High Top Mountain is the debut studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson. The album was produced by Dave Cobb and was released on June 11, 2013. Simpson self-funded the album.[2] The record is named after a cemetery near Jackson, Kentucky where many of his family are buried.[3]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated High Top Mountain 3 1/2 stars out of 5, comparing its sound favorably to Waylon Jennings.[4] Erik Ernst of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel also compared it to Jennings, saying that it had "rich vintage sounds, heartbreaking ballads and juke-joint ramblers".[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Life Ain't Fair and the World Is Mean" | Sturgill Simpson | 2:06 |
| 2. | "Railroad of Sin" | Simpson | 2:04 |
| 3. | "Water in a Well" | Simpson | 3:18 |
| 4. | "Sitting Here Without You" | Simpson | 2:10 |
| 5. | "The Storm" | Simpson | 4:02 |
| 6. | "You Can Have the Crown" | Simpson | 2:50 |
| 7. | "Time After All" | Simpson | 2:37 |
| 8. | "Hero" | Simpson | 4:02 |
| 9. | "Some Days" | Simpson | 3:30 |
| 10. | "Old King Coal" | Simpson | 3:07 |
| 11. | "Poor Rambler" | 3:45 | |
| 12. | "I'd Have to Be Crazy" | Steven Fromholz | 4:02 |
| Total length: | 37:33 | ||
Chart performance
The album did not receive much attention on its release and debuted at No. 47 on the Top Country Albums chart.[6] It re-entered the chart after the release of Simpson's second album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, eventually reaching No. 31 on Top Country Albums for the chart dated November 8, 2014.[7] The album has sold 105,600 copies in the United States as of January 2017.[8]
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[9] | 31 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[10] | 11[11] |
Personnel
Musicians and contributors
- Sturgill Simpson - vocals, acoustic guitar, Telecaster
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins - piano
- Chris Powell - drums
- Robby Turner - steel guitar, bass (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10)
- Brian "Freedom Eagle Bear" Allen - bass (tracks 4, 6, 9, 11, 12)
- Bobby "Diamond Bob" Emmett - organ, Mellotron
- Leroy Powell - steel guitar (tracks 6, 9), backing vocals (track 6)
- Dave Cobb - 12 string electric guitar (track 7)
Technical personnel
- Produced by Dave Cobb
- Engineered by Vance Powell
- Assistant Engineered by Jason Mott
- Mixed by Vance Powell at Sputnik Sound - Nashville, TN
- Mastering by Richard Dodd
References
- ^ Keefe, Jonathan (December 21, 2024). "Twenty Greatest Albums of the CU Era: Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music". Country Universe. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sturgill Simpson biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ Inman, Davis (26 April 2013). "Sturgill Simpson: Man Of The Hour". American Songwriter. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "High Top Mountain - Sturgill Simpson". Allmusic.com. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ^ Ernst, Erik (11 June 2013). "CD reviews: Jason Isbell, Alison Moyet, Walter Trout, Sturgill Simpson". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard. June 29, 2013.
- ^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard. November 8, 2014.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (January 22, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: January 23, 2017". Roughstock.
- ^ "Sturgill Simpson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "Sturgill Simpson Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "High Top Mountain charts and awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
