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Tougher
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
| Tougher | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 8, 2016 | |||
| Genre | Country[1] | |||
| Label | Lone Chief | |||
| Producer | Frank Foster | |||
| Lainey Wilson chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Tougher | ||||
| ||||
Tougher is the second studio album by American country singer Lainey Wilson. It was released on April 8, 2016, via Lone Chief Records and contained 10 tracks. It was the second record released in Wilson's career and her first to gain traction on the American country albums chart. The project's title track was released as the lead single from the album in 2015.
Background and content
[edit]Lainey Wilson would later reach breakthrough success with 2020's "Things a Man Oughta Know". Prior to that, Wilson had been performing and recording as a country artist in Nashville, Tennessee for several years. One of the projects she released prior to 2020 was Tougher.[2] The album was recorded between 2015 and 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. It contained a total of ten tracks[3] and was produced by Frank Foster.[4] The album's title track describes the loss of a friend, a grandfather and Wilson's other experiences during childhood.[5] In an interview with Songwriter Magazine, Wilson reflected on the content of Tougher: "...It’s so cool to go back and listen to the music that I put out years ago. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m seeing that growth in my writing. But more importantly, just me as a human, the more life you live, the better songs you write."[6]
Release and chart performance
[edit]Tougher was preceded by the release of its title track. The song was issued as the lead single off the project in 2015.[7] The album itself was released on April 8, 2016, via the Lone Chief label. It was the second full-length studio album issued in Wilson's music career. It was offered as both a compact disc[3] and as a digital release to platforms which included Apple Music.[8] The album received enough attention where it charted the Billboard Top Country Albums survey. Spending one week on the chart, Tougher peaked at number 44 following its release in April 2021.[9]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Gravel" |
| 4:22 |
| 2. | "Caught on Fire" |
| 3:06 |
| 3. | "Indian Giver" |
| 3:21 |
| 4. | "I Make Myself" |
| 4:34 |
| 5. | "Two Sides of Bad" |
| 2:50 |
| 6. | "One Night Stand" |
| 3:39 |
| 7. | "Let Me Be Your Jesus" |
| 3:55 |
| 8. | "Bright Side" |
| 3:13 |
| 9. | "Tougher" |
| 3:39 |
| 10. | "Where My House Stood" (featuring Frank Foster) |
| 3:53 |
| Total length: | 36:32 | ||
Chart performance
[edit]| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[10] | 44 |
Release history
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Tougher: Lainey Wilson". AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "Lainey Wilson Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Wilson, Lainey (April 8, 2016). "Tougher (CD Liner Notes and Album Information)". Lone Chief Records. 5638676569.
- ^ "Country Singer Lainey Wilson Releasing New Album Today". My Arklamiss. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ Dukes, Billy. "#LetTheGirlsPlay: Lainey Wilson's Perfectly Abnormal Journey to Nashville". Taste of Country. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Kawashima, Dale (June 14, 2021). "Rising Country Artist Lainey Wilson Talks About Her Debut Hit "Things A Man Oughta Know" And Her Album, Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ ""Tougher" -- Single". Spotify. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Tougher by Lainey Wilson". Apple Music. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ "Lainey Wilson chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
Tougher
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and development
Conception and inspiration
Following the release of her self-titled debut album in 2014 on Cupit Records, Lainey Wilson released her second studio album, Tougher, in 2016 on Lone Chief Records.[9] The conception of Tougher was deeply influenced by personal hardships, including the loss of a close childhood friend and the death of her grandfather, which shaped the title track as a poignant anthem of resilience. These events, rooted in Wilson's upbringing in small-town Baskin, Louisiana, informed the album's overarching theme of enduring toughness amid life's challenges, with the lyrics of "Tougher" directly referencing these formative losses and her childhood reflections.[10] Wilson's songwriting for the album centered on themes of personal growth, bridging her rural Louisiana heritage with her ambitions in Nashville, where she had relocated years earlier to pursue music. She collaborated closely with producer Frank Foster, who helmed the project and contributed to a track, prioritizing raw, authentic country narratives that captured her lived authenticity without commercial compromise.[11][12]Recording and production
The album Tougher was produced by Frank Foster, who played a key role in selecting tracks and arranging instrumentation to blend traditional country elements with modern production touches.[12] Recording took place in Nashville, Tennessee.[13]Musical content
Style and composition
Tougher exemplifies contemporary country music, blending core genre conventions with influences from Americana and Southern rock to create a sound that feels both traditional and energetic. The album balances uptempo, driving tracks like the opening "Gravel," described as rocking country, with more introspective ballads that highlight Wilson's vocal range and emotional delivery.[14][8] Central to the album's sonic identity is its instrumentation, which draws on classic country staples including acoustic and electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, fiddle, and drums. This setup fosters a raw, live-band production style that prioritizes organic textures and immediacy, evoking the unpolished energy of a roadhouse performance.[3] Compositionally, the tracks adhere to standard verse-chorus structures typical of the genre, allowing for straightforward storytelling through melody and rhythm. With runtimes averaging 3 to 4 minutes per song across its 10 tracks, the album maintains a concise pace, clocking in at a total length of 36:32. A notable highlight is the title track "Tougher," which builds to an anthemic climax through layered vocal harmonies, amplifying its uplifting momentum.[15][5] These musical choices underscore the album's exploration of resilience, tying sonic strength to its thematic core.[16]Lyrics and themes
The lyrics across Tougher center on resilience and toughness amid adversity, drawing from Lainey Wilson's rural upbringing in the small town of Baskin, Louisiana, where she grew up on a farm immersed in traditional country values and family traditions.[17][18] These themes are informed by personal losses, such as the passing of loved ones and relational heartbreaks, which mirror the challenges of her early life and nascent music career.[16][19] The title track "Tougher" stands out as an empowerment anthem, recounting specific hardships like childhood friendships ending due to relocation, romantic betrayal, and familial death, while affirming the narrator's growing inner fortitude with lines like "Life is tough, but this girl's tougher."[16][19] Similarly, "Where My House Stood" (featuring Frank Foster) explores home and heritage through vivid imagery of a rural family dwelling—concrete steps, a wraparound porch, and an oak tree tire swing—evoking the enduring lessons of politeness, faith, and emotional steadiness passed down from her Southern roots.[20] Songwriting credits highlight Wilson's role as the primary writer on most tracks, often co-writing with Frank Foster and collaborators like Kyndon Oakes, fostering an authentic, confessional tone that draws directly from her lived experiences.[2][16] This approach marks an evolution from her 2014 self-titled debut, presenting a more introspective and mature perspective that intertwines heartbreak, personal strength, and Southern identity in a fuller narrative arc.[21][7]Release and promotion
Singles
The lead single from Tougher, titled "Tougher", was released on May 15, 2015, nearly a year prior to the album's full launch, and was made available as a digital download through platforms like iTunes and Spotify, alongside radio promotion targeting country audiences.[22] The track was written by Lainey Wilson and Forest Glen Whitehead, reflecting Wilson's early songwriting style rooted in personal resilience themes. Promoted primarily through independent country radio stations and emerging digital streaming services, "Tougher" generated initial buzz in regional markets and helped to build anticipation for the album.[23] This early momentum contributed to Tougher's debut at number 44 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart upon its 2016 release.[7] No additional tracks from the album were officially promoted as singles.Marketing and commercial rollout
Tougher was released on April 8, 2016, through the independent label Lone Chief Records, available in both CD and digital formats.[1][3] The album's initial marketing efforts focused on independent country music outlets, utilizing social media teasers to engage fans, such as a contest inviting supporters to appear in the title track's music video.[24] Regional radio tours targeted Southern markets, including promotional performances in Louisiana venues like Baton Rouge's Texas Club and Ruston’s Revelry of Ruston on the release date.[25] Lacking major label support, the rollout relied heavily on Lainey Wilson's established grassroots fanbase cultivated from her 2014 self-titled debut album, emphasizing direct artist-fan connections through live shows and online presence.[26] Physical distribution was limited to direct sales via the artist's website and select retailers, while digital availability was prioritized on platforms including iTunes, Amazon MP3, Google Play, and CD Baby.[27]Commercial performance
Chart positions
Tougher marked Lainey Wilson's first entry on a major music chart, debuting and peaking at number 44 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in April 2016.[7] This position reflected the album's initial traction within the country genre, driven in part by the promotional release of its title track as a single earlier that year. Compared to her self-titled debut album from 2014, which failed to register on any Billboard charts, Tougher's performance demonstrated modest growth in visibility for the emerging artist.[28] The album did not appear on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart. Beyond the Top Country Albums chart, Tougher saw limited presence on other national rankings, with no notable entries on mainstream airplay or digital sales lists.Sales and certifications
Upon its release in 2016, Tougher achieved modest initial sales, largely driven by digital downloads. The album did not attain any RIAA certifications owing to its limited commercial volume, although it appeared in reports tracking indie country releases. Post-2020, Tougher has seen increased streaming activity on platforms such as Spotify, with the title track accumulating over 4 million streams as of November 2025, correlated with Wilson's broader career trajectory.[29]Reception and legacy
Critical reviews
Upon its 2016 release as an independent album, Tougher received generally positive reviews from indie country outlets, with AllMusic awarding it 3.5 out of 5 stars for its raw authenticity and Lainey Wilson's powerful vocals.[1] AllMusic specifically highlighted the title track "Tougher" as a standout for its emotional depth, capturing themes of resilience that resonated with listeners.[1] Due to its independent status and limited promotional reach, professional reviews were sparse.Cultural impact and retrospective view
Tougher, released independently through Lone Chief Records in 2016, initially remained obscure outside niche country circles, achieving only modest chart placement at number 44 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[9] Over time, however, the album developed a cult following among country purists drawn to its unpolished, traditional sound, with tracks like "Gravel" celebrated as exemplary deep cuts that capture Wilson's early renegade spirit and rocking country edge.[8] By 2025, Tougher has been reevaluated as a cornerstone of Lainey Wilson's ascent to stardom, especially in the wake of her 2022 album Bell Bottom Country's commercial breakthrough and her 2024 Grammy win for Best Country Album.[30] Songs from the record now appear in curated rediscovery playlists, boosting their accessibility to broader audiences and underscoring the album's role in establishing her distinctive voice prior to major-label success.[31] The album symbolizes the grit of independent country music in the pre-mainstream phase of Wilson's career, embodying a raw authenticity that foreshadowed her later triumphs, as noted in accounts of her artistic evolution.[30] While it earned no major awards, Tougher is routinely referenced in biographical narratives as a key early milestone in her journey from Louisiana roots to Nashville prominence.[9][32] Post-Grammy, fan interest in Tougher surged, evidenced by the title track surpassing 4 million Spotify streams and its integration into retrospective discussions of her catalog.[29] This renewed appreciation aligns with the Country Music Hall of Fame's 2025 exhibition "Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails," which highlights her independent-era works like Tougher as essential to her enduring legacy.[33]Track listing and credits
Track listing
The standard edition of Tougher features ten tracks with a total runtime of 36:32 and no deluxe variants.[15][34]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Duration | Featured artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Gravel" | Lainey Wilson, Brian Bayley | 4:22 | |
| 2 | "Caught on Fire" | Lainey Wilson, Greg Friia | 3:06 | |
| 3 | "Indian Giver" | Lainey Wilson, Greg Friia | 3:21 | |
| 4 | "I Make Myself" | Lainey Wilson, Danny Myrick | 4:34 | |
| 5 | "Two Sides of Bad" | Lainey Wilson, Trannie Stevens | 2:50 | |
| 6 | "One Night Stand" | Lainey Wilson, Paul Sikes | 3:39 | |
| 7 | "Let Me Be Your Jesus" | Lainey Wilson, Kelli Johnson | 3:55 | |
| 8 | "Bright Side" | Lainey Wilson, Evan Thompson | 3:13 | |
| 9 | "Tougher" | Lainey Wilson, Forest Glen Whitehead | 3:39 | |
| 10 | "Where My House Stood" | Lainey Wilson, Frank Foster | 3:53 | Frank Foster |