American Child is the second studio album by American country music artist Phil Vassar. Released in 2002, the album initially contained twelve tracks, with the title track serving as the lead-off single, reaching top 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts.
After the lead-off single fell from the charts, Arista tested another song entitled "This Is God". This song received such positive feedback from its test audience that the album was recalled and re-released on January 6, 2003 with "This Is God" (and a cover of Huey Lewis and the News' "Workin' for a Livin'") added to the track listing. The former was also released as a single, reaching Top 20 on the country charts, while the third single ("Ultimate Love") peaked at number 41, becoming the first single of Vassar's career to miss Top 40 entirely.
Vassar produced the album with Byron Gallimore except for "This Is God", which Vassar produced with Dann Huff instead.
Although it was not issued as a single, "Athens Grease" was made into a music video.
Track listing
Personnel Phil Vassar – lead vocals, acoustic piano Steve Nathan – keyboards Clayton Ryder – accordion Biff Watson – acoustic guitars Pat Buchanan – electric guitars Michael Landau – electric guitars B. James Lowry - electric guitars Brent Mason – electric guitars Paul Franklin – steel guitar Mike Brignardello – bass Lonnie Wilson – drums Aubrey Haynie – fiddle Michael Omartian – string arrangements Carl Gorodetzky – string contractor Nashville String Machine – strings Perry Coleman – backing vocals Gene Miller – backing vocals Jeff Smith – backing vocals Russell Terrell – backing vocals Huey Lewis – vocals (13)
Production Bryan Gallimore – producer (1–13) Phil Vassar – producer Dann Huff – producer (14) Julian King – recording John Paterno – recording Clint Brown – additional recording Ricky Cobble – additional recording Dennis Davis – additional recording Jason Gantt – additional recording Jason Lefan – additional recording Erik Lutkins – additional recording, recording assistant Justin Smith – additional recording David Bryant – recording assistant Leslie Richter – recording assistant Jeff Balding – mixing Mike Shipley – mixing Greg Burns – mix assistant Jed Hackett – mix assistant Cory Churko – Pro Tools engineer Robert Hadley – mastering Doug Sax – mastering The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California) – mastering location S. Wade Hunt – art direction, design Glen Rose – photography Melissa Schleicher – grooming Jennifer Kemp – stylist
Chart performance Chart (2002) Peakposition U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 4 U.S. Billboard 200 44
References