“Either Way” Will Be Chris Stapleton’s First Single from “From A Room: Volume 1”
“Either Way” will be the lead single from Chris Stapleton’s upcoming second album From A Room: Volume 1. This is the news out of the Chris Stapleton camp after finally releasing the title, track list, and pre-order options ahead of the May 5th release of the record. The album will be proceeded by From A Room: Volume 2 later in 2017 according to Stapleton’s label, Mercury Nashville.
Though Chris Stapleton’s success on mainstream country radio has been moderate, sales of his debut record Traveller have dominated the album charts since November of 2015 as word of mouth and grassroots support have remained strong for the Kentucky native. No word on when “Either Way” may be shipped to radio, or if it will be made available to consumers ahead of the album.
Before launching his own solo career, Chris Stapleton was a revered songwriter and session singer up and down Music Row, and this is evidenced in the history of the song “Either Way.” First appearing on Lee Ann Womack’s critically-acclaimed album Call Me Crazy from 2008, the song is at least 9 years old, and was recorded when Stapleton was actively involved in the bluegrass group The SteelDrivers.
Along with Stapleton, songwriters Kendall Marvel, and Tim James are given credit on the track, and Stapleton sang backup to Womack on her original version. Womack’s take on “Either Way” was never released as a single, but it is one of the signature songs from the album, and was one of many contributions that began to call recognition to Stapleton as an emerging talent in the songwriting space.
Chris Stapleton performed “Either Way” at CRS, or the Country Radio Seminar in February of 2016—the annual radio convention in Nashville where artists regularly showcase material that will likely be released to radio later on.
“I’m going to play something not on the record,” Stapleton said at the time. “It’s about time for me to start thinking about making another [album] pretty soon, and my wife always liked this song.”
seak05
April 7, 2017 @ 8:48 am
It’s a great song, I’m still annoyed it’s the lead single (perfectly happy if it was on the album). A) it’s been two years since new music, and the first single is old music B) it’s super slow (although a great vocal) and therefore it’s the wrong choice for radio. While Chris is clearly not dependant on radio, and he hasn’t had great success there, he has made some headway (and radio wanted Tenn Whiskey and he didn’t send it to them), I think radio would have played him if given the right song choice. Maybe not #1, but top 10 was possible.
Daniel
April 7, 2017 @ 9:28 am
I don’t think Chris needs to chose his single based on what would work on radio. Radio needs Chris, Chris doesn’t need radio.
CountryCharm
April 7, 2017 @ 10:31 am
From the previews on iTunes I don’t really know if any of his songs are really country radio friendly in it’s current format. Do you have suggestions?
seak05
April 7, 2017 @ 10:36 am
Honestly, I think Broken Halos would’ve had a good shot, also radio is desperate for uptempo right now, and especially heading into summer, think second one to know might’ve worked.
(Have obvs heard full versions of Either way, and Second one to Know, and he’s been playing Broken Halo at his live shows lately)
(also you can always play whatever songs you want at a live show, so point of singles is mostly radio).
Robert St
April 7, 2017 @ 12:08 pm
I thought “Hard Living” was possibly the most radio-friendly of the newer songs he has been performing at recent shows. I was surprised it didn’t even make the album.
Razor X
April 7, 2017 @ 12:02 pm
There was nothing stopping radio from playing “Tennessee Whiskey” if it wanted to. Over the years, many album cuts have charted due to unsolicited airplay. “Tennessee Whiskey” didn’t need radio to get to #1.
Chad Perry
April 8, 2017 @ 8:43 am
The radio takes in plenty of slow songs. Girl Crush, anyone? Burning House? Diamond Rings & Old Barstools?
Robert St
April 7, 2017 @ 9:07 am
I think “Either Way” was supposed to be on a Lee Ann Womack album in 2006 that was not released ( “Resurrecting Country Music” link on YouTube) , before she did the 2008 album version that was released.
hoptowntiger94
April 7, 2017 @ 9:33 am
I have mixed feelings about this song even being on the new album that I’ve expressed on the last post, but as a lead single it really tempers the excitement surrounding the release. I feel I’ll listen to Stapleton’s version of Either Way a few times, then revert back to Womack’s – like I did with Whiskey and You on Traveller.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 7, 2017 @ 11:58 am
Do you revert to the McGraw version or the Eady version?
Aaron Lewis has a solid cover, too.
hoptowntiger94
April 7, 2017 @ 1:14 pm
Eady – I’m not a savage!
Ken Morton, Jr.
April 7, 2017 @ 1:59 pm
As does Julie Roberts.
Robert St
April 7, 2017 @ 2:19 pm
As does a group called Chapter 11 (and Cody Jinks has a cameo in their video).
hoptowntiger94
April 7, 2017 @ 6:56 pm
Wow! That video is so bad! It’s like a local TV PSA.
Is Jinks is guy buying liquor?
hoptowntiger94
April 7, 2017 @ 6:58 pm
I forgot about her version. But, I think I only listened to Alive maybe a half dozen times.
CountryCharm
April 7, 2017 @ 10:28 am
Either Way is fantastic from the snippets I’ve listened to. It’s going to bomb on country radio but it’s so damn good it should do well on iTunes at least.
WD
April 7, 2017 @ 10:33 am
Who gives a crap what the lead single is? I mean seriously. Its the album that matters and May 5th can’t get here fast enough. Daniel said it best, Stapleton does not need radio.
Trigger
April 7, 2017 @ 10:47 am
Daniel also said radio needs Chris. A good point, and the answer to why all of this matters, and greatly.
seak05
April 7, 2017 @ 11:10 am
Radio needs to figure out a business model for a changing world, I don’t think Chris is going to save country radio. (and the two top selling “country” songs right now are pop, a large appetite exists for that type of music among country fans too)
CountryCharm
April 7, 2017 @ 3:15 pm
Agreed. Radio plays what the majority of people want to listen to and that’s pop country. Radio is still a business after all.
WD
April 7, 2017 @ 11:11 am
But I don’t need radio. That’s why I don’t give a crap.
Cool Lester Smooth
April 7, 2017 @ 11:59 am
Lots of artists need radio, though, which is why you should give a crap about who’s determining its musical direction.
Razor X
April 7, 2017 @ 11:58 am
Does radio know it needs Chris? Last time I checked they weren’t giving him much airplay.
Corncaster
April 7, 2017 @ 12:00 pm
“I won’t love you either way.” Ok, then. Guess that settles it. Hope kids aren’t involved. It’s a mean song, but it’s a great vehicle for Chris’s voice.
Derek Sullivan
April 7, 2017 @ 12:37 pm
You release a good song. When artist try to predict what radio wants, it oftentimes backfires. That’s why there has been so many bad lead singles lately.
Pick a great song and release it.
Gina
April 7, 2017 @ 1:12 pm
I may be wrong, but the feedback I’m getting from the ACMs, and not just from the smart people here, is that it was generally so bad that we may have hit a tipping point for how bad mainstream country has to get before people demand better. Maybe country Radio will figure this out and actually start playing Chris at least. The rest of the Outlaws have less of a chance for now, if ever, but just maybe country Radio will figure out just how much they need Stapleton before it’s too late. Of course, it’s much bigger than just him, but it needs to start with him. I’m an optimist.
Joe Monahan
April 7, 2017 @ 6:25 pm
Interesting how SCM releases a scathing article detailing the lack of pre-release buildup and suddenly we get track listings, pre-order info and a lead single announced. Seems someone has been shamed into doing their job.
JB
April 8, 2017 @ 10:10 am
Many times artists have absolutely no say in which songs are released as singles or the order in which they’re released. Especially newer artists. I’m not saying that’s the case here but that’s how the music business has always rolled.
Wayfast
April 9, 2017 @ 10:22 am
Lee Ann Womack’s version is beautiful, I was nervous about this as a single but found Chris singing it on YouTube and got goosebumps. It’s going to be so good radio can’t ignore it
Dane
April 9, 2017 @ 8:51 pm
Either Way will be a new song to 99% of his audience. LeAnn’s song was 8-9 years ago. More importantly, it’s just a stunning song. I think the point of a song this stark is that it’ll sound like NOTHING ELSE on the stations who do play it. And as far as needing Chris, radio will wanna desperately be involved in their local Stapleton concert for ticket giveaways etc. Let’s see.
Ray
April 12, 2017 @ 8:17 am
One of my favorite Willie Nelson songs he released was “The Last Things I Needed the First Thing This Morning.” Looking forward to hearing Chris’ version.
Mark
April 13, 2017 @ 5:56 am
Read a good article somewhere (Wide Open Country maybe). Their position on the song was that its starkness, compared to what it will be played between, will highlight his Chris more than something upbeat/big chorus/singalong.
Good perspecitve, and an effective counter to the argument that it is not radio friendly, he should’ve chosen Hard Living or Second One to Know etc. Question comes down to whether radio will actually play it.
Matthew Rutledge
April 13, 2017 @ 8:34 pm
Broken Halos now available!
Trigger
April 13, 2017 @ 9:07 pm
Good eye.