"The Road To Here" Tidbits
- The members of Little Big Town produced this album with Wayne Kirkpatrick.
- Little Big Town wrote nine of the thirteen songs on the album.
- The album was released on Tuesday, October 4, 2005.
- Little Big Town dedicated the CD to the memory of Steven Wayne Roads.
- It took Little Big Town and Wayne Kirkpatrick 142 days over the course of two years to record "The Road To Here". That doesn't count the days and weeks spent writing the music - just recording time.
- The studio where LBT recorded "The Road To Here" is caled The Maple Room and is owned by their producer, Wayne Kirkpatrick. The studio is said to be haunted. The name of the ghost who supposedly resides there is Beulah.
- The official favorite food of LBT during the making of "The Road To Here" was chicken wings. According to Kimberly, "We must have eaten them at least once a week. Wayne, our producer, is a chicken wing connoiseur! He takes us to the best ones in town. He also cooks great chicken wings."
- Just to pass the time in the studio Karen and Kimberly learned to salsa dance to "Good As Gone". A friend named Barbara taught it to them very late one night at the studio. Kimberly claims they have now forgotten how.
- "Welcome To The Family" is the song that almost did not make the record. They cut it two times. The first time they cut it, they didn't like how it turned out, so they did it again. That time stuck!
- There was a certain someone who visited the studio every day during the making of "The Road To Here". Kimberly's dog, Buck, went with her to the studio almost everyday. She would hang out in the backyard of the studio, an they'd all play frisbee or fetch with her during their breaks.
- The original lyric idea for "Boondocks" was 'waiting for the sun to go down' which they later used for the song "Bones". They came up with the music for that song first, and were batting around that lyric idea before the 'born and raised in the boondocks' came up.
- There is a movie poster, autographed by the director, hanging on the wall in the studio where "The Road To Here" was recorded. Wayne (the producer) wrote a song for this movie. The movie poster is "Almost Famous". It is signed by Cameron Crowe as a thank you to Wayne for contributing a song to the movie.
Writers and Musicians
- "Good As Gone" (Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, National Guitar / Adam Steffey: Mandolin / Ron Block: Banjo, Acoustic Guitar
- "Boondocks" (Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Mark Childers: Bass / Gordon Kennedy: Electric Guitar / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, Octave Mandolin / Jerry Douglas: Dobro / Ron Block: Banjo
- "Bones" (Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Gordon Kennedy: Electric Guitar / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, Dulcimer, National Guitar
- "Bring It On Home" (Wayne Kirkpatrick, Greg Bieck, Tyler Hayes Bieck)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Gordon Kennedy: Electric Guitar / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, Piano / Dan Dugmore: Steel Guitar, Dobro
- "Wounded" (Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, Octave Mandolin / Ron Block: Banjo, Acoustic Guitar
- "A Little More You" (Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Gordon Kennedy: Electric Guitar / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, National Guitar, Banjitar
- "Live With Lonesome" (Wayne Kirkpatrick, Julian C. Bunetta)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Mark Childers: Bass / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar / Jonathan Yudkin: Mandolin, Fiddle, Celtic Harp / Ron Block: Acoustic Guitar
- "Mean Streak" (Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Gordon Kennedy: Electric Guitar / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, Mando-guitar, Pencil Guitar / Dan Dugmore: Steel Guitar
- "Looking For A Reason" (Wayne Kirkpatrick, Shelly Fairchild, Thad Beaty)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jackie Street: Bass / Gordon Kennedy: Electric Guitar / Wayne Kirkpatrick: National Guitar, Banjitar
- "Lost" (Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, Piano, B4, Drum Programming / Dan Dugmore: Dobro
- "Welcome To The Family" (Wayne Kirkpatrick, Jim Collins)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Gordon Kennedy: Electric Guitar / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar / Jonathan Yudkin: Mandolin / Ron Block: Banjo
- "Fine With Me" (Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
Chris McHugh: Drums / Jimmie Lee Sloas: Bass / Gordon Kennedy: Electric Guitar / Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, Banjitar, Mandolin, National Guitar
- "Stay" (Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Jason Deere)
Wayne Kirkpatrick: Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin
Credits
- Produced by Little Big Town and Wayne Kirkpatrick for Magic Beans Productions
- Engineered by JB, Glenn Spinner and Aaron Swihart
- Mixed by David Zaffiro, Except "Bones" mixed by JB
- Recorded at The Beanstalk Studio, Franklin, Tennessee
- Mixed at The Pugent Sound
- Mastered by Andrew Mendelson at Georgetown Mastering, Nashville, TN
- Managament: Mission Management
- Booking: Creative Artists Agency
- Phillip Sweet uses McPherson and Epiphone guitars, Jimi Westbrook uses Taylor and Epiphone guitars.
Liner Notes
Karen Fairchild
Karen would like to thank: I want to say thank you to my mom and dad and to my brother and sister for sticking by me and for encouraging me to keep on going. Also to Taylor and Hayley for letting me know whether or not the LBT merch is cool. Thanks to Mark for his continued support and to Michael and Wyatt for always making me laugh. I also want to say thank you to Mike and Lisa and the third coast family for taking care of me. To Risha and Jeff for their friendship and most of all to Rendy and Tracy for keeping the faith! We would not have made this music without Wayne Kirkpatrick. He has been more than a producer... he has been a friend and a brother. I will forever be grateful for you and Fran, and for your friendship. I know there are many special days to come for all of us. Lastly, to Phillip, Jimi, and Kimberly... there aren't words to express what we have all been through together. Sometimes I don't know how we have made it this far. I know God brings people into our lives for reasons and I am so glad that he has allowed us this journey together. Just wanted to say how much I love you all.
Kimberly Roads
Kimberly would like to thank: My sweet love, my soul mate, my best friend, I miss every part of you. You brought me here and taught me how to dream, so I will keep going to live out our dream together. You loved for me to sing to you. Well, I still am - every note is to you and for you. Every time I sing, I feel you. And, baby, by the time you get good and turned around, I'll be there. Daddy and Mama, you taught me how to live, how to love, how to work hard and to love Jesus above all. You make me so proud of where I came from. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for me, for loving me and for praying for me. I am blessed beyone measure to be your daughter. Paula, Joshua, Brian and my little angel girls, you are the light of my life. I live for our times together, and I love making memories with you. Spencer, Polly, Jerry, Sherma, Lee and Tammy thank you for loving me as your own. This is for our Steve. Grandmother, Grams, my family and friends, thank you for showing me such great love and support. Karen, Jimi, and Phillip, you are my family. You picked me up and carried me through the darkest time of my life. And you made me laugh again. Wayne, you and your family have been such a blessing to me. You are so gentle and loving and talented. We found our musical soul mate in you, and I'm so grateful for the music we have made together. Rendy and Tracy, thank you for taking care of us and for standing by me through the rain. Dear Jesus, you show me new mercies each morning. Your grace and comfort overwhelm me. Thank you for the struggle and thank you for the gain.
Phillip Sweet
Phillip would like to thank: A huge thank you to my spiritual team for continually showing me the God-force in action in ways beyond my comprehension. My fantastic family for showering me with love even when I can't spend much time with you, and for my LBT family for loving me even when I spend a lot of time with you (ha ha). Most of all I'm thankful for the process and being taken on this amazing emotional rollercoaster during the making of this record. The finished result of it is a truthful reflection of a window in time, that has taught me many lessons in living, and I'm very honored to be a part of it. Thank you to everyone that has been a part of helping to keep our dream alive. You are continually creating the environment for us to keep dreaming too. Peace and love.
Jimi Westbrook
Jimi would like to thank: I would like to thank God for the beautiful gift of music. It has taken me on an amazing journey that I could never have imagined. It has led me into the lives of people I would never have had the pleasure of meeting, let alone call friends. I want to thank my mom, Alma Westbrook. I love you. It's your prayers and encouragement that keep me strong. Thanks to my family (all of you). You are my foundation and I love you so much. Thanks to my two best friends. Justin, you were my first band mate. (Silver Streak rules!) Ralph, thanks for being you. Thanks to Rendy and Tracy for your sacrifice. Wayne Kirkpatrick and family - thank you just doesn't seem sufficient. You stood by us when others stopped believing. Thank you for your friendship and support and for sharing your limitless musical talents and creativity. You truly are an inspiration. To my partners: You are my family and I am thankful that we found each other. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to what we have started. We have all faced some of the hardest times that life can throw at us and I wouldn't want any other people standing by my side. I know there's a purpose for all that we've been through. I love you all.
Little Big Town
Little Big Town would like to thank: Rendy and Tracy for their unwavering support and friendship. Mike Kraski, Clint Black and the entire Equity staff for new life and a chance to share our music again. Robin Mitchell Joyce, Cheryl Harris and Legina Chaudoin for sticking with us. Risha Rodgers, Jeff Gregg, John Huie and the whole CAA staff. We want to thank all of the musicians who played on this record - especially Gordon Kennedy, Chris McHugh and Jimmie Lee Sloas for all of the hours they put in. Thank you to JB, Glenn, Aaron and David for sharing their talents with us. Thanks to Andy Hubbard for your talent and friendship. Most of all, Wayne Kirkpatrick for the long therapy writing sessions, the chicken wings, Monday night football in the hot tub, tailgating, the philosophical debates over crawfish or crawdads and most importantly, the belief that we deserved a chance to share our music with folks. Thank you for allowing that to happen. We are proud of the music we have made together. To the fans that have stuck it out and traveled long distances to see us live... thank you so much! It truly has been our pleasure.
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