The Driver is the debut solo album by American country music artist Charles Kelley. It was released on February 5, 2016, via Capitol Records Nashville. The lead single (and title track) was released to radio on October 19, 2015.
Contents
Commercial performance
The album debuted on the Top Country Albums at No. 2, and No. 35 on the Billboard 200, selling 14,000 copies in its first week. It sold a further 4,900 copies the following week. As of June 2016, the album has sold 38,000 copies in the US.
Personnel
Musicians
Charles Kelley – vocals
Mike Rojas – Wurlitzer electric piano (1), acoustic piano (2–4, 7, 9), Hammond B3 organ (3), synthesizers (3, 5–8), accordion (4)
Jesse Frasure – keyboards (5), programming (5)
Josh Kelley – programming (7), acoustic guitar (7)
Jerry McPherson – electric guitar (1–4, 6–8)
Mark Trussell – electric guitar (1, 2), acoustic guitar (4)
Biff Watson – acoustic guitar (1–4, 6–9)
Paul Worley – electric guitar (1, 3, 5–8)
Rob McNelley – electric guitar (3, 6–8)
Daniel Tashian – electric guitar (3)
Abe Stoklasa – pedal steel guitar (3, 4)
Justin Schipper – pedal steel guitar (6, 8)
Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (1, 2, 4)
Michael Rhodes – bass (3, 6, 7)
Craig Young – bass (5, 8)
Chris Stapleton – electric upright bass (5)
Chad Cromwell – drums (1–4, 6–8)
Strings (Tracks 5 & 9)
Kristin Wilkinson – string arrangements and composing
Stephen Lamb – music preparation
Sari Reist – cello
Monisa Angell – viola
David Davidson – violin
Karen Winklemann – violin, contractor
Harmony vocals
Charles Kelley – harmony vocals
Dierks Bentley – harmony vocals (2)
Eric Paslay – harmony vocals (2)
Abe Stoklasa – harmony vocals (2, 3)
Daniel Tashian – harmony vocals (3)
Stevie Nicks – harmony vocals (4)
Chris Stapleton – harmony vocals (5)
Nathan Chapman – harmony vocals (6)
Josh Kelley – harmony vocals (7)
Miranda Lambert – harmony vocals (8)
Production
Paul Worley – producer
Clarke Schleicher – recording, mixing
Erik Hellerman – vocal overdub recording, recording assistant
Kevin Harper – additional recording, mix assistant, digital editing
Mark Farnum – mix assistant
Brad Winters – mix assistant
Scott Campbell – vocal recording for Stevie Nicks (4) at The Village Recorder (Los Angeles, California)
Jeff Garrenbaum – vocal recording assistant (4)
Andrew Mendelson – mastering at Georgetown Masters (Nashville, Tennessee)
Andrew Darby – mastering assistant
Steve Dewey – mastering assistant
Adam Grover – mastering assistant
Paige Connors – production coordinator
Jeremy Witt – production assistant