What Makes You Country

What Makes You Country
What Makes You Country
Studio album by Luke Bryan
Released	December 8, 2017
Studio	Sound Stage Studios, Starstruck Studios and The Office (Nashville, Tennessee);
Genre	Country
Length	51:32
Label	Capitol Records Nashville
Producer	Jeff Stevens; Jody Stevens;
Luke Bryan chronology
Singles from What Makes You Country
	"Light It Up"; Released: August 23, 2017; "Most People Are Good"; Released: January 8, 2018; "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset"; Released: May 29, 2018; "What Makes You Country"; Released: October 22, 2018;

What Makes You Country is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Luke Bryan. It was released on December 8, 2017 by Capitol Records Nashville. The album includes the singles "Light It Up", "Most People Are Good", "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset", and the title track.

Critical reception

The Guardian reviewer Alexis Petridis rated the album 3 out of 5 stars, stating that "you'd have a hard time arguing that What Makes You Country doesn't feature some pretty bulletproof songwriting. If it sounds like mainstream pop in a pickup truck, that's partly because the melodies and structure are up to the standard of the best stuff pumped out by Swedish hit manufacturers."^[2] A mixed-to-positive review came from Variety writer Chris Willman, who wrote that the album "suggests that Bryan has zero interest in fixing what ain't broke. It's a 15-song guidebook to What Makes Him Successful, filled with good-time drinking, better-time sex, a little bit of family, and no particular sadness that can't be cured as soon as a certain ex-girlfriend texts back."^[3]

Commercial performance

What Makes You Country debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 108,000 album-equivalent units, of which 99,000 were pure album sales in its first week, giving Bryan his fourth US number-one album.^[4] On March 6, 2019, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States.^[5] As of April 2019, the album has sold 363,700 copies in the United States.^[6]

In Australia, the album entered at number six on the ARIA Albums Chart, becoming his second to reach the top 10 there after Kill the Lights (2015).^[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"What Makes You Country"	Luke Bryan Dallas Davidson Ashley Gorley	3:55
2.	"Out of Nowhere Girl"	Bryan Davidson Gorley	3:38
3.	"Light It Up"	Bryan Brad Tursi	2:57
4.	"Most People Are Good"	David Frasier Ed Hill Josh Kear	3:41
5.	"Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset"	Zach Crowell Ryan Hurd Chase McGill	3:36
6.	"Bad Lovers"	Davidson Kyle Fishman Justin Wilson	3:36
7.	"Drinking Again"	David Lee Murphy Brad Warren Brett Warren	3:45
8.	"Land of a Million Songs"	Bryan Jeff Stevens Jody Stevens	3:31
9.	"Like You Say You Do"	Bryan Gorley Michael Carter	3:40
10.	"Hooked on It"	Bryan Davidson Murphy	3:17
11.	"She's a Hot One"	Carter McGill	2:55
12.	"Hungover in a Hotel Room"	Rodney Clawson Kear Chris Tompkins	3:54
13.	"Pick It Up"	Bryan Clawson Matt Dragstrem	2:59
14.	"Driving This Thing"	Rhett Akins Ben Hayslip Jody Stevens	2:56
15.	"Win Life"	Clawson Ross Copperman Nicolle Galyon	3:12
Total length:			51:32

Vinyl Bonus Track^[8]
No.	Title	Length
16.	"I Can't Even"	2:48

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic^[9]

Luke Bryan – lead vocals
Mike Rojas – keyboards, acoustic piano, Rhodes electric piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond B3 organ, synthesizers, Mellotron
Jody Stevens – programming, electric guitars
J.T. Corenflos – electric guitars
Kenny Greenberg – electric guitars, slide guitar
Danny Rader – acoustic guitars, banjo, bouzouki, resonator guitar, ganjo, mandolin, tres
Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass
Greg Morrow – drums, percussion
Perry Coleman – backing vocals
Emily Weisband – backing vocals

Production

Brian Wright – A&R
Jeff Stevens – producer
Jody Stevens – producer
Derek Bason – recording, mixing
Chris Small – recording assistant, mix assistant
Adam Ayan – mastering at Gateway Mastering & DVD (Portland, Maine)
Scott Johnson – production assistant
Karen Naff – art direction
Aaron Strickland – design
Jim Wright – photography
Lee Moore – wardrobe stylist
Paula Turner – grooming
Kerri Edwards with KPentertainment and Red Light Management – management

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[10]	6
Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[11]	5
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)^[12]	2
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[13]	68
US Billboard 200^[14]	1
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[15]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)	Position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)^[16]	6
US Billboard 200^[17]	54
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[18]	6

Chart (2019)	Position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)^[19]	22
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[20]	36

Chart (2020)	Position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)^[21]	31

Chart (2021)	Position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)^[22]	47

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[23]	Gold	40,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[5]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". AllAccess. May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
^ "Luke Bryan: What Makes You Country review – pop in a pickup truck". The Guardian. December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
^ Willman, Chris. "Album Review: Luke Bryan's 'What Makes You Country'". Variety. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
^ Caulfield, Keith (December 18, 2017). "Luke Bryan Lands Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'What Makes You Country'". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "American album certifications – Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
^ Bjorke, Matt (April 15, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: April 15, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
^ Ryan, Gavin (December 16, 2017). "Australian Charts: Ed Sheeran 'Divide' Is No 1 Again". Noise11. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
^ "Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country (2018, Vinyl)". Discogs.
^ "Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
^ "Luke Bryan Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
^ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
^ "Luke Bryan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
^ "Luke Bryan Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
^ "2019 Annual ARIA Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
^ "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
^ "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country". Music Canada. Retrieved September 9, 2023.

[1] "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". AllAccess. May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2018.

[2] "Luke Bryan: What Makes You Country review – pop in a pickup truck". The Guardian. December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.

[3] Willman, Chris. "Album Review: Luke Bryan's 'What Makes You Country'". Variety. Retrieved December 10, 2017.

[4] Caulfield, Keith (December 18, 2017). "Luke Bryan Lands Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'What Makes You Country'". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.

[RIAA-5] "American album certifications – Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 2, 2023.

[6] Bjorke, Matt (April 15, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: April 15, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

[7] Ryan, Gavin (December 16, 2017). "Australian Charts: Ed Sheeran 'Divide' Is No 1 Again". Noise11. Retrieved December 20, 2017.

[8] "Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country (2018, Vinyl)". Discogs.

[9] "Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 10, 2020.

[ac_Australia_Luke_Bryan-10] "Australiancharts.com – Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 16, 2017.

[ac_BillboardCanada_Luke_Bryan-11] "Luke Bryan Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.

[12] "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.

[ac_Switzerland_Luke_Bryan-13] "Swisscharts.com – Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 20, 2017.

[ac_Billboard200_Luke_Bryan-14] "Luke Bryan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.

[ac_BillboardCountry_Luke_Bryan-15] "Luke Bryan Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.

[16] "2019 Annual ARIA Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2019.

[17] "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

[18] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2020.

[19] "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[20] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2020.

[21] "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[22] "ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[CanadaLuke_BryanWhat_Makes_You_CountryalbumCertRef-23] "Canadian album certifications – Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country". Music Canada. Retrieved September 9, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

Luke Bryan
Discography
Studio albums	I'll Stay Me Doin' My Thing Tailgates & Tanlines Crash My Party Kill the Lights Born Here Live Here Die Here Mind of a Country Boy
Compilations	Spring Break...Here to Party
Extended plays	Spring Break 3...It's a Shore Thing Spring Break 4...Suntan City Spring Break 6...Like We Ain't Ever Spring Break...Checkin' Out Farm Tour... Here's to the Farmer
Singles	"All My Friends Say" "We Rode in Trucks" "Country Man" "Do I" "Rain Is a Good Thing" "Someone Else Calling You Baby" "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" "I Don't Want This Night to End" "Drunk on You" "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" "Crash My Party" "That's My Kind of Night" "Drink a Beer" "Play It Again" "Roller Coaster" "I See You" "Kick the Dust Up" "Strip It Down" "Home Alone Tonight" "Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day" "Move" "Fast" "Light It Up" "Most People Are Good" "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset" "What Makes You Country" "Knockin' Boots" "What She Wants Tonight" "One Margarita" "Down to One" "Waves" "Up" "Country On" "But I Got a Beer in My Hand" "Love You, Miss You, Mean It"
Guest singles	"The Only Way I Know" "This Is How We Roll" "Straight to Hell" "Buy Dirt" "Forever Country"
Other songs	"Good Directions" "Buzzkill" "Suntan City" "Games"
Concert tours	Farm Tour (2010–) Dirt Road Diaries Tour (2013) That's My Kind of Night Tour (2014–15) Kick the Dust Up Tour (2015) Kill the Lights Tour (2016–17) Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day Tour (2017) What Makes You Country Tour (2018)