Kickin' It Up Explained
Kickin' It Up is the second studio album by American country music artist John Michael Montgomery. The album was released by Atlantic Records on January 25, 1994. On February 19 of the same year, the album reached
- 1
on the
Billboard 200.
[1] Four songs were released from it: "
I Swear," "
Rope the Moon," "
Be My Baby Tonight" and "
If You've Got Love." Three of the singles reached No. 1 on the
Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, while "Rope the Moon" was a #4. "Be My Baby Tonight" and "I Swear" both crossed over into the Hot 100, peaking at #73 and #42, respectively. Additionally, "Kick It Up" peaked at #72 from unsolicited airplay. "I Swear" was later covered by pop group
All-4-One, whose version was also a Number One hit in several countries.
Critical reception
Giving it 3.5 out of 5 stars, Brian Mansfield wrote in New Country magazine that "On Kickin' It Up...Montgomery captures the personality he has spent the last year developing on stage." He praised Montgomery's energy on "Friday at Five" and "Be My Baby Tonight" in particular.
Production
- Scott Hendricks – producer, overdub recording, mixing
- John Guess – recording
- Jeff Balding – mixing (10)
- Amy Hughes – recording assistant
- John Kunz – recording assistant, additional engineer, mix assistant, production assistant
- Marty Williams – recording assistant
- Hank Williams – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee)
- Virginia Team – art direction
- Jerry Joyner – design
- Karen Miller – photography
- Lori Turk – make-up
- Hallmark Direction Co. – management
Personnel
As listed in the liner notes.[2]
- John Michael Montgomery – vocals
- John Barlow Jarvis – acoustic piano (2), Hammond B3 organ (2, 10)
- Reese Wynans – acoustic piano (2-10), Hammond B3 organ (5, 7)
- Bill Cuomo – synthesizers (3, 7, 9)
- Steve Gibson – acoustic guitars (1-3, 6, 8, 9)
- Dann Huff – electric guitars (1-9), acoustic guitars (10)
- Brent Mason – electric guitars
- Billy Joe Walker Jr. – acoustic guitars (4, 5, 7, 10)
- Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar
- Glenn Worf – bass
- Lonnie Wilson – drums
- Stuart Duncan – fiddle, mandolin (8)
- John Wesley Ryles – backing vocals (1, 2, 4-6, 8-10)
- Dennis Wilson – backing vocals (1-9)
- Harry Stinson – backing vocals (3, 7)
Group vocals on "Kick It Up"
- Mike Janas, John Kunz, Mimi Nuyens, Harry Stinson, Bruce Sulfridge and Dennis Wilson
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Notes and References
- Billboard 200. Billboard. 2 January 2013.
- Kickin' It Up . John Michael Montgomery . 1994 . CD . Atlantic Records . CD 82559.
- Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994. Billboard. 2 January 2013. February 22, 2021.
- Top Country Albums – Year-End 1994. Billboard. 2 January 2013. February 22, 2021.
- Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995. Billboard. 2 January 2013. February 22, 2021.
- Top Country Albums – Year-End 1995. Billboard. 2 January 2013. February 22, 2021.
