Here for the Party [DualDisc]

• Artist: Gretchen Wilson
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Country

Review

Taking its cues from her hit single "Redneck Woman," Here for the Party's opening title track introduces Gretchen Wilson in no uncertain terms. "I'm here for the beer and the ball-bustin' band," she sings over its emphatic kickdrum beat and barroom twang. "I may not be a ten, but the boys say I clean up good." The vocalist's brassy delivery -- not to mention her brazen honesty -- differs considerably from the songbirds that often surround her on country radio in 2004. In fact, she's closer to the leather pants and poppy honky tonk of Tanya Tucker's 1978 effort T.N.T.. Tucker is referenced in the aforementioned "Redneck Woman," as are Hank Williams Jr. and Kid Rock, who also seem like primary sources for Wilson's mix of traditional country, pop accessibility, and uncut rock & roll attitude. Though she happily belts out the harder edges of "Homewrecker" and the hometown tribute "Pocahontas Proud," Wilson is also convincing on the ballad "When I Think About Cheatin'," and the softer tones of "What Happened." These tracks give Party some welcome depth, playing off its more rowdy material nicely and proving that Wilson isn't just a loudmouth novelty. Sure, that mud on her jeans in the back cover photo is real. But so is the sentiment in "Holdin' You," when she declares that "Holdin' you/Holds me together." Gretchen Wilson may be a redneck woman, but she has a heart of gold. [The album's "Dual Disc" edition included an additional DVD side with the entire album in 5.1 sound; videos for "Redneck Woman," "Here for the Party," and "When I Think About Cheatin'"; an interview with Wilson; an acoustic performance of "Holdin' You," and a duet with Hank Williams, Jr. on "Outlaw Women."] ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Here for the Party	Big Kenny, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
Redneck Woman	Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
When I Think About Cheatin'	Vicky McGehee, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
Homewrecker	George Teren, Rivers Rutherford, Gretchen Wilson	Gretchen Wilson
Holdin' You	Thom McHugh, Wade Kirby	Gretchen Wilson
Chariot	John Caldwell, Leslie Satcher	Gretchen Wilson
What Happened	Al Anderson, Bekka Bramlett, Bob DiPiero, Tim Nichols	Gretchen Wilson
When It Rains	Vicky McGehee, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
The Bed	Vicky McGehee, John Rich, Keith Anderson	Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson
Pocahontas Proud	Vicky McGehee, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Here for the Party [DVD]	Big Kenny, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
Redneck Woman [DVD]	Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
When I Think About Cheatin' [DVD]	Vicky McGehee, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
Homewrecker [DVD]	George Teren, Rivers Rutherford, Gretchen Wilson	Gretchen Wilson
Holdin' You [DVD]	Thom McHugh, Wade Kirby	Gretchen Wilson
Chariot [DVD]	John Caldwell, Leslie Satcher	Gretchen Wilson
What Happened [DVD]	Al Anderson, Bekka Bramlett, Bob DiPiero, Tim Nichols	Gretchen Wilson
When It Rains [DVD]	Vicky McGehee, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
The Bed [DVD]	Vicky McGehee, John Rich, Keith Anderson	Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson
Pocahontas Proud [DVD]	Vicky McGehee, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
Redneck Woman [DVD]	Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
Here for the Party [DVD]	Big Kenny, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson
Holdin' You [Acoustic][Multimedia Track]	Thom McHugh, Wade Kirby	Gretchen Wilson
Oulaw [DVD][Live]		Hank Williams, Jr., Gretchen Wilson
When I Think About Cheatin' [DVD]	Vicky McGehee, Gretchen Wilson, John Rich	Gretchen Wilson

Credits

Eric Darken (Percussion), Eric Darken (Musician), Mike Brignardello (Guitar (Bass)), Mike Brignardello (Musician), Mike Brignardello (Guitar (Baritone)), Greg Droman (Mixing), Greg Droman (Tracking), Larry Franklin (Fiddle), Larry Franklin (Mandolin), Larry Franklin (Musician), Kenny Greenberg (Guitar (Electric)), Kenny Greenberg (Musician), Paul Hart (Assistant), Jim Kaiser (Assistant), Steve Marcantonio (Overdub Engineer), Greg Morrow (Percussion), Greg Morrow (Drums), Greg Morrow (Musician), Steve Nathan (Piano), Steve Nathan (Organ (Hammond)), Steve Nathan (Musician), Russ Pahl (Banjo), Russ Pahl (Guitar (Steel)), Russ Pahl (Lap Steel Guitar), Russ Pahl (Musician), Joe Scaife (Vocals (Background)), Joe Scaife (Producer), John Willis (Guitar (Acoustic)), John Willis (Musician), Mark Wright (Producer), Reese Wynans (Piano), Reese Wynans (Organ (Hammond)), Reese Wynans (Musician), Angela Primm (Vocals (Background)), Tracy Baskette-Fleaner (Art Direction), Tracy Baskette-Fleaner (Design), Bart Pursley (Mixing), Bart Pursley (Overdub Engineer), Bart Pursley (Vocal Engineer), Hank Williams (Mastering), Jeremy Cowart (Photography), Gabrielle West (Vocals (Background)), David Hogan (Video Director), Wes Hightower (Vocals (Background)), Glen Rose (Photography), Todd Gunnerson (Overdub Engineer), Todd Gunnerson (Assistant), Tom Bukovac (Guitar (Electric)), Tom Bukovac (Musician), Big Kenny (Vocals (Background)), Carie Higdon (Project Coordinator), Kay Smith (Artist Coordination), Tonya Derry (Artist Coordination), Candy Burton (Make-Up), Candy Burton (Hair Stylist), Kryssy Bloch (Design Producer), Joseph Roeder (Design Direction), Clay Bradley (A&R), Deb Haus (Director), Deb Haus (Executive Producer), Deb Haus (Art Direction), Deb Haus (Stylist), Deb Haus (Artist Development), Deb Haus (Interview Producer), Sylvia Meiler (Creative Producer), Gretchen Wilson (Vocals (Background)), Gretchen Wilson (Main Performer), Billy Jones (Producer), Lowell Reynolds (Assistant), Eric Meller (Graphic Design), Mike Nack (Authoring), Marc Stecker (Authoring), Steve Lamar (Video Producer), Tanya Welch (Production Coordination)