What You See Is What You Get
Studio album by
Luke Combs
ReleasedNovember 8, 2019 (2019-11-08)
GenreCountry
Length63:02
Label
Producer
Luke Combs chronology
The Prequel
(2019) 		What You See Is What You Get
(2019) 		Growin' Up
(2022)
Singles from What You See Is What You Get
  1. "Beer Never Broke My Heart"
    Released: May 8, 2019
  2. "Even Though I'm Leaving"
    Released: September 9, 2019
  3. "Does to Me"
    Released: February 10, 2020
  4. "Lovin' on You"
    Released: June 22, 2020
  5. "Better Together"
    Released: October 12, 2020
  6. "Forever After All"
    Released: March 8, 2021
  7. "Cold as You"
    Released: July 19, 2021
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Exclaim!9/10[3]
Rolling Stone[4]

What You See Is What You Get is the second studio album by American country music artist Luke Combs. It was released on November 8, 2019 through River House Artists and Columbia Nashville.[5] It includes all five songs previously featured on the 2019 EP The Prequel, including the singles "Beer Never Broke My Heart" and "Even Though I'm Leaving" in addition to the track "1, 2 Many" (a collaboration with Brooks & Dunn), the single "Does to Me", and later the promotional single "Six Feet Apart". Combs toured North America throughout the remainder of 2019 and was to headline the C2C: Country to Country festival in Europe in 2020 in promotion of the album, however the festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7] Seven singles from the album, "Beer Never Broke My Heart", "Even Though I'm Leaving", "Does to Me", "Lovin' on You", "Better Together", "Forever After All" and "Cold as You", reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

Background

Combs said his intention with new track "1, 2 Many" was to "write a song that I felt like my '90s country music heroes would be proud of". It marks his second collaboration with Brooks & Dunn, with his first being a cover of their debut single "Brand New Man" on their album Reboot.[8]

"Six Feet Apart", a standalone song released on May 1, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was later added to the end of the album's digital and streaming editions.[9][10]

On August 20, Combs announced that the album will be re-released as a deluxe album titled What You See Ain't Always What You Get on October 23, 2020, featuring "Six Feet Apart", as well as five new songs. The first of the new songs "Without You" was released as a promotional single on September 18.[11]

Commercial performance

What You See Is What You Get debuted atop the US Billboard 200 on the chart dated November 23, 2019, earning 172,000 album-equivalent units, including 109,000 pure album sales. In addition to becoming Combs' first US number-one album, it opened with the "largest week for a country album" since 2018, and became the biggest week in terms of streams for a country album on record.[12] The album has sold 350,000 copies in the United States as of March 2020,[13] with 1,000,000 units consumed in total.[14] After its reissue, on the chart dated November 7, 2020, the album returned to the top spot from number 21, selling 109,000 album-equivalent units. In the same week, the album broke the record for the most streams for a country record at 102.26 million streams. At 11 months and 15 days, What You See Is What You Get also became the first album since Bon Jovi's This House Is Not for Sale to return to number one after an extended wait.[15] It was among the top 10 albums of 2020, with 1.475 million equivalent album unit consumed (184,000 in pure sales) that year.[16]

The album also topped the ARIA Albums Chart in Australia, becoming Combs's first number-one album there.[17]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Luke Combs, with additional co-writers as noted

What You See Is What You Get track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Beer Never Broke My Heart"
3:07
2."Refrigerator Door"
  • Jordan Brooker
3:24
3."Even Though I'm Leaving"
3:45
4."Lovin' on You"
  • Thomas Archer
  • Fulcher
  • James McNair
3:15
5."Moon Over Mexico"
  • Fulcher
  • Dan Isbell
  • Singleton
3:25
6."1, 2 Many" (featuring Brooks & Dunn)
  • Isbell
  • Drew Parker
  • Tyler King
3:01
7."Blue Collar Boys"
  • Erik Dylan
  • Fulcher
  • Derrick Moody
3:40
8."New Every Day"
3:19
9."Reasons"
  • Fulcher
  • McNair
3:44
10."Every Little Bit Helps"
  • Chase McGill
  • McNair
4:08
11."Dear Today"
  • Dylan
  • Rob Snyder
3:40
12."What You See Is What You Get"
  • Barry Dean
  • Singleton
2:52
13."Does to Me" (featuring Eric Church)
  • Fulcher
  • Tyler Reeve
3:43
14."Angels Workin' Overtime"
  • Josh Phillips
  • Thompson
4:14
15."All Over Again"
  • Corey Crowder
  • Fulcher
3:29
16."Nothing Like You"
  • Parker
  • Robert Williford
3:16
17."Better Together"
  • Isbell
  • Montana
3:40
Total length:59:42

All tracks are written by Luke Combs, with additional co-writers as needed

What You See Ain't Always What You Get (Disc Two tracks on physical version)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
18."Six Feet Apart"
3:20
19."Cold as You"
3:06
20."The Other Guy"
  • Williford
  • Brandon Kinney
3:10
21."My Kinda Folk"
  • Fulcher
  • Isbell
  • Jamie Davis
  • Dustin Nunley
4:27
22."Without You" (featuring Amanda Shires)
  • Durrette
  • Isbell
3:44
23."Forever After All"
  • Williford
  • Parker
3:52
Total length:80:01

Personnel

From What You See Is What You Get liner notes.[18]

Musicians

Technical

What You See Ain't Always What You Get credits

From What You See Ain't Always What You Get (18-23) liner notes.[19]

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for What You See Is What You Get
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45]
for What You See Ain't Always What You Get 		2× Platinum 140,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[46] 4× Platinum 320,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[47] Gold 7,500‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Gold 100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[49] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  2. ^ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Ashley, Marlo (November 11, 2019). "Exclaim! Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (November 8, 2019). "Luke Combs Is a Mainstream Country Everyman on "What You See Is What You Get"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  5. ^ Casey, Jim (September 12, 2019). "Luke Combs Announces Sophomore Album, "What You See Is What You Get," & Drops New Song Featuring Brooks & Dunn [Listen]". Nash Country Daily. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  6. ^ Blistein, Jon (September 12, 2019). "Luke Combs Details New Album, Shares '1, 2 Many' Featuring Brooks and Dunn". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  7. ^ "Country to Country 2020 lineup: Darius Rucker, Eric Church and Luke Combs to headline". Smoothradio.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  8. ^ Reuter, Annie (September 12, 2019). "Luke Combs Drops Raucous Drinking Song '1, 2 Many' With Brooks & Dunn: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  9. ^ Dave Paulson (May 2, 2020). "'Six Feet Apart': How country star Luke Combs made his social-distancing hit". USA Today. The Tennessean. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Luke Combs – Six Feet Apart (2020)". Daily Play MPE. Destiny Media Technologies. May 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "Luke Combs' 'What You See Ain't Always What You Get' Makes History With Seventh Chart-Topper". MusicRow. November 22, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (November 17, 2019). "Luke Combs Lands First No. 1 Album With Record-Setting Week on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  13. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  14. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 9, 2020). "Country Music's Most-Consumed Albums Chart: March 9, 2020". Roughstock. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  15. ^ "Luke Combs' 'What You See Is What You Get' Back at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Sets New Streaming Record". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  16. ^ "Year-End Report: U.S. 2020" (PDF). Music Business Worldwide.
  17. ^ a b "Australiancharts.com – Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  18. ^ What You See Is What You Get (CD insert). Luke Combs. Columbia Records Nashville. 2019. 19075-95687-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ What You See Ain't Always What You Get (CD booklet). Luke Combs. Columbia Records Nashville. 2020. 19439794982.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ "Luke Combs Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  21. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  22. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  24. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  25. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  26. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  27. ^ "Luke Combs Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  28. ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  29. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  30. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  31. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  32. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  33. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  34. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  35. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  36. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  37. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2022". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  38. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  39. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  40. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  41. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2023". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  42. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  43. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  44. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  45. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  46. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get". Music Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  47. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  48. ^ "British album certifications – Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  49. ^ "American album certifications – Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
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