On June 2, 2017, Luke Combs left a lasting mark on the country music world with the release of his first album, This One’s For You. Released through Columbia Nashville, the album was an immediate hit that resonated with fans of both traditional country and country-pop. The record hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and stayed there for a whopping 50 weeks. Combs set the record for the longest time spent at No. 1 on that particular chart for a male artist.
It’s easy to see what people loved about this album in the 2010s. With incredible singles like “When It Rains It Pours” and “Hurricane”, it’s not surprising at all that listeners really resonated with this release. The latter single even hit No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart. And with the release of the album, Combs launched one of the most impressive country music careers in modern history.
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How Luke Combs’ First Album Invited One of the Most Loyal Fanbases in Country Music
Luke Combs’ first album was a shocking success for a newcomer in the country music world. Though, Combs was far from “new” to country music at the time. His debut EP, The Way She Rides, dropped in 2014, followed by his second EP Can I Get An Outlaw. His third EP, which boasts the same title as his debut LP, dropped the following year.
“Hurricane”, which eventually made it to the LP, was released previously in 2016 and was a massive success within its first week. That song would mark Combs’ debut on the Hot Country Songs chart, where it peaked at No. 46.
It was clear listeners were digging what Combs was dishing out, and he signed a deal with Sonic Music Nashville.
This One’s For You ended up becoming a critical success in addition to a commercial hit. AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted the record’s freshness and excellent blend of traditional and modern country elements. Likewise, Sounds Like Nashville’s Chuck Dauphin noted that the album’s “vocals are one thing that Combs has in his favor. You get the feeling that no producer had to coach him to be country.”
I’d have to agree with that, and Combs has carried that energy throughout his career into the 2020s.
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