Heartache Medication Explained

Heartache Medication
Type:	studio
Artist:	Jon Pardi
Cover:	Heartache Medication cover.jpg
Alt:	A man wearing a denim jacket and brown cowboy hat while holding an alcohol-filled glass.
Genre:	Neotraditional country
Length:	49:53
Label:	Capitol Nashville
Prev Title:	California Sunrise
Prev Year:	2016
Next Title:	Mr. Saturday Night
Next Year:	2022

Heartache Medication is the third studio album by American neotraditional country artist Jon Pardi. The album was released on September 27, 2019, via Capitol Nashville.^[1] Following the success of 2016's California Sunrise, Pardi reteamed with co-producer Bart Butler and brought in Ryan Gore to work on new material for his next country album, carrying traditional content that evoked sad emotions but gave the listener good vibes at the same time. Heartache Medication debuted at numbers two and 11 on the Top Country Albums and Billboard 200 charts, respectively. It has spawned three singles: the title track (his third number-one country hit) and "Ain't Always the Cowboy". and "Tequila Little Time" A deluxe version was released on October 2, 2020.^[2]

Background

In late 2018 after wrapping up a summer tour with Luke Bryan, Pardi had announced he was taking his time on releasing new music but to expect new music from him in the new year. At the time he hinted at a song written by and hopefully featuring fellow country star Miranda Lambert.^[3]

One day after appearing on the 2019 season finale of American Idol, Pardi announced the album. Its lead single, the title track, was released May 20, 2019. Three additional tracks were also previewed ahead of the album's release—"Ain't Always the Cowboy", "Me and Jack", and "Tequila Little Time".^[4]

Before the album's release, Pardi stated he named the album Heartache Medication because it contains sad topics intended to make the listener feel good at the same time.^[5]

Critical reception

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised Pardi for using the formula from California Sunrise to craft a track listing filled with odes and nods to traditional country and doesn't give in to the "sentimental streak or his own musical conservatism", concluding that "All of these songs show that Pardi's traditionalism is flexible, and those subtle grace notes help make Heartache Medication the best old-fashioned mainstream country album of 2019."

Commercial performance

Heartache Medication debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 11, and number two on the Top Country Albums chart with 34,000 units, 23,000 of which are in pure album sales.^{[6] [7]} On the Billboard 200, it left the top 100 on the week of November 2, 2019, spending eleven weeks on the chart.^{[8] [9]} The album has sold 52,500 copies in the United States as of March 2020,^[10] and 161,000 units in total as of February 2020.^[11] In Canada, it debuted and peaked at number 18 on the Canadian Albums chart for the week of October 11.^[12]

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.^[13]

Vocals

• Lauren Alainafeatured vocals (track 6)
• Jeff Hydebackground vocals (track 1)
• Jon Pardilead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (tracks 6, 8, 9, 17)
• Russell Terrellbackground vocals (all tracks except 9 & 17)

Production

• Bart Butlerproducer
• Dan Davisassistant engineer
• Ryan Goreproducer, mixing
• Ted Jensenmastering

• Scott Johnsonproduction assistance
• Kam Luchterhandassistant engineer
• Seth Mortonassistant engineer
• Chris Smalldigital editing

Instruments

• Dave Cohenaccordion (track 9), Fender Rhodes (track 1), Hammond B-3 organ (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6-8, 15), piano (tracks 2, 3, 7, 10, 13, 16, 17), strings (tracks 7, 13), synthesizer (tracks 16, 17), vibraphone (track 7), Wurlitzer (tracks 5, 6, 9, 15)
• Howard Duckpiano (track 12)
• Andy Ellisonpedal steel guitar (tracks 1, 5, 13)
• Jenee Fleenorfiddle (all tracks except 8)
• Lee Francisbass guitar (all tracks)
• Ryan Gorepercussion (tracks 1-6, 8-14), programming (tracks 9, 15, 16)
• Mike Haynestrumpet (track 9)

• Mike Johnsondobro (track 14), pedal steel guitar (tracks 2-4, 6-8, 10-12, 15, 16)
• Luke Lairdprogramming (tracks 8, 9), synthesizer (track 9)
• John LancasterHammond B-3 organ (track 14), synthesizer (track 14), Wurlitzer (track 11)
• Rob McNelleyelectric guitar (all tracks except 17)
• Miles McPhersondrums (all tracks), percussion (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15-17), timbales (track 9)
• Jon Pardielectric guitar (track 8)
• Danny Raderacoustic guitar (all tracks), banjo (track 14), mandolin (track 14)
• Derek Wellselectric guitar (track 17)

Imagery

• Jon Pardiart direction
• Karen Naffart direction and design
• Jim Wrightphotography

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)^[14]	17

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"

Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[15]	59

Chart (2020)! scope="col"

Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[16]	29

Chart (2021)! scope="col"

Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[17]	63

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jon Pardi Announces New Album and Single, 'Heartache Medication'. Cillea. Houghton. Taste of Country. May 20, 2019. September 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200405092611/https://tasteofcountry.com/jon-pardi-heartache-medication-album-details/. April 5, 2020. live.
2. Web site: Sexton. Paul. October 3, 2020. Jon Pardi Prescribes Deluxe Edition Of 'Heartache Medication' Album. October 16, 2020. udiscovermusic.
3. Web site: Jon Pardi's Next Album Will Include a Song Written By (and Hopefully Sung With) Miranda Lambert. Courtney. Carr. The Boot. January 4, 2018. September 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200802072257/https://theboot.com/jon-pardi-miranda-lambert-collaboaration/. August 2, 2020. live.
4. Jon Pardi Previews New Album 'Heartache Medication' With Twangy Title Track. Jon. Freeman. Rolling Stone. May 20, 2019. September 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811111342/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/jon-pardi-new-album-heartache-medication-tour-dates-837782/. August 11, 2020. live.
5. Web site: Moore. Bobby. Everything We Know About Jon Pardi's New Album 'Heartache Medication'. The Boot. September 23, 2019. October 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608132621/https://theboot.com/jon-pardi-heartache-medication-new-album-2019/. June 8, 2020. live.
6. Billboard 200: October 12, 2019. Billboard. May 9, 2020.
7. Whiskey Myers Scores First Top Country Albums No. 1, Jon Pardi & Sturgill Simpson Debut in Top 3. October 8, 2019. October 20, 2019. Jim. Asker. Billboard.
8. Billboard 200: November 2, 2019. Billboard. May 9, 2020.
9. Billboard 200: February 22, 2020. Billboard. May 9, 2020.
10. Web site: Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020. Roughstock. Matt. Bjorke. March 10, 2020. March 22, 2020. March 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200319184203/http://roughstock.com/news/2020/03/44165-top-10-country-albums-pure-sales-chart-march-9-2020. dead.
11. Web site: Country Music's Most-Consumed Album Chart: February 10, 2020. Matt. Bjorke. February 10, 2020. Roughstock. February 17, 2020.
12. Jon Pardi – Billboard Canadian Albums – Chart History. Billboard. May 9, 2020.
13. Heartache Medication. Jon Pardi. Capitol Nashville. 2019. booklet. B0030574-02.
14. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 7, 2019. October 5, 2019.
15. Top Country Albums – Year-End 2019. Billboard. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706161551/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/top-country-albums. July 6, 2020. live.
16. Top Country Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201207172151/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/top-country-albums. December 7, 2020. live.
17. Top Country Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 12, 2021.