Introduction:
“Freight Train,” the title track of Alan Jackson’s sixteenth studio album, was released on March 30, 2010. The album, also titled Freight Train, falls squarely within the traditional country music genre, a style that Alan Jackson has championed throughout his illustrious career. Produced by Jackson’s long-time collaborator Keith Stegall, the Freight Train album marked a significant point in Jackson’s extensive discography as it was the last album under his long-standing contract with Arista Nashville, a label he had been with since 1989. Despite this contractual milestone, Jackson made it clear that he had no intentions of retiring, assuring fans that his musical journey would continue.
The Freight Train album features a total of twelve tracks, with Alan Jackson himself credited as a songwriter on eight of them, including a collaboration with Roger Murrah on “True Love Is a Golden Ring.” This significant songwriting contribution underscores Jackson’s deep connection to his music and his commitment to crafting authentic country narratives. The album also includes a notable duet with Lee Ann Womack on their rendition of “Till the End,” adding another layer of traditional country flavor to the project. While the title track “Freight Train” itself, penned by Fred Eaglesmith, offers a spirited, almost bluegrass-tinged energy, the album as a whole is characterized by a blend of uptempo numbers celebrating everyday life and the working man, alongside the heartfelt slow and midtempo ballads that have become a hallmark of Jackson’s artistry.
Upon its release, Freight Train garnered generally positive reviews from music critics, earning an average score of 68 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating “generally favorable reviews.” Critics often praised the album for its adherence to traditional country roots in an era where the genre was increasingly leaning towards pop and rock influences. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted that the album “rolls along comfortably, never pushing at the edges of Jackson’s comfort zone,” while still delivering the dependable quality that fans had come to expect. Dave Heaton of PopMatters lauded the album for its consistent appeal, suggesting that Jackson’s artistry might continue to improve with time. Conversely, some critics, like Ninian Dunnett of BBC Music, offered a more mixed assessment, suggesting that the album might lean a little too comfortably on Jackson’s established style without breaking significant new ground.
Commercially, Freight Train performed respectably, debuting at number seven on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and at number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, selling 72,000 copies in its opening week. While it marked the first Alan Jackson album since 1999’s Under the Influence not to debut at the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart, its strong initial performance and continued presence on the charts solidified Jackson’s enduring appeal within the country music landscape. The album also saw international success, reaching the top 10 in Canada and Norway, and charting in Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland. By the end of 2010, Freight Train ranked at number 194 on the US Billboard 200 year-end chart and number 34 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart, further highlighting its lasting impact. In the UK, the album peaked at number 3 on the Official Country Artists Albums Chart. While the specific achievements of the song “Freight Train” as a single are less prominent than the album’s overall performance, the title track undoubtedly contributed to the album’s identity and success, embodying the traditional yet energetic spirit that defines this chapter in Alan Jackson’s storied career.