''I Am the Rain'' is the eighth studio album released by singer-songwriter

Chely Wright Chely Wright (born Richell Rene Wright; October 25, 1970) is an American Activism, activist, author and country music artist. She initially rose to fame as a commercial country recording artist with several charting singles, including the numbe ...

. The album was released via MRI/

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

/Painted Red Records on September 9, 2016 after being funded by fans through a

Kickstarter Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...

campaign which was launched in September 2014. ''I Am the Rain'' is Wright's second highest debuting album of her career on the Billboard Country Chart at No. 13 and her highest charting album of her career on the Top Album Sales Chart at No. 54.

Background

After a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, funded by over 2,000 backers, Wright's album campaign became the most successful Kickstarter campaign of any country artist. The album's recording process began in September 2015. The album, unlike any previous of Wright's was recorded almost entirely in California and was her first new material since coming out as a lesbian in May 2010. Beginning on September 8, 2015 and concluding on September 12, 2015, the album was recorded mainly at Sunset Sound in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

with additional recording done in

Culver City Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. Founded in 1917 as a "whites only" sundown town, it is now an ethnically diverse city with what was called the "third-most ...

and

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

. In an update to Kickstarter supporters on April 19, 2016, Wright revealed that Grammy award-winning producer,

Joe Henry Joseph Lee Henry (born December 2, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. He has released 15 studio albums and produced multiple recordings for other artists, including three Grammy Award-winning albums. Early life H ...

was the producer for the record, a suggestion given to her by close friend

Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...

. She also confirmed the album's release and distribution through SonyRed. In addition to Henry at the helm of production, singer songwriters,

Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...

, and

The Milk Carton Kids The Milk Carton Kids are an American indie folk duo from Eagle Rock, California, United States, consisting of singers and guitarists Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, who began making music together in early 2011. The band has recorded and rel ...

served as guest vocalists on the album. Crowell provided background vocals on "Holy War," while Harris appears on, "Pain." The Milk Carton Kids make two appearances on the album during, "You Are the River," and the

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

cover, "Tomorrow Is A Long Time." "What About Your Heart" was made available as an instant download track for all pre-orders while fans who pre-ordered the album through Wright's website received "Mexico" as an instant download track.

Commercial reception

The album debuted at No. 13 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, selling 4,100 copies in the first week. It also reached No. 181 on Billboard 200. It also marks her first appearance on the Billboard Folk/Americana Chart debuting in the top 10 at No. 9.

Track listing

# "Inside" (Chely Wright) - 4:18 # "Where Will You Be" (Wright) - 4:14 # "At The Heart Of Me" (Rodney Crowell, Joe Henry, Wright) - 4:45 # "You Are The River" (Edie Carey, Wright) - 5:01 # "Holy War" (Henry, Wright) - 4:52 # "What About Your Heart" (Wright) - 3:59 # "Pain" (Wright) - 3:58 # "

Tomorrow Is a Long Time "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan. Dylan's version first appeared on the album ''Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II'' compilation, released in 1971. It was subsequently included in the triple LP compilation ''Mas ...

" (Bob Dylan) - 3:35 # "Blood And Bones And Skin" (Wright) - 3:59 # "Mexico" (Wright) - 4:41 # "Next To Me" (Wright) - 3:52 # "Halona" (Wright) - 4:12 # "See Me Home" (Henry, Wright) - 5:18

Personnel

Per album liner notes: *

- Producer *

Ryan Freeland Ryan Freeland is an American record producer, songwriter, engineer, and mixer based in Los Angeles. Freeland is a five-time Grammy Award winner and is best known for his work with Bonnie Raitt, Ray LaMontagne, Aimee Mann, Joe Henry, Grant-Lee ...

- Recording and Mixing * Drew Bollman - Recording and Mixing * Reed Black - Engineer * Clinton Welander - Assistant Engineer * Mike Stankiewicz - Assistant Engineer * Kim Rosen - Mastering *

Jay Bellerose Jay Bellerose is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session and live performance work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists. Biography Bellerose was born in Maine. A jazz enthusiast, he attended ...

- Drums, Percussion *

Mark Goldenberg Mark Goldenberg (born April 10, 1952) is an American guitarist and songwriter, noted for his session work and composition of successful songs for Linda Ronstadt, the Pointer Sisters, and others. Biography Early career Raised in Chicago, Illin ...

- Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar * Levon Henry - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone * Eric Haywood - Pedal Steel *

Adam Levy Adam Levy is a jazz guitarist who was a member of Norah Jones's band. Career Levy was born in Encino, California. Two of his uncles and one cousin played guitar, and his mother briefly took lessons. His grandfather, George Wyle, worked for '' ...

- Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar *

David Piltch David Piltch (born January 29, 1960) is a Canadian bassist and session musician. Biography Piltch grew up in an artistic family. His father Bernie Piltch was a noted studio and stage saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist in Toronto from the ...

- Upright Bass, Electric Bass *

Patrick Warren Patrick Warren (born March 26, 1957) is an American musician, composer, and record producer. He is known for his work on the films ''Magnolia'', ''Fifty Shades of Grey'', ''Boogie Nights'' and ''Red State'', as well as the television series '' ...

- Piano, Pump and Hammond organ, additional keys * Jedd Hughes - Electric Guitar * Jeremy Lister - background vocals *

- background vocals *

- background vocals * Joey Ryan - background vocals * Kenneth Pattengale - background vocals * Katherine H. Almedia - background vocals * Karen M. Bosia - background vocals * Althea Champagnie - background vocals * Kate Cotter-Reilly - background vocals * Jeff Parshley - background vocals * Marla Pasquale - background vocals * Tamara Lynn Peterson - background vocals * Julie Shiflett - background vocals

Charts

Release History

References

{{Authority control 2016 albums Chely Wright albums