Dierks Bentley rides single to number one, displaces Kenny Chesney
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 – Dierks Bentley took his latest single down the road and up the charts, all the way to number one. "Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)" is Bentley's fifth number 1 single and eighth top 10 out of 9 singles released.
The song squeezes out Kenny Chesney and "Don't Blink" from the top of the chart.
Bentley and bandmates Rod Janzen (guitar) and Robbie Harrington (bass) started writing the song in the back lounge of the tour bus and finished it back in Nashville with Bentley's longtime producer Brett Beavers.
"This one is definitely special to me because the guys in the band were involved," said Bentley. "We've come a long way from the clubs and the bars, and as a band, this is definitely one of those moments that make me proud of what we've accomplished together so far."
After finishing up a four-day run on his "Throttle Wide Open" tour with opening act Jack Ingram, Bentley used his day off to jet to Kansas City to catch a Garth Brooks concert.
"He is an iconic live performer, and there continues to be a lot to learn from him," said Bentley. "But I mostly went because I wanted to complete a circle that began in 1992, when I was 17 and sitting so high up in the rafters at my first Garth show that I could touch the roof of the arena. Last night, I was backstage...with a number one song. That's a pretty amazing feeling."
"Throttle Wide Open" stops this week include Murray, Ky., Springfield, Ill. and Cincinnati.
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Feel That Fire
Like it or not, music is a business. And when an artist as vital to the country world (so-called commercial country and beyond) as Dierks Bentley releases a new record, you can be sure that somewhere, someone in a suit is looking at graphs. So, in that unholy spirit, let's look at "Feel That Fire" in those terms. If it were a pie chart, it'd be dominated by two equally big old slices, one labeled Rockers and one labeled Ballads. The songs making up the former never fail to work »»» |
Greatest Hits: Every Mile A Memory 2003-2008
The idea of letting your fans pick the front and back cover photos and title of your greatest hits package could strike the casual observer either as gimmickry or a thank you to the hardcore. Not to mention having thousands of your fans fork over a few bucks to be listed as executive producers, albeit for charity. Fortunately, for Bentley, this effort does not come off as calculated.
He accumulated a slew of excellent songs in a career continuing on the upward trajectory. »»» |
Long Trip Alone
Dierks Bentley may be ready for prime time with his third CD. His first two yielded a bunch of number ones for an artist with a cool personality and country and bluegrass musical chops to boot.
And having avoided the sophomore slump, Bentley continues in the right direction here. There's a bit of a swagger and confidence in Bentley's voice -- the guy sings with attitude (the upbeat "Can't Live It Down"), and that's high praise with many singers today putting it all out. »»» |
Editorial: American Idol's Carrie Underwood can sing –
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Concert Review: McBride, Adkins shine sometimes –
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