Emotional Traffic is the eleventh studio album by American country music artist Tim McGraw,[12] released on January 24, 2012. It is his final album to be released by Curb Records, a label he has been with since his self-titled 1993 debut album.[13]

Emotional Traffic
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 24, 2012 (2012-01-24)
Genre
Length51:50
LabelCurb Records
Producer
Tim McGraw chronology
Number One Hits
(2010)
Emotional Traffic
(2012)
Tim McGraw & Friends
(2013)
Singles from Emotional Traffic
  1. "Better Than I Used to Be"
    Released: November 28, 2011
  2. "Right Back Atcha Babe"
    Released: June 25, 2012
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(62/100) [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [2]
American Songwriter [3]
Country Weekly(favorable) [4]
Entertainment WeeklyB [5]
Los Angeles Times [6]
The New York Times(average) [7]
Rolling Stone [8]
Slant Magazine [9]
Uncut [1]
USA Today [10]
The Washington Post(average) [11]

Background edit

Emotional Traffic was originally completed in late 2010, but was held by Curb Records. In an interview with "The Boot", McGraw expressed his frustration with the label saying "All the songs have been done for a long time, and the label has had it; It's the last album that they have of mine, so they're trying to hold on to it as long as they can."[14] On May 13, 2011, Curb Records filed a breach-of-contract suit against McGraw, alleging that McGraw recorded tracks for the album too early prior to its delivery to the label.[15]

Several days later, McGraw filed a countersuit against the label seeking advance payment and recording-fund reimbursement, unspecified damages, and a jury trial, which began in July 2012.[16][17]

NPR featured Emotional Traffic in its website's First Listen series, streaming the album in its entirety beginning January 16, 2012.[18]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Halo"Jedd Hughes, Luke Laird4:57
2."Right Back Atcha Babe"Dave Pahanish, Joe West4:51
3."One Part, Two Part" (feat. Faith Hill)Dee Ervin3:32
4."I Will Not Fall Down"Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Brad Warren, Brett Warren4:35
5."The One"Angie Aparo, Brad Warren, Brett Warren3:52
6."Better Than I Used to Be"Ashley Gorley, Bryan Simpson3:22
7."Touchdown Jesus"Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip4:04
8."The One That Got Away"Pahanish, West4:44
9."Felt Good on My Lips"Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers, Brad Warren, Brett Warren4:39
10."Hey Now"B. Beavers, J. Beavers, Brad Warren, Brett Warren4:15
11."Only Human" (feat. Ne-Yo)Aparo, Ty Lacy, Shaffer Smith3:52
12."Die by My Own Hand"David Tolliver, Chad Warrix, Rivers Rutherford5:07

Personnel edit

Compiled from liner notes.[19]

Musicians

  • Tony Harrell – Wurlitzer electric piano (1, 3, 5, 10), acoustic piano (4, 8, 9) synthesizers (8)
  • Rami JaffeeHammond B3 organ (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10)
  • Jamie Muhoberac – synthesizers (1-5, 7–12), Hammond B3 organ (2), acoustic piano (8, 9), Wurlitzer electric piano (9)
  • Steve Nathan – synthesizers (2, 12), acoustic piano (6), Hammond B3 organ (6, 7, 12), Wurlitzer electric piano (7)
  • Jeff McMahon – Hammond B3 organ (11), synthesizers (11)
  • Rusty Anderson – electric guitar (1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (3, 8)
  • Dan Dugmore – acoustic guitar (1, 4, 9, 10), steel guitar (1, 2, 3, 5–8, 12)
  • Dave Levita – electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (8)
  • Troy Lancaster – electric guitar (2, 6, 7, 12)
  • Jerry McPherson – electric guitar (2, 6–9, 11, 12)
  • Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar (2, 6, 7, 12)
  • Byron Gallimore – electric guitar (4, 8, 9, 11), 12-string guitar (11)
  • Jay Joyce – electric guitar (9)
  • Denny Henningson – electric guitar (11)
  • Bob Minner – acoustic guitar (11)
  • Darran Smith – electric guitar (11)
  • Deano Brown – mandolin (11)
  • Paul Bushnell – bass (1-10, 12)
  • John Marcus – bass (11)
  • Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), percussion (3, 10)
  • Shannon Forrest – drums (2, 6, 7, 12), percussion (2, 12)
  • Billy Mason – drums (11)
  • David Dunkley – congas (11), percussion (11)

Background vocals

Production

  • Byron Gallimore – producer, mixing
  • Tim McGraw – producer
  • Darran Smith – producer (11)
  • Missi Gallimore – A&R direction
  • Julian King – engineer
  • Sara Lesher – additional recording, Pro Tools engineer
  • Erik Lutkins – additional recording, Pro Tools engineer
  • David Bryant – assistant engineer
  • Lowell Reynolds – assistant engineer (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10)
  • Colin Heldt – assistant engineer (11)
  • Jason Hall – guitar overdub engineer (9)
  • Christian Baker – vocal recording (11)
  • Adam Ayan – mastering
  • Glenn Sweitzer – art direction, design
  • Danny Clinch – photography

Studios

  • Recorded at Dark Horse Recording Studio (Franklin, TN); Blackbird Studios and Ocean Way (Nashville, TN)
  • Ne-Yo's vocals were recorded at Germano Studios (New York City, NY).
  • Edited, overdubbed, and mixed at Essential Sound Studios (Houston, TX).
  • Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, ME).

Chart performance edit

Singles edit

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Country US CAN
2011 "Better Than I Used to Be" 5 52 71
2012 "Right Back Atcha Babe" 59
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for Emotional Traffic". Metacritic. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  2. ^ "Emotional Traffic - Tim McGraw". Allmusic. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. ^ Baxley, Jaymie (January 24, 2012). "Tim McGraw: Emotional Traffic". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  4. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (January 23, 2012). "Emotional Traffic by Tim McGraw". Country Weekly. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  5. ^ Wood, Mikael (January 27, 2012). "Emotional Traffic review - Tim McGraw Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  6. ^ Lewis, Randy (January 24, 2012). "Album review: Tim McGraw's 'Emotional Traffic'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  7. ^ Caramanica, Jon (January 23, 2012). "Tim McGraw: 'Emotional Traffic'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  8. ^ Rosen, Jody (January 24, 2012). "Emotional Traffic". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  9. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (January 31, 2012). "Tim McGraw: Emotional Traffic". Slant Magazine. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  10. ^ Mansfield, Brian (January 24, 2012). "Tim McGraw's 'Emotional Traffic' is a retro jam". USA Today. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  11. ^ Stewart, Allison (January 23, 2012). "Music review: Tim McGraw's 'Emotional Traffic'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  12. ^ Morris, Edward (28 November 2011). "Tim McGraw to Ask Court to Allow Him to Record for Another Label". CMT. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  13. ^ "Tim McGraw's 'Emotional Traffic' Arrives Jan. 24". Billboard. 3 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Tim McGraw Laments Label's Hold on Upcoming Album". The Boot. April 20, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  15. ^ "Curb Records Files Breach-of-Contract Suit Against Tim McGraw". Billboard. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  16. ^ "Tim McGraw Files Counter Suit Against Curb Records". Billboard. May 24, 2011. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  17. ^ "Court Says Tim McGraw Is Free to Record and Shop for Another Label". CMT. November 30, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  18. ^ "First Listen: Tim McGraw, 'Emotional Traffic'". NPR.org.
  19. ^ Emotional Traffic (CD booklet). Tim McGraw. Curb Records. 2012. 79320.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Tim McGraw – Emotional Traffic". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  21. ^ "Top 20 Country Chart - Australian Record Industry Association". Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  22. ^ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  23. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  24. ^ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  25. ^ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  26. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  27. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2021.

External links edit