Backroads (album) explained

Backroads
Type:	studio
Artist:	Ricky Van Shelton
Cover:	Backroads (Ricky Van Shelton album - cover art).jpg
Released:	May 21, 1991
Recorded:	November–December 1990
Studio:	Nightingale Studio The Doghouse
Genre:	Country
Length:	33:01
Label:	Columbia Nashville/TriStar
Producer:	Steve Buckingham (all tracks), Gary Smith (track 2)
Prev Title:	RVS III
Prev Year:	1990
Next Title:	Don't Overlook Salvation
Next Year:	1992

Backroads is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Ricky Van Shelton. The first three singles released from the album, "Rockin' Years" (a duet with Dolly Parton), "I Am a Simple Man", and "Keep It Between the Lines" were all number-one hits. "After the Lights Go Out" and "Backroads" charted at numbers 13 and 2, respectively. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA on December 6, 1991.^[1]

Personnel

Musicians

• Eddie Bayers - drums
• Mark Casstevens - acoustic guitar
• Richard Dennison - background vocals
• Jerry Douglas - dobro
• Glen Duncan - fiddle
• Paul Franklin - steel guitar
• Sonny Garrish - steel guitar
• Steve Gibson - electric guitar, mandolin
• Rob Hajacos - fiddle
• Roy Husky Jr. - upright bass
• Carl Jackson - background vocals
• Albert Lee - electric guitar
• Randy McCormick - piano
• Terry McMillan - harmonica
• Jimmy Mattingly - fiddle
• Louis Dean Nunley - background vocals
• Jennifer O'Brien - background vocals
• Mark O'Connor - fiddle
• Dolly Parton - duet vocals on "Rockin' Years"
• Matt Rollings - piano
• Hal Rugg - steel guitar
• John Wesley Ryles - background vocals
• Randy Scruggs - acoustic guitar
• Ricky Van Shelton - acoustic guitar, lead vocals
• Howard Smith - background vocals
• Harry Stinson - background vocals
• Steve Turner - drums
• Paul Uhrig - bass guitar
• Bruce Watkins - acoustic guitar
• Biff Watson - acoustic guitar
• Dennis Wilson - background vocals
• Curtis Young - background vocals

ProductionCompiled from liner notes.^[2]

• Steve Buckingham — production
• Marshall Morgan — engineering (except "Rockin' Years")
• Gary Paczosa — engineering ("Rockin' Years" only)
• Denny Purcell — mastering
• Gary Smith — production ("Rockin' Years" only)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (RPM)	84
Canadian Country Albums (RPM)	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
US Billboard 200^[3]	74
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[4]	22

Notes and References

1. Greatest Hits Plus . Ricky Van Shelton . 1992 . CD . Columbia Records . 52753.
2. Backroads . Ricky Van Shelton . 1991 . CD booklet . Columbia Records . 46855.
3. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991. Billboard. May 28, 2021.
4. Top Country Albums – Year-End 1991. Billboard. May 28, 2021.