Changed (album)

Changed
Studio album by
Rascal Flatts
ReleasedApril 3, 2012 (2012-04-03)
GenreCountry
Length44:08 (Standard Edition)
58:08 (Deluxe Edition)
LabelBig Machine
ProducerDann Huff
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts chronology
The Best of Rascal Flatts Live
(2011) 		Changed
(2012) 		Rewind
(2014)
Singles from Changed
  1. "Banjo"
    Released: January 16, 2012
  2. "Come Wake Me Up"
    Released: May 21, 2012
  3. "Changed"
    Released: December 17, 2012
  4. "Sunrise"
    Released: June 28, 2013

Changed is the eighth studio album by American country music group Rascal Flatts. It is their second studio album released on Big Machine Records, and was released on April 3, 2012. The band released the album's debut single, "Banjo", on January 16, 2012.[1] The album's second single "Come Wake Me Up" released to country radio on May 21, 2012. The album's third single, "Changed", released to country radio on December 17, 2012, AC and Christian AC on January 22, 2013. On June 28, 2013, Rascal Flatts released "Sunrise" as their first official single in the UK.[2] This is the first album from the group to not have a Top 40 hit on the pop chart. This is the group's first album not to go platinum and last to go gold.

Content

[edit]

Gary LeVox explains the title, "Actually there's a song on the album called "Changed" and it's a really, really special song. And we thought that title of that song really captures what this new season of our career is because everything in our professional career has changed...(we) thought the title was appropriate." Rascal Flatts worked with long-time producer Dann Huff on their new album but also produced a few of the tracks on their own.

The Limited Deluxe Edition 'ZinePak includes the 15-song Changed Deluxe CD, an exclusive 72-page magazine, and a set of four Rascal Flatts guitar picks. The magazine includes exclusive interviews with Gary, Jay and Joe Don, rare photographs, lyrics, commentary on the band's career and much more. Only 40,000 copies are available. The Limited Deluxe Edition version was exclusively available at Wal-Mart stores.

In the weeks leading up to the album's release, three promotional singles were released for music download; the title track was released on March 13, 2012, "Hot In Here" on March 20, 2012, and "She's Leaving" on March 27, 2012.

Commercial performance

[edit]

In the United States, the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 130,000 copies.[3] It also was the trio's seventh consecutive album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, making them only the fourth act in Nielsen Soundscan history to attain this goal.[4] As of April 3, 2013, the album has sold 502,000 copies in the US.[5]

In Australia, Changed made its debut on the ARIA albums at No. 51 and peaked at No. 2, the band's highest position on the ARIA country chart to date.[6] On January 11, 2013, Changed debuted on the Swedish Albums Chart at No. 14. It is the band's first appearance and highest position on the Swedish Albums Chart to date.[7] In the United Kingdom, "Changed" debuted on the Official UK Albums Top 100 chart at No. 87 and No. 1 on the Country Artist Albums Top 20 chart.[8]

As of April 2014, the album has sold 560,000 copies in the United States.[9]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Associated Press(positive)[11]
Country Weekly[12]
Roughstock[13]
Taste of Country[14]
Under The Gun Review7/10 [15]
USA Today[16]
The New York Times(positive)[17]
About.com[18]
ukCOUNTRYmusic.NET[19]

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the album four stars out of five, saying that it was true that Changed is the most country project they've released in 10 years, and there are some new approaches on tracks like "Sunrise" and "Let It Hurt", on which he notes, "The second verse of this dark, brooding ballad is brilliant, and LeVox goes somewhere deep to bring it to life."[14] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave it four stars out of five, saying, "Changed represents the continuation of a new chapter for the trio in their career and while the songs on the album don't represent the "change" some critics and some fans may have hoped for, what they have done is provide their loyal set of fans and other country fans a strong, consistent album of radio-ready material and something that can compete with the bands chompin' at their feet to take their place as the #1 band in country music.""[13] Jessica Nicholson of Country Weekly gave the release three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying that "the album lacks some of the energy and freshness of 2010's Nothing Like This, but introspective tunes such as "A Little Home," "Sunrise" and "Come Wake Me Up" add even more depth to the trio's sound."[12] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album three out of five stars, saying the album "errs on the side of caution" and "toned down the brightness" from their prior release, but praised the consistency of the songs and the "cool assured adult contemporary pulse of "Hot in Here.""[10] Michael McCall of the Associated Press gave the album a positive review, saying that they sound wiser and more grounded, balancing grown-up, light country-rockers with ballads grounded in real life and the album proves they have moved forward in the most important of ways — with their music.[11] Grace Duffy of the Under The Gun Review gave the album seven out of ten stars, saying that the album is an open and natural addition to Rascal Flatts’ repertoire.[20] Meena Iyer of Musicperk gave the album eight-and-a-half out of ten stars, saying "the album is a mixture of soulful music which can melt your heart and few fun upbeat tracks to make you dance."[21] Brian Mansfield of USA Today gave the album three out of five stars, saying "the trio has streamlined its mix of pop and country in Changed."[16] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times gave the album a positive review, saying "on this album has largely taken to heart."[17] Robert Silva of About.com gave the album three out of five stars, saying "the new record puts the trio in more rootsy territory than their previous effort, Nothing Like This."[18] Sarah Gibson of ukCOUNTRYmusic.NET gave the album nine out of ten stars, saying "this album reflects the style we know and love from the group and not a "changed" style as the title suggests, and the album is reflective of their true country roots."[19]

Tours

[edit]

Rascal Flatts started their Changed Tour on October 26, 2012 and their Live and Loud Tour on May 31, 2013.

Set list

[edit]

The following set list is representative of the show in Camden that Took Place at Susquehanna Bank Center. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.

Camden[22]
  1. "Changed"
  2. "Banjo"
  3. "Summer Nights
  4. "Fan Choice"
  5. "Fan Choice"
  6. "Fan Choice"
  7. "Stand"
  8. "Come Wake Me Up"
  9. "Hot in Here"
  10. "Bless The Broken Road"
  11. "Fast Cars and Freedom"
  12. "Me and My Gang"
  13. "What Hurts The Most
  14. "Life Is a Highway" (Tom Cochrane cover)
Encore
  1. "We're an American Band" (Grand Funk Railroad cover) (with all three openers)

Tour dates

[edit]

Box office score data

[edit]

Track listing

[edit]
Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Changed"Gary LeVox, Wendell Mobley, Neil Thrasher4:22
2."Banjo"Tony Martin, Mobley, Thrasher4:16
3."Hot in Here"Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Kelley Lovelace3:51
4."Come Wake Me Up"Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren, Sean McConnell4:23
5."She's Leaving"Tom Hambridge, Jeffrey Steele3:16
6."Let It Hurt"Jay DeMarcus, Gordie Sampson, Caitlyn Smith3:53
7."Lovin' Me"Tom Shapiro, Thrasher, Jimmy Yeary3:25
8."Hurry Baby"Paul Jenkins, Jason Sellers, Shapiro3:55
9."Sunrise"Nathan Chapman, Joe Don Rooney5:06
10."Great Big Love"LeVox, Kara DioGuardi, Marti Frederiksen, Sampson3:23
11."A Little Home"Gorley, Lovelace, Thrasher4:01
Total length:44:08
Deluxe Edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Friday"Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele2:56
13."Fall Here"Lee Thomas Miller, Neil Thrasher, Tom Shapiro3:28
14."Right One Time"Wendell Mobley, Jimmy Yeary, Tony Martin3:24
15."Next to You, Next to Me"Robert Ellis Orrall, Curtis Wright4:08
Total length:58:08

Chart performance

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions
US Country US Country Airplay US Christian US Christian AC US CAN Country
[37] 		CAN
2012 "Banjo" 1 — — — 51 — 57
"Come Wake Me Up" 8 4 — — 52 — 99
"Changed" 25 20 21 23 73 43 54
2013 "Sunrise" — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification
United States (RIAA)[38] Gold

Personnel

[edit]

The following musicians are credited on the booklet.

Rascal Flatts
Additional Musicians
  • Charlie Judge – Hammond B3 organ (1, 2, 3, 9), synthesizers (1, 3, 4, 6, 9), keyboards (2, 5, 7, 8, 10-15), synth strings (4, 6), programming (8, 10, 12, 13, 15)
  • Robbie Buchanan – Wurlitzer electric piano (2), acoustic piano (3, 4, 6, 7, 8)
  • Gordon Mote – acoustic piano (6, 11, 14)
  • David Huff – programming (10, 13)
  • Sean Neff – programming (10)
  • Tom Bukovac – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (11, 14, 15)
  • Dann Huff – electric guitar (1, 2, 4-9, 11, 14), acoustic guitar (1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14), 12-string acoustic guitar (2), bouzouki (2, 4, 14), mandolin (2, 4, 7, 9, 14), B-Bender guitar (3), ganjo (4), banjo (9), sitar (9), programming (13)
  • Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10-15), banjo (2, 5), fiddle (2), dobro (5), bouzouki (6), mandolin (7, 10, 11, 12), octomandolin (7)
  • Paul Franklin – steel guitar (3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 14)
  • Travis Toy – banjo (7), steel guitar (10, 12, 13), dobro (15)
  • Dorian Crozier – drums (1-4, 7, 8)
  • Chris McHugh – drums (5, 6, 9, 11, 14)
  • Shannon Forrest – drums (10, 12, 13, 15), cowbell (10)
  • Eric Darken – percussion (1-9, 11, 14)
  • Jonathan Yudkin – fiddle (2, 5), accordion (3), mandolin (3), viola (3, 5, 11), cello (5, 11), violin (5, 11)
  • Jenee Fleener – fiddle (10, 12, 15), viola (13), violin (13)
  • Jill Johnson – lead vocals (4)

Production

[edit]
  • Dann Huff – producer (1-9, 11, 14)
  • Rascal Flatts – producers
  • Darrell Franklin – A&R
  • Allison Jones – A&R
  • Kelly King – A&R
  • Drew Bollman – recording (1-9, 11, 14), recording assistant (1-9, 11, 14), mix assistant (1-9, 11, 14)
  • Mark Hagen – recording (1-9, 11, 14), digital editing (1-9, 11, 14)
  • Sean Neff – recording, digital editing, mixing (10, 12, 13, 15)
  • Justin Niebank – recording (1-9, 11, 14), mixing (1-9, 11, 14)
  • Amir Aly – vocal recording for Jill Johnson (4)
  • Taylor Nyquist – recording assistant
  • Seth Morton – mix assistant (1-9, 11, 14)
  • Nathan Yarborough – mix assistant (1-9, 11, 14)
  • Adam Ayan – mastering
  • Big Machine Creative – art direction
  • Becky Reiser – design
  • Randee St. Nicholas – photography
  • Spalding Entertainment – management
Studios
  • Recorded at Blackbird Studio and The Grip Recording Studio (Nashville, Tennessee); Pop Planet Studios (Johannesburg, South Africa).
  • Mixed at Blackbird Studio and The Grip Recording Studio.
  • Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine).

Release history

[edit]
Country Date Edition(s) Label Format(s)
United States[39] April 3, 2012 Standard, Deluxe Big Machine Records CD, Digital download
Canada[40] Universal Music
Australia[41] April 6, 2012
New Zealand
Sweden[42] January 2, 2013 Deluxe Lionheart Music Group
Netherlands[43] January 4, 2013 Universal Music
Brunei Darussalam January 7, 2013 Big Machine Records Digital download
Belarus
Belgium[44]
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark[45]
Spain[46]
Estonia
Finland[47]
France[48]
Greece
Hungary
Italy[49]
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Norway[50]
Poland
Portugal[51]
Romania
Switzerland[52]
Slovakia[50]
Turkey
Ukraine
Russia
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
India
Israel
Kenya
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
South Africa
Swaziland
Uganda
Zimbabwe
Cambodia
Fiji
Indonesia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstana
Lao, People's Democratic Republic
Malaysia
Federated States of Micronesia
Mongolia
Nepal
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Tajikistan
Thailand
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Singapore[53]
Macao
Hong Kong[54]
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
Bolivia
Brasil[55]
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
Venezuela
Germany[56] January 22, 2013 Universal Music CD, Digital download
Austria[57]
Slovenia[58]
Taiwan[59] February 1, 2013
Japan[60] February 13, 2013
Ireland[61] July 5, 2013
United Kingdom[62] July 8, 2013 Decca Records

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rascal Flatts Release New Single "Banjo" From Upcoming Albums". Rascal Flatts – Band Website. January 9, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  2. ^ "Rascal Flatts: Hit US band Rascal Flatts present their new album 'Changed'". www.umusicemails.com.
  3. ^ "Nicki Minaj's 'Roman Reloaded' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard.
  4. ^ "CHANGED ALBUM DEBUTS AT #1 : Rascal Flatts". www.rascalflatts.com.
  5. ^ Matt Bjorke (April 3, 2013). "Country Album Chart News For April 3, 2013: Blake Shelton's "Story" Debuts At #1; Alan Jackson "Memories" #2". Roughstock. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  6. ^ "Chartifacts - Week Commencing: 18th April 2011". The ARIA Report. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  7. ^ "swedishcharts.com – Swedish charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  8. ^ Official Charts
  9. ^ "HITS Daily Double: Upcoming Releases". Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  10. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Changed: Rascal Flatts". AllMusic. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  11. ^ a b McCall, Michael (April 2, 2012). "Review: Rascal Flatts' Sound Matures on Changed". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Nicholson, Jessica (March 21, 2012). "Changed : Rascal Flatts – Reviews – Country Weekly Magazine". Country Weekly. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  13. ^ a b Bjorke, Matt (April 4, 2012). "Changed review". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Dukes, Billy (April 2012). "Changed review". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  15. ^ "REVIEW:Rascal Flatts: 'Changed'". Under the Gun Review. April 8, 2012. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  16. ^ a b Mansfield, Brian (April 3, 2012). "Rascal Flatts' Changed is charged with emotion". USA Today. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  17. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (April 2, 2012). "Album by Rascal Flatts". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Silva, Robert (April 3, 2012). "Rascal Flatts – 'Changed' Album Review". About.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  19. ^ a b Gibson, Sarah (July 3, 2013). "Rascal Flatts – 'Changed' Album Review". ukCOUNTRYmusic.NET. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  20. ^ Duffy, Grace (April 8, 2012). "REVIEW: Rascal Flatts – Changed". Under The Gun Review. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  21. ^ Iyer, Meena (April 18, 2012). "Changed – Rascal Flatts". Musicperk. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  22. ^ "Rascal Flatts Setlist at Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden". setlist.fm.
  23. ^ "Past Events : Rascal Flatts". www.rascalflatts.com.
  24. ^ "Events : Rascal Flatts". www.rascalflatts.com.
  25. ^ a b c d "Boxscore". Billboard. August 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "ARIA Top 20 Country Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  27. ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  29. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Rascal Flatts – Changed". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  30. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  31. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  32. ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  33. ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  34. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  35. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  36. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  37. ^ "Rascal Flatts Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  38. ^ "American album certifications – Rascal Flatts – Changed". Recording Industry Association of America.
  39. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (US)". Amazon. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  40. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (Canada)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  41. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (Australia)". optus.com.au. Retrieved December 16, 2012. [permanent dead link]
  42. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (Sweden)". cdon.se. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  43. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (Netherlands)". freerecordshop.nl. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  44. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  45. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  46. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  47. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  48. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  49. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  50. ^ a b "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  51. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  52. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  53. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  54. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  55. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. January 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  56. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (Germany)". Amazon.de. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  57. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (Austria)". thalia.at. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  58. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  59. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (Taiwan)". 5music.com.tw. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  60. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (Japan)". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  61. ^ "iTunes Preview – Changed – Rascal Flatts". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  62. ^ "Changed – Rascal Flatts (United Kingdom)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Changed_(album)&oldid=1253896414"