Sturgill Simpson’s “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” Debuts at #1 in Country
This story has been updated.
Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth is officially the #1 record in country music, and is also the highest-charting debut of the week at #3 on the all genre Billboard 200 chart. It also charted #1 on Billboard‘s Rock Albums and Folks Albums charts. A Sailor’s Guide sold a total of 55,000 album units, including 52,000 in pure album sales to take the top spot in country. The only thing keeping Sturgill from the top of the Billboard 200 were two surging titles from Price that sold like crazy in the hours after the superstar’s death. The Very Best of Prince sold a total of 179,000 units, and Purple Rain sold 69,000 on the final day of the chart report to take the #1 and #2 spots.
The distinction also marks Sturgill Simpson’s first record to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200. His previous record, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music came in at #59, and #8 on the Country Album chart. A Sailor’s Guide also debuts at #1 on Billboard’s new Vinyl Albums chart, selling over 9,400 vinyl copies.
Sturgill Simpson is just the artist with virtually no mainstream radio play to crest the Country Albums chart. Blackberry Smoke, Aaron Watson, and Jason Isbell have done it previously, along with a host of country legends who haven’t heard their songs on the radio in years. Simpson’s latest record bests on of his best friend’s releases, Jason Isbell’s Southeastern, which hit #1 with about 45,000 records sold in the first week.
Though we knew late last week there was a good bet Sturgill Simpson would sell through well, the questioned remained if Billboard‘s editorial staff would even consider A Sailor’s Guide to Earth for the country charts after Texas country band Green River Ordinance was withheld from the chart earlier this year under circumspect reasoning. A Sailor’s Guide does have some country moments, but is more of a rock and soul album. But Sturgill’s history with the genre did him well, and now he has to be considered a strong contender for Grammy nominations later in 2016.
Sturgill Simpson heads out on tour in May.
April 25, 2016 @ 8:42 am
YES!!!!!!!!!! I am glad Sturgill Simpson cd debut at #1! Hip hip horray!!!!!!! (maybe not the correct spelling) but I am glad he is at the top of the country music album chart!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 25, 2016 @ 8:47 am
I’m thrilled for Sturgill, but I have to admit I didn’t expect this album to sell so well. It’s definitely an experience to listen to but not something I’ll listen to over and over again. I’m just glad he was able to make the record he wanted to make and is having success with it. Can’t wait to see him live again and also look forward to his next effort down the line.
April 25, 2016 @ 8:47 am
I don’t listen much, but is mainstream country radio still ignoring Sturgill? I mean, they were forced to play Stapleton, but what about Sturgill?
April 25, 2016 @ 8:59 am
Mainstream radio won’t even sniff this record, and no single will be released to radio. All Sturgill had to do was put out a decent track that country radio could warm up to, and it possibly could have gone into the Top 40, maybe even better with everyone searching for the next Stapleton. But with all the talk of how not country it was going in, there’s no chance with this record to be recognized by the mainstream, unless some extreme event happens that shoots Sturgill to superstardom. I also think Sturgill is fine with that. There’s no strategy or plan to country mainstream fans with this record. If it happens, it will happen by accident, like it did for Stapleton.
April 25, 2016 @ 9:02 am
That’s too bad, because if there is any artist mainstream country listeners need to check out, it’s Sutrgill.
April 25, 2016 @ 9:22 am
It is at least gaining some traction on XM on the rock channels. I have heard In Bloom on The Spectrum a few times which was a pleasant surprise.
April 25, 2016 @ 9:35 am
Yes, I actually heard Brace For Impact on a local rock station a few days ago. I could hardly believe it.
April 25, 2016 @ 9:34 am
There aren’t any hits on this record. Stapleton’s Traveller is full of them.
April 25, 2016 @ 11:22 pm
Sea Stories is a great song. Hits are relative to the individual listener, in my mind it’s a hit.
April 26, 2016 @ 6:13 am
I just heard Sea Stories on one of my local country radio stations, and then the morning show host recommended that everyone needs to own all three Sturgill albums. I’m still in shock.
April 26, 2016 @ 8:59 am
Good songs are relative to the individual listener. “Hits” are not. Sea Stories is a great song, but it won’t be a hit.
April 26, 2016 @ 9:55 am
i know what you’re saying but who cares if it’s a radio hit or not? Plus Sturgill had 2 great albums out before Stapleton had anything out.
April 28, 2016 @ 2:02 pm
Id rather have an album loaded front to back with great songs than an album that attempts to pump out 3 minute 30 second “hits.” Don’t get it twisted, if Stapleton wasn’t also in bed somewhat with corporate Nashville, he wouldn’t have any “hits” either.
April 25, 2016 @ 9:35 am
Yep. Good news here. Now,let’s hope we can get a few more to the top of the charts.
April 25, 2016 @ 9:36 am
Lord be praised!!!!! Sturgill deserves this, and I’m happy to find out that his new direction is resonating with people, even in the new post-Stapleton industry.
April 25, 2016 @ 10:17 am
Funny that the least country of Sturgill’s albums gets highest on the country charts.
April 25, 2016 @ 2:58 pm
And the album with Country Music in the title wins for Americana!!
Strange but happy times indeed,
April 25, 2016 @ 10:19 am
All the power to him..
I don’t think this album is done..
There is still next week..
THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE YEAR FOR SIMPSON.
I was at the bar the other nite, played a couple of the new songs on the juke box, people surprised me with the reaction to it, and how well it was received.
April 25, 2016 @ 10:37 am
I’d expect sales to drop pretty dramatically next week. They may rise again at some point, like Metamodern did numerous time. But next week we’ll see the full brunt of sales for Prince, and the new Beyonce album. It will be interesting to see where A Sailor’s Guide lands, but I don;t expect it to challenge for #1 again. I would expect Stapleton’s sales to beat Sturgill’s next week.
April 25, 2016 @ 11:47 am
Trigger,
Curious if your opinion of the album has changed with more listens.
April 25, 2016 @ 2:33 pm
My views on this album really haven’t changed since I wrote my review. I had a chance to listen to it in advance for quite a while, and knowing what an important release it was, I pondered on it quite a bit. What has changed since my review is my perspective on what type of impact Sturgill Simpson will have on music moving forward. Like some others have said, as great as the sales have been, I think they could, or should have been significantly better. I’ll probably have more on this in the future. I’m interested to see how the album sells next week and some other things before coming to any hard conclusions.
April 25, 2016 @ 3:00 pm
Did the same, got positive reactions too. Good music is universal.
April 25, 2016 @ 11:13 am
Well deserved. Very happy for the guy.
Think he goes to CMAs in person? I say no.
April 25, 2016 @ 2:37 pm
Sturgill Simpson will have nothing to do with the CMA’s. If he had released a more countrish album in the vein of Metamodern or Stapleton’s Traveller, who knows. He may have at least garnered a New Artist of the Year nomination. Now, there would have to be some very high profile moment to put him on the radar of the mainstream, and I just don’t see that happening. And frankly, I’m not sure if I see that happening ever.
April 25, 2016 @ 3:51 pm
Agreed. I just find humorous to think if he’s ever nominated if he would even attend. I say hell no……probably why I like him so much
April 25, 2016 @ 1:24 pm
It was gone over with Green River Ordinance, Sturgill’s record charted country because the record label wanted it to, not because of some mysterious unknown reasons laid down by the chart makers.
April 25, 2016 @ 2:28 pm
I know I keep harping on the Green River Ordinance story, but their exclusion was so curious and out-of-character for Billboard, you didn’t know what might happen next. If Billboard decided not to consider “A Sailor’s Guide” country, how could Sturgill and his management complain. Billboard could pull multiple quotes from Sturgill basically saying it wasn’t a country album. Also, folks who are saying that the new album doesn’t belong on the country charts have a legitimate case, especially since Green River Ordinance was excluded, and they were out there saying their record was country.
April 25, 2016 @ 2:05 pm
This was probably the worst follow-up Sturgill could have had. ALL his momentum will be destroyed by this record. Not one song is stellar. All he needed was one actual country song to ship to radio. I hope this is not his only offering for the next 2 years. if so, he will be forgotten by the time he gets around to releasing something new. I like the album, but it does not need to be what he is peddling for the next 2 years.
SIDENOTE: Jamey Johnson owes us a fucking album already. I am tired of wearing out “That Lonesome Song” and “Guitar Song.” I want JJ to get on a Willie Nelson track (releasing albums yearly or better). I have been a fan since “They call me country” days. Please give the fans an album already.
April 25, 2016 @ 2:56 pm
I highly doubt Sturgill gives half a shit about being played on the radio. I’m sure he’d be happy with more exposure, but I really don’t think he has mainstream aspirations.
April 25, 2016 @ 7:28 pm
More exposure = money for next album!
April 25, 2016 @ 3:07 pm
Couldn’t disagree more. This album will appeal to folks who appreciate quality regardless of genre.
April 25, 2016 @ 4:17 pm
Dude. Are you an idiot? Sturgill could give a rats’ ass about country fucking radio and the real Sturgill fans probably feel the same way. Radio is for politics and sports. Welcome to the 21st Century.
Oh yeah. Jamey Johnson or any other artist doesn’t owe anyone anything.
April 25, 2016 @ 7:26 pm
Dude, do you realize that Chris Singleton has a country song on the radio? Do you realize that the door is now open for a real country artist to get a song on the radio? I love Sturgill, and I have been a fan for a long time. He may not want to be heard on the radio. However, if we want country music to be “saved” more country artist have to get sales ( radio helps that). Artist we like need money to keep making the music we like. I mean Whitey Morgan had to use a go fund to fund his fantastic Sonic Ranch album. I just want the music to keep coming man!
April 26, 2016 @ 1:29 pm
Dogit,
Does Chris Stapleton really have a country song on mainstream radio? I have yet to hear any Stapleton songs on mainstream radio.
April 26, 2016 @ 4:39 pm
“Nobody To Blame” hit the Top 10, and “Parachute” is being heavily marketed to radio as we speak.
April 26, 2016 @ 5:53 am
I have heard a couple songs from an unreleased, untitled Jamey Johnson album. It exists, and it is a solid effort. Not sure if what I heard was a finalized cut, as it was shown to me by someone who knows a guy in Jamey’s camp, a former employee I believe. I’m not sure why it wasn’t ever released, he told me the story but I can’t remember if it was label disputes or some other reason.
I’ve been trying to convince my buddy to burn me a copy for awhile, but I only see him maybe once or twice a year.
April 26, 2016 @ 12:05 pm
Dogit, I am thinking you don’t totally understand the music business. Sturgill has been signed to a major label, thus it’s their purse strings that fund recordings, the money doesn’t come out of Sturgill’s pockets per se’ (not this time at least). Atlantic Records had the foresight and vision to keep their hands off of this recording, and it’s obviously proved to be successful. Regardless if it drops down in the next few weeks or not.The charts are about units sold, which I am wanting to assume is just icing on the cake for a real artist such as Sturgill Simpson, and not to be typecast as the savior of Country music (note I am not calling him a country artist). God, what a burden that would be. So, if Sturgill’s next release is techno pop, reggae, blues, or whatever, he may certainly lose the ears of fans such as yourself, but….I would imagine he would rest easy knowing he did what he wanted to do.
April 25, 2016 @ 2:59 pm
Speaking of Green River Ordiance not considered country and Ryan Adams (Even though he not considered himself country. Is Jason Isbell s considered country? I know this is his first cd is finally charted on the country album chart. In 2000 Coyote Ugly soundtrack was a #1 country album for 12 weeks Leann Rimes has 4 songs on it is considered a country cd but on my opinion is not a country cd anyway it’s a good cd. I don’t want to get started about Hannah Montana movie soundtrack. Congratulations to Sturgill Simpson his #1 cd and I hope radio will play his song which I doubt it. Jamey Johnson needs to make another cd like what Dogit says. I have 4 of his cd’s which was great.
April 25, 2016 @ 3:58 pm
I think Jason Isbell charting #1 over Alan Jackson is where Billboard started to feel some heat about what it was classifying as country. The difference between Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson is Jason Isbell doesn’t really talk about genre. He just makes the music he makes. He’s a songwriter, and can be classified virtually anywhere. Sturgill made an effort to warn fans this would not be a straight laced country record. But it’s clearly more country than Sam Hunt, so…
April 25, 2016 @ 4:24 pm
Well done to him. I hope he takes time to reflect on an album well done.
April 25, 2016 @ 5:24 pm
Well, Sturgill took another left turn by releasing a musically idiosyncratic, highly personal work of art and managed to take it to #1 on the Country Albums chart. I think that’s a major accomplishment.
I agree that it’s interesting to contemplate what would have happened if Sturgill had released a different type of album at this point, especially on the heels of Chris Stapleton’s success, but of course, it’s all speculation. I think this release has added to Sturgill’s reputation as an absolutely uncompromising (but ultimately successful) artist who is willing to follow his muse wherever it takes him, regardless of the consequences. If Sturgill had released a new album that continued to moderately expand on Metamodern in all the ways listeners might expect, it probably would have been more successful, but it also would have been much more predictable. By taking another bold step as a recording artist, he’s also further establishing himself as someone with the capacity to surprise listeners. Yeah, I know, that probably doesn’t mean much to a lot of mainstream music listeners and bean counters, but I really do think it’s the kind of thing that tends to elevate an artist over the long haul, and it’s definitely something that sets Sturgill apart in the country music field. Anyway, just another way of looking at it.
Personally, I don’t think we’ll have to wait another two years for Sturgill’s next album (not that it’s really even time to to consider that yet.) Last quote I read from the man himself was that A Sailor’s Guide is a reflection of his state of mind from a year ago, and that by now he’s ready and raring to start working on whatever he’s gonna do next. I would find the quote, but I’ve read and heard so many articles and things about Sturgill recently, I can’t remember what’s what.
Anyway, huge congratulations to Sturgill.
April 25, 2016 @ 5:29 pm
Apparently, Sturgill also went #1 on the rock and folk charts. Just like Isbell!
http://www.nashville.com/music/2016/04/sturgill-simpson-hits-number-one/
By the way, I think “folk” is really stretching it, but whatever.
April 25, 2016 @ 6:37 pm
I’m not really as inside as a lot of you, but here’s my review (while I wait for No Depression to approve it or not for their “Community” reviews). https://graminternational.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/a-sailors-guide-to-genre-and-success/
April 25, 2016 @ 7:32 pm
Great write-up. Voiced multiple opinions that I myself was thinking. I’ll Go another step and connect the horns to Sturgills’ love of Motown and his desire to go ‘all out’ on this album since he was making it for his son and as a ‘thank you’ to his wife. I’m gonna have to read No Depression more often with pieces like this.
April 26, 2016 @ 9:48 am
Thanks. Also now on No Depression at: http://nodepression.com/album-review/sailors-guide-navigating-seas-genre-and-success
April 26, 2016 @ 9:54 am
You hit it on the head as far as I am concerned.
April 26, 2016 @ 1:38 pm
Sturgill Simpson “In Bloom” is at #48 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
April 26, 2016 @ 6:26 pm
I have very mixed feelings about this record. On the one hand, I recognize its artistic accomplishment and I have the utmost respect for what Simpson has accomplished with it. On the other hand, it is not something I will go back and listen to very often. There are a few songs that I think will make it onto my Sturgill Simpson shuffle, but for the most part, this one is not for me. I want to listen to country music and I think that he makes brilliant country music. I hope he makes more of it.
That being said, I do think that the one huge silver lining with this album is that by releasing such a person, idiosyncratic and obviously not very country record, Simpson will avoid any comparisons to Chris Stapleton from casual listeners (most of the population, I am guessing). This will allow him to make his own mark even while the Stapleton train is still flying down the tracks. If/when he makes another country record, it will stand on its own merits without having to face comparisons while Traveller is still fresh in people’s minds. He is blazing his own trail and even casual fans should be able to recognize it.
April 26, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
If this album were sung by someone else, none of us would give a rat’s a**. That is testimony to his career so far. I really think he blowing a chance to be a country music great.
April 27, 2016 @ 2:26 pm
I finally had a chance to listen to this record last week, and I really liked it. I’m glad that Sturgill really encouraged and insisted that this record be listened to in one sitting, in its entirety. I actually thought it was genius, really. I agree with other commenters now that whatever Sturgill does, it will be country. It sounded country to me. At the core, it’s country. I like how the record seems to go through his son’s childhood, until the last song, which reminded me of a birthday celebration, like his son’s 18th birthday. And I thought the line about wanting his son to not be a puppet was awesome. Really solid. The kind of art that will last a long time into the future.
April 28, 2016 @ 8:31 am
On No Depression, my review: “A Sailor’s Guide to Navigating the Seas of Genre and Success” http://nodepression.com/album-review/sailors-guide-navigating-seas-genre-and-success, summary: a great cohesive piece of work, genres pretty much irrelevant these days if they ever were, and his voice will keep it country. Thanks, Will
April 28, 2016 @ 8:36 am
Sturgill killed it on Conan..
April 28, 2016 @ 9:01 am
Sturg is doing his own thing this time around. Are albums aimed at glorifying your kids or a deluge of images on Facebook ever going to be totally what you want? If he had made a few beach songs like Zac Brown and put a song about whiskey on there no one would even question its “Country Sound.” He is finally getting the attention he deserves. No the album isn’t great to listen to as a whole but if you seperate a few tracks, Sea Songs, Keep it between the lines, Brace for impact and Bloom it is awesome!
April 28, 2016 @ 11:43 am
IDK.. Sometimes I go down the same line of thinking, but then I see him absolutely slay Oh Sara last nite..I think the album is so good as a whole.. Everytime I think I don’t like something as much, I just start appreciating them for different reasons.
Welcome to Earth is another example. Sometimes it doesn’t hit me right, and then next listen I’m so into it.
I think it is a mood thing sometimes.
Whatever it is, it is what music is suppose to do.
Not everybody is going to like everything in this world. That’s cool.
But it looks like he has a success on his hands with it.
Which I am thrilled about, because he is the type of artist with integrity, that should be celebrated. Not like so many other freakin phonies out there.