |
| 2. | "Down by the River" |
| 3:45 |
| 3. | "Won't You Be Mine" |
| 3:37 |
| 4. | "Tougher Than Love" |
| 3:33 |
| 5. | "If It Ain't Broke" |
| 3:17 |
| 6. | "You Lose Me There" |
| 4:04 |
| Total length: | 21:44 | ||
Chart performance
editSingles
edit| Year | Single | Peak positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country [12] | ||||
| 2015 | "Won't You Be Mine" | 9 | ||
| 2016 | "Down by the River" | 9 | ||
| "Tougher Than Love" | 11 | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Tougher Than Love - Bobby Wills | Release Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "Won't You Be Mine - Bobby Wills | Release Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "New Country Adds | CJKC-FM". Country 103. CJKC-FM. p. October 28, 2015. Archived from the original on January 6, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ ""Won't You Be Mine" on Canada Country". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 26, 2016. (N.B. hover over 'peak date' column to view debut week.)
- ^ Hather, Amanda (May 16, 2016). "New video released by Bobby Wills". Canadian Beats. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ ""Down By The River" on Canada Country". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "New Country Adds | CJKC-FM". Country 103. CJKC-FM. p. September 28, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ ""Tougher Than Love" on Canada Country". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ Bell, Mike. "Calgary's Bobby Wills has fun with new EP Tougher Than Love". Edmonton Journal / Calgary Herald. Postmedia Network. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ a b Nicholson, Jessica (July 13, 2016). "Dean Brody, Brett Kissel Lead 2016 CCMA Award Nominations". MusicRow. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "Complete List of 2016 CCMA Award Winners". Canadian Country Music Association. September 11, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "Bobby Wills – Chart history (Canada Country)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 26, 2016.