For Recreational Use Only

For Recreational Use Only
Studio album by
Blake Shelton
ReleasedMay 9, 2025 (2025-05-09)
Recorded2024–2025
GenreCountry
Length39:56
LabelWheelhouse Records
ProducerScott Hendricks
Blake Shelton chronology
Body Language
(2021) 		For Recreational Use Only
(2025)
Singles from For Recreational Use Only
  1. "Texas"
    Released: November 15, 2024
  2. "Stay Country or Die Tryin'"
    Released: May 19, 2025

For Recreational Use Only is the thirteenth studio album by American country singer Blake Shelton. It was released on May 9, 2025, through Wheelhouse Records.

Background

Blake Shelton started writing the album's songs after the success of "Pour Me a Drink", his collaboration with Post Malone; according to Shelton, the success of the collaboration "lit a fire under" Shelton.[1] The album was announced on March 14, 2025.[2]

Promotion

"Texas" was released as the album's lead single on November 15, 2024.[3] It peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] "Let Him in Anyway" and "Stay Country or Die Tryin'" were released as promotional singles ahead of the album.[5][6] According to American Songwriter, Gwen Stefani loves the former song.[7] "Stay Country or Die Tryin'" was released as the album's second single to country radio on May 19, 2025.[8] The music video for "Stay Country or Dir Tryin'" uses AI as a tribute to country life and land.[9] On May 8, "Hangin' On" was released as a promotional single.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Entertainment Focus[12]
Holler[13]

The American newspaper The Washington Post stated that it is a "fitting declaration for both his latest project and the current state of his career"[14]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Stay Country or Die Tryin'"
3:41
2."Texas"
  • Johnny Clawson
  • Josh Dorr
  • Lalo Guzman
  • Kyle Sturrock
2:49
3."Hangin' On" (featuring Gwen Stefani)
3:26
4."Strangers"
3:21
5."Let Him in Anyway"
  • Zach Abend
  • Kyle Clark
  • Hardy
  • Carson Wallace
3:17
6."Heaven Sweet Home" (featuring Craig Morgan)
3:41
7."Life's Been Coming Too Fast"
3:10
8."Don't Mississippi"
3:07
9."All of My Love"
3:39
10."Cold Can"
3:06
11."The Keys"
  • Brock Berryhill
  • Jay Brunswick
  • Pinson
2:51
12."Years" (featuring John Anderson)
3:48

Personnel

Musicians

  • Blake Shelton – lead vocals
  • Nir Z – drums (all tracks), tambourine (tracks 1, 8, 9), shaker (5), programming (6, 11), congas (9)
  • Troy Lancaster – electric guitar
  • Tom Bukovac – electric guitar (tracks 1–5, 7–10)
  • Gordon Mote – piano (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12), Hammond B3 organ (1, 5–9), electric piano (2, 4, 7, 9), organ (2), synthesizer (4, 12); celeste piano, strings (12)
  • Sam Bergeson – electric guitar, programming (tracks 1–3, 5, 7–10); slide guitar (1, 5, 9), additional guitar (1), synthesizer (2, 3, 7, 9), backing vocals (2, 7), acoustic guitar (2, 9), bass (3); keyboards, percussion (7); lap steel guitar (10)
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (tracks 1–3, 5, 7–10)
  • Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 3–5, 8–10), mandolin (1, 9), guitar (8)
  • Perry Coleman – backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 10, 11)
  • Justin Niebank – programming (tracks 1, 4–6, 8, 9, 11, 12)
  • Aubrey Haynie – fiddle (tracks 1, 8)
  • Drew Parker – backing vocals (track 1)
  • Ilya Toshinskiy – acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 6, 7, 11)
  • Pat Bergeson – electric guitar, guitar (track 2)
  • Gwen Stefani – lead vocals (track 3)
  • Mark Hill – bass (tracks 4, 6, 11)
  • Paul Franklin – steel guitar (tracks 4, 6, 11)
  • Blair Masters – synthesizer (tracks 6, 11), steel guitar (6), piano (11)
  • Adam Shoenfeld – electric guitar (tracks 6, 11)
  • Kara Britz – backing vocals (tracks 6, 12)
  • Craig Morgan – lead vocals (track 6)
  • Carla Harris – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Chuck Aly – backing vocals (track 7)
  • James Furlough – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Keely Hendricks – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Kenny Sweeney – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Kevin Harris – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Mason Rudolph – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Remy Garrison – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Shannon Finnegan – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Teri Hendricks – backing vocals (track 7)
  • The Never Beens – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Tim Jenkins – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Torey Harding – backing vocals (track 7)
  • William Clay – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Colton Swon – backing vocals (track 9)
  • Zach Swon – backing vocals (track 9)
  • Larry Franklin – fiddle (track 10)
  • Seth Taylor – acoustic guitar (track 12)
  • Blair Whitlow – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Brandon Winbush – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Robert Bailey – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Vicki Hampton – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Wendy Moten – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Mike Brignardello – bass (track 12)
  • John Anderson – lead vocals (track 12)
  • Russ Pahl – steel guitar (track 12)

Technical

  • Scott Hendricks – production, engineering
  • Andrew Mendelson – mastering
  • Justin Niebank – mixing (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 9, 11, 12), engineering (all tracks)
  • Jeff Juliano – mixing (track 3)
  • Matt McClure – mixing (tracks 7, 10)
  • Brian David Willis – engineering (tracks 1–4, 6, 7, 9–12), editing (1, 3–5, 7, 9, 10)
  • Sam Bergeson – engineering (tracks 1–5, 7–10), additional mixing (1)
  • Sam Ellis – engineering (track 1)
  • Joey Stanca – engineering (track 2)
  • Sean Badum – engineering (tracks 6, 11), engineering assistance (4)
  • Clarke Schleicher – engineering (tracks 6, 11)
  • Kelsey Porter – engineering (tracks 6, 11)
  • Zach Swon – engineering (track 9)
  • Terry Watson – engineering (track 12), engineering assistance (4)
  • Jacob Spitzer – engineering (track 12)
  • Drew Bollman – additional mixing (tracks 2–12)
  • Shannon Finnegan – production assistance (track 2)
  • Nate Juliano – mixing assistance (track 3)
  • Caroline Whitaker – engineering assistance (track 4)

Charts

Chart performance for For Recreational Use Only
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[15] 33
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[16] 49
UK Country Albums (OCC)[17] 2
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[18] 38
US Billboard 200[19] 46
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20] 8
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[21] 8

References

  1. ^ "Blake Shelton Was Burnt Out After The Voice. Then This Unexpected Celebrity 'Lit a Fire Under' Him (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  2. ^ Daykin, James (March 14, 2025). "Blake Shelton announces new album 'For Recreational Use Only'". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Blake Shelton Prepping 'Texas' Single: 'It Feels Really Important To Me'". billboard.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  4. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  5. ^ Phelan, Chris (April 7, 2025). "Blake Shelton's New Project Is Unlike Anything He's Done: "I Absolutely Was Honored"". NBC. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  6. ^ Wong, Debby. "Blake Shelton shares 'Stay Country or Die Tryin' from new album". KFDI.com. Country 101.3 KFDI. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  7. ^ Watts, Cindy (March 21, 2025). "Blake Shelton's Deeply Emotional New Song Triggers Label Executive's Heart Attack (Exclusive)". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  8. ^ "Country Aircheck Weekly May 5, 2025, Issue 959" (PDF). Country Aircheck. May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  9. ^ "Shelton will "Stay Country or Die Tryin'"". www.countrystandardtime.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  10. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. ""For Recreational Use Only" Review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  11. ^ Daykin, James. "Review: Blake Shelton 'For Recreational Use Only' New Album". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  12. ^ Patton, Alli. "Blake Shelton - For Recreational Use Only". Holler Country. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Sherman, Maria (May 9, 2025). "Music Review: Blake Shelton returns to his roots with 'For Recreational Use Only'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  14. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 19, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  16. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  17. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  18. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  19. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  20. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
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