What I Do

by Alan Jackson

Overview

Alan Jackson had been a star for a long time before he released Drive in 2002, but that album turned him into a superstar, largely because it had the post-9/11 anthem "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," a crossover smash that made Jackson a household name. Unlike some of his peers, he didn't embrace this opportunity to become an omnipresent celebrity, he turned out a second greatest-hits album in 2003 -- complete with another crossover hit in the Jimmy Buffett duet "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" -- before returning with the full-length What I Do in September of 2004. Filled with straightforward, unadorned honky tonk and gentle, rolling ballads, What I Do makes it clear that Jackson doesn't have the slightest interest in becoming a full-fledged, crossover country-pop star. This is the purest country album he's cut in a long time, but what makes it one of his very best albums isn't its purity, it's how it's delivered with a quiet confidence, a big heart, and a sly sense of humor. Jackson has backed away from any big social statements -- there is a song called "USA Today," but far from being a comment on either the state of the world or his celebrity, it merely tells the tale of "the loneliest man in the U.S.A. today" -- and sings about love, heartache, churches, fixing cars, and wishing "If French Fries Were Fat Free." As that last song suggests, he's learned from his idol George Jones that even songs about heartbreak can be just as effective if delivered with a sense of humor, but the best joke here is "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues," where Jackson haggles with a mechanic who fancies himself a songwriter. Despite these moments of levity, much of What I Do is heavy on ballads. While it's true that the loping drinking song "Strong Enough" and rip-roaring "Burnin' the Honky Tonks Down" are so good it's hard not to wish Jackson threw a few more ravers into the mix, each of these ballads works splendidly, whether it's the sweet "Too Much of a Good Thing," the gently supportive "There Ya Go," or the aching "Rainy Day in June." Given the preponderance of ballads and the laid-back delivery, What I Do has an intimate, relaxed feel, the polar opposite of a sequel to a blockbuster like Drive usually is. But instead of feeling like a retreat, What I Do feels like one of Jackson's most assured and best albums, proof positive that he's the best mainstream country singer of this decade. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/28/2024
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0196588444517
Rank:	119491

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alan Jackson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Brent Mason   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Guitar (Electric)
Glenn Worf   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Mark Fain   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Patty Loveless   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Paul Franklin   Guitar (Steel),Lap Steel Guitar
Bruce Watkins   Banjo,Guitar (Acoustic)
Richard Sterban   Vocals (Background)
Lloyd Green   Guitar (Steel)
Matt Rollings   Piano
Adam Wright   Vocals (Background)
John Wesley Ryles   Vocals (Background)
Hargus "Pig" Robbins   Piano
Monty Allen   Vocals (Background)
Stuart Duncan   Fiddle,Mandolin
Dave Gaylord   Fiddle
Eddie Bayers   Drums
Robbie Flint   Guitar (Steel)
Bruce Rutherford   Drums
Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson   Harmonica
Tom Rutledge   Guitar (Acoustic)
Shannon Wright   Vocals (Background)
Danny Groah   Guitar (Electric)
Roger Wills   Bass
Tony Stephens   Guitar (Acoustic)
Monty Parkey   Piano
Dave Kelly   Mandolin

Technical Credits

Stan Dacus   Engineer
Shawn Camp   Composer
Keith Stegall   Composer,Producer
Billy Burnette   Composer
Emory Gordy Jr.   Engineer
Dennis Linde   Composer
John Kelton   Mixing,Engineer
Adam Wright   Composer
Alan Jackson   Composer
Dan Hill   Composer
Robert "Kooster" McAllister   Engineer
Tim Johnson   Composer
Brent Baxter   Composer
Hank Williams   Mastering
Mellissa Schleicher   Grooming
Tom Davis   Producer,Audio Production
Matt Rovey   Engineer,Assistant
David Heuer   Assistant
David Gulliver   Assistant
Greg Langford   Engineer
Shannon Wright   Composer
S. Wade Hunt   Design,Art Direction
Russ Harrington   Photography
Jason Campbell   Production Coordination
Erin Enderlin   Composer