''Trail of Tears'' is the fourth studio album from country artist

Billy Ray Cyrus Billy Ray Cyrus (born August 25, 1961) is an American country singer and actor. He has released 16 studio albums and 53 singles since 1992, and is known for his hit single "Achy Breaky Heart", which topped the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart and ...

. It was released on August 20, 1996, and two singles were released: the title track and "Three Little Words", which respectively peaked at number 69 and number 65 on the country charts. Also included is a cover of Jeannie C. Riley's "

Harper Valley PTA "Harper Valley P.T.A." is a country song written by Tom T. Hall which in 1968 became a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley. Riley's record, her debut, sold over six million copies as a single, and it made her the f ...

". The album debuted at number 125 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200, and at number 20 on the U.S.

Top Country Albums Top Country Albums is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The 50-position chart lists the most popular country music albums in the country, calculated weekly by Broadcast Data Systems based on physical sales ...

. The album has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide. Despite low sales the album was the first to receive widespread critical acclaim from music critics for Cyrus, earning him industry respect from Nashville.

Critical reception

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's Thom Owens called it Cyrus' "most personal and ostaccomplished album", pointing out the "rootsy production flourishes" that added grit and edge to the overall sound and Cyrus having more conviction in his delivery, concluding that: "In fact, ''Trail of Tears'' suggests that he may be able to carve out a successful career for himself, after all."

Alanna Nash Alanna Nash is an American journalist and biographer. Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1950, Nash holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is the author of several acclaimed books. She is a 1972 graduat ...

of ''

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'' called it "a rapidly maturing, bleeding-heart blend of roots rock and country classics wrapped in bare-bones production." She added that "Need a Little Help" and the title track had the potential to turn Cyrus into an "artistic contender".

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from the ''Trail of Tears'' media notes. ;Sly Dog *

– lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar * Greg Fletcher – drums * Corky Holbrook – bass guitar * Michael J. Sagraves – dobro, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar, harmonica, mandolin, slide guitar * Terry Shelton – drums, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, percussion * Barton Stevens – keyboards, background vocals ;Additional Musicians * Ava Aldridge – background vocals * Jeff E. Cox – bass guitar * Mark Douthit –

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* John Griffiths – background vocals * Lee Hendricks – bass guitar * Wanda Vick – fiddle * Don Von Tress – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, background vocals * Bob Workman – bass guitar ;Production * Billy Ray Cyrus – co-producer * Terry Shelton – co-producer, mixing * John Jaszcz – mixing * Chuck Linder – assistant engineer * Michael Joe Sagraves – assistant engineer * Hank Williams – mastering

Chart performance

;Album ;Singles

References

{{Authority control 1996 albums Billy Ray Cyrus albums Mercury Nashville albums