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Whitsitt Chapel
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 2, 2023 (2023-06-02)
Genre Country
Length43:26
Label
Producer
Jelly Roll chronology
Ballads of the Broken
(2021)
Whitsitt Chapel
(2023)
Singles from Whitsitt Chapel
  1. " Need a Favor"
    Released: December 9, 2022
  2. " Save Me"
    Released: May 11, 2023 [1]
  3. "Halfway to Hell"
    Released: January 22, 2024 [2]

Whitsitt Chapel is the seventh solo studio album by American singer Jelly Roll, released on June 2, 2023, through Bailee & Buddy and BBR Music Group. [3] It is his first country music album and includes collaborations with Brantley Gilbert, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf and Lainey Wilson. It was preceded by the singles " Need a Favor" [4] and " Save Me" with Wilson. [1] The songs "She" and "Unlive" were also released prior to the album. [5] [6]

Background

Jelly Roll described the album as "Real music for real people with real problems" and "about growth and gratitude happening in my life", stating that he wanted to "create a project that felt hopeful". [4] He named it after a chapel in Antioch, Tennessee he formerly attended, which influenced the album and its themes of "sin and redemption". [7]

The songs "She" and "Unlive" with Yelawolf were released prior to the album on November 30, 2022, [5] and April 14, 2023, respectively. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Entertainment Focus [8]
Rock 'n' Load Mag10/10 [9]

James Daykin of Entertainment Focus felt that "one listen will be enough to convince you of this artist's unique perspective and original contribution to the genre" of country music, calling it "a raw, honest and powerful listen". [8] Ed Ford of Rock 'n' Load Mag complimented Jelly Roll's "gravelly vocal over smooth instrumentals", opining that listeners "will be captivated by the storytelling" that "will last throughout the entire album". Ford also felt that Whitsitt Chapel "genuinely has everything and most importantly it grips you and doesn't let go", calling it the best "all-round" album he has heard in 2023. [9]

Lesley Janes of The Nash News wrote that Jelly Roll "embodies diverse styles of music but is able to create one of the more cohesive albums of the year. His desire to make a record of songs that sinners can relate to has paid off. Jelly Roll is on to something, and everyone should take notice." [10] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country described it as "an album for the outcast within each of us" without any filler tracks. [7]

Track listing

Whitsitt Chapel track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Halfway to Hell"
2:58
2."Church"
  • Crowell
  • Garcia
3:40
3."The Lost"
  • Frasure
  • Crowell
3:19
4."Behind Bars" (with Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings)
  • DeFord
  • Brantley Gilbert
  • Michael Whitworth
  • Andrew Baylis
  • Brock Berryhill
  • Austin Nivarel
  • Baylis
  • Berryhill
2:57
5."Nail Me"
  • DeFord
  • Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft
  • Nivarel
Crowell2:41
6."Hold on Me"
Crowell3:36
7."Kill a Man"
  • DeFord
  • Riley Thomas
  • Baylis
  • Whitworth
Crowell3:04
8."Unlive" (with Yelawolf)Crowell3:57
9." Save Me" (with Lainey Wilson)
  • DeFord
  • David Ray Stevens
  • Crowell
  • Stevens
3:57
10."She"
  • DeFord
  • Nivarel
  • Gruft
Gruft2:53
11." Need a Favor"
  • DeFord
  • Nivarel
  • Joe Ragosta
  • Rob Ragosta
Nivarel3:17
12."Dancing with the Devil"
  • DeFord
  • Hunter Phelps
  • Crowell
Crowell3:37
13."Hungover in a Church Pew"
  • DeFord
  • Phelps
  • Crowell
Crowell3:30
Total length:43:26

Personnel

Musicians

  • Jelly Roll – vocals
  • Jarrod Brown – additional vocals (1–3, 5, 13)
  • Sol Philcox-Littlefield – bass guitar (1–3, 5, 6, 12, 13), electric guitar (1, 3, 7–9), acoustic guitar (3, 6–9, 12)
  • Grady Saxman – drums (1–3, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13), percussion (5)
  • Nathan Keeterle – electric guitar (1–7, 9, 12, 13), acoustic guitar (4, 5), slide guitar (4)
  • Zach Crowell – keyboards, programming (1–3, 5–8, 12, 13); backing vocals (5)
  • Jesse Frasureprogramming (1, 3), backing vocals (1)
  • David Garcia – acoustic guitar (2)
  • Ben Caver – backing vocals (2, 7)
  • Andrew Baylis – electric guitar (4, 8), acoustic guitar (8)
  • Miranda Lambert – backing vocals (3)
  • Brock Berryhill – bass guitar (4)
  • Miles McPherson – drums (4)
  • Brantley Gilbert – vocals (4)
  • Struggle Jennings – vocals (4)
  • Devin Malone – acoustic guitar (6, 12), bass guitar (9), electric guitar (12)
  • Hillary Lindsey – backing vocals (6)
  • Madeline Merlo – backing vocals (7)
  • DJ Chill – programming (8)
  • Yelawolf – vocals (8)
  • David Ray Stevens – acoustic guitar, backing vocals (9)
  • Robyn Raynelle – backing vocals (9)
  • Stu Stapleton – piano (9)
  • Lainey Wilson – vocals (9)
  • Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – backing vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards (10)
  • Randall Cooke – drums (10)
  • David Mills – steel guitar (10)
  • Austin Nivarel – acoustic guitar, background vocals, electric guitar (11)
  • Ilya Toshinskiy – acoustic guitar (11)
  • Tim Marks – bass guitar (11)
  • Shannon Sanders – choir arrangement (11)
  • Fisk Jubilee Singers [a] – choir (11)
  • Nir Z – drums (11)
  • Derek Wells – electric guitar (11)
  • Stuart Duncanfiddle (11)
  • Alex Wright – keyboards (11)
  • Justin Schipper – steel guitar (11)
  • Hunter Phelps – backing vocals (12, 13)
  • Scotty Sanders – Dobro, pedal steel guitar (13)

Technical

  • Joe LaPortamastering (1–
  • Jim Cooley – mixing (1–9, 12, 13)
  • Jeff Braun – mixing (10, 11)
  • Aidan Thompson – engineering (1–3, 5–9, 12, 13)
  • Seth Morton – engineering (11)
  • Grady Saxman – recording (1–3, 5–9, 12, 13)
  • Andrew Baylis – recording (4)
  • Brock Berryhill – recording (4)
  • Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – recording (10)
  • Austin Nivarel – recording, editing (11)
  • Justin Francis – recording (11)
  • Zach Crowell – additional recording (1–3, 5–9, 12, 13)
  • Zach Kuhlman – mixing assistance (1–9, 12, 13), recording assistance (11)
  • Eric Arjes – mixing assistance (10)
  • Steve Cordray – recording assistance (11)

Charts

Notes

  1. ^ The Fisk Jubilee Singers consist of vocalists Shannon Sanders, Cristina Fentress, Eren Brooks, Evan Acklin, Jordan Holland, Kim Fleming, MarQo Patton, Trinity Hervey, Victoria Sanders, and Zoe Frazier.

References

  1. ^ a b "US: Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson team up on revamped single, 'Save Me'". BMG Rights Management. May 11, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  2. ^ https://assets.countryaircheck.com/public/f6bdc58e-b873-46df-8ff7bf60b1e02426/smaller-CAP-12-2023.pdf
  3. ^ Newman, Miranda (June 1, 2023). "From Prison to No. 1: Nashville Rising Star Jelly Roll Proves That 'Losers Can Win'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Konicki, Lisa (June 2, 2023). "Jelly Roll Shares Insight Into Debut Country Album, Whitsitt Chapel". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Iahn, Buddy (November 30, 2022). "Jelly Roll releases 'She'". The Music Universe. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Mower, Maxim (April 15, 2023). "Jelly Roll Recruits Yelawolf for Anthemic New Song, 'Unlive'". Holler. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Dukes, Billy (June 2, 2023). "Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel – 13 Songs, 22 Easter Eggs (Review)". Taste of Country. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Daykin, James (June 1, 2023). "Jelly Roll – Whitsitt Chapel album review". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Ford, Ed (June 2023). "Jelly Roll // Whitsitt Chapel // Album Review". Rock 'n' Load Mag. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Janes, Lesley (June 2, 2023). "Jelly Roll Whitsitt Chapel Album Review". The Nash News. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 12 June 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1736. Australian Recording Industry Association. June 12, 2023. p. 25.
  13. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  17. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  21. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Independent Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  23. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  24. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.