Midnight Special (Uncle Kracker album)

Midnight Special is the fifth studio album by Uncle Kracker, released on November 20, 2012 under Sugar Hill Records. It his first full-length country album and his first not to involve Kid Rock as a producer.

Midnight Special
Studio album by Uncle Kracker
Released	November 20, 2012
Recorded	July–November, 2012
Genre	Country
Length	39:12
Label	Sugar Hill Records
Producer	Keith Stegall
Uncle Kracker chronology
Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions (2010) Midnight Special (2012)
Singles from Midnight Special
"Nobody's Sad on a Saturday Night" Released: October 8, 2012 "Blue Skies" Released: July 15, 2013

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Roughstock	[2]

As of 2020, it is Uncle Kracker’s most recent studio album.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"You Got That Thang"	J. T. Harding, Matthew Shafer	3:49
2.	"I'd Be There"	Harding, Shafer	3:12
3.	"Four Letter Word"	Shafer	3:39
4.	"Blue Skies"	Shafer, Scooter Carusoe	3:45
5.	"When I Close My Eyes"	Shafer	4:01
6.	"In Between Disasters"	Harding, Shafer, Trevor Rosen, Shane McAnally	3:29
7.	"Happy"	Harding, Shafer	3:33
8.	"Nobody's Sad on a Saturday Night"	Harding, Shafer	3:18
9.	"Nuthin' Changes"	Harding, Shafer	3:45
10.	"Who We Are"	Shafer	3:13
11.	"It Is What It Is"	Harding, Shafer	3:35
Total length:			39:12

Personnel

• Robert Bailey Jr. - background vocals
• Mark Beckett - drums
• Tom Bukovac - electric guitar
• John Catchings - cello
• Mark Douthit - saxophone
• Dan Dugmore - slide guitar
• Nick Garvin - background vocals
• Vicki Hampton - background vocals
• J. T. Harding - background vocals
• Mike Haynes - trumpet
• Uncle Kracker - lead vocals
• Randy McCormick - Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, piano, Wurlitzer
• Brent Mason - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar
• Gary Prim - accordion, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, piano, Wurlitzer
• John Wesley Ryles - background vocals
• Bobby Terry - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Michael White - background vocals
• Justin Wilson - background vocals
• Glenn Worf - bass guitar
• Joe Geis - album art

Reception

Critical reception

Reception of the album has been mostly mixed to positive. Allmusic described the album as "a sunny, laid-back ride, a record made for lazy afternoons of day drinking."[1] Roughstock gave the album 4/5 stars and stated "It'd be easy to dismiss Uncle Kracker's first full-length country album as yet another attempt by a pop/rock has-been trying to cash in on mainstream country music's popularity." They also added that Uncle Kracker's transition to Country felt like "A natural one."[2] In a mixed review, Country Weekly noted Uncle Kracker "seeks to have him ingrained further in the genre, despite no hint of country instrumentation." On a more positive note, they added the album is "like tuning in to 1970s AM radio, full of sunny melodies and smooth grooves."[3]

Chart performance

Album

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[4]	33
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[5]	16

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions
		US Country [6]	US Country Airplay [7]
2012	"Nobody's Sad on a Saturday Night"	42	43
2013	"Blue Skies"	—	47
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Midnight Special review". Allmusic. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
2. Bjorke, Matt (November 20, 2012). "Album Review: Uncle Kracker - "Midnight Special"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
3. Hudak, Joseph (November 20, 2012). ""Midnight Special" by Uncle Kracker". Country Weekly. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
4. "Uncle Kracker Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
5. "Uncle Kracker Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
6. "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
7. "Uncle Kracker Album & Song Chart History - Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 22, 2013.