Wikipedia

No Fences

No Fences is the second studio album by country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released on August 27, 1990, and reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. The album also reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200. On the latter chart, it stayed in the top 40 for 126 weeks.[6] No Fences remains Brooks' best-selling studio album to date with 18 million copies shipped in the US,[7] and is the album that made him an international star. It was his first album issued in Europe (the original European release contained the four singles from his US debut as bonus tracks).

No Fences
Studio album by
Garth Brooks
ReleasedAugust 27, 1990
Recorded1989–1990
StudioJack's Tracks (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre
Length34:32
LabelCapitol Nashville
ProducerAllen Reynolds
Garth Brooks chronology
Garth Brooks
(1989)		 No Fences
(1990)		 Ropin' the Wind
(1991)
Singles from No Fences
  1. "Friends in Low Places"
    Released: August 6, 1990
  2. "Unanswered Prayers"
    Released: October 12, 1990
  3. "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House"
    Released: January 1991
  4. "The Thunder Rolls"
    Released: April 30, 1991
  5. "Wild Horses"
    Released: November 20, 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.comStarStarStarStar[1]
AllMusicStarStarStarStarStar[2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[3]
Entertainment WeeklyA[4]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStarStar[5]

Musical style and composition

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No Fences has been described as a country pop and neotraditional country album,[8][9][2] that expanded further on the pop elements of Brooks' self-titled debut album, and focused more on the fusion of the soft rock, arena rock, and hard rock styles of artists such as Dan Fogelberg, James Taylor, the Eagles, Journey, and Aerosmith, and traditional country artists such as George Strait.[10][9] It is considered the turning point when Garth Brooks established and followed the "stadium country" country-pop sound that grew in popularity for the rest of the 1990s, departing the neo-traditionalist sound that he started with in his career.[8]

Singles

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Some of Brooks' most famous songs appear on No Fences, including: "The Thunder Rolls" (CMA's 1991 Video of the Year), "Friends in Low Places" (Academy of Country Music's 1990 Single of the Year), "Unanswered Prayers" and "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House". A cover version of The Fleetwoods' "Mr. Blue" appears on the album. The album itself was named Album of the Year by the ACM in 1990. It reached Number 1 on the British country music charts (earning Brooks his first gold album in that country) and remained charted for over five years.

The track "Victim of the Game" was later covered by Brooks's friend and future wife Trisha Yearwood for her 1991 eponymous debut album.

Brooks later re-recorded the track "Wild Horses", and released the new recording as a single in early 2001, reaching #7 on the country chart.

25th anniversary reissue

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In September 2015, it was announced No Fences would be reissued later in the year to commemorate its 25-year release anniversary. The release would include a new version of "Friends in Low Places", featuring George Strait, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, and Keith Urban singing along with Brooks. The album release has since been delayed due to royalty disputes.[11]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Thunder Rolls"
3:43
2."New Way to Fly"
3:55
3."Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House"
2:33
4."Victim of the Game"
3:09
5."Friends in Low Places"
4:18
6."Wild Horses"
3:12
7."Unanswered Prayers"
  • Alger
  • Larry Bastian
  • Brooks
3:26
8."Same Old Story"Tony Arata2:53
9."Mr. Blue"Dewayne Blackwell3:17
10."Wolves"Stephanie Davis4:06
Total length:34:32

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[12]

  • Pat Alger – acoustic guitar, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Al "Shaggy" Barclay – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Larry Bastian – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Dewayne Blackwell – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Bruce Bouton – pedal steel guitar, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Tim Bowers – bass guitar, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Garth Brooks – lead vocals, acoustic guitar; backing vocals (track 5)
  • Sandy Brooks – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Stephanie C. Brown – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Mark Casstevens – acoustic guitar
  • Mike Chapman – bass guitar, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Johnny Christopher – acoustic guitar
  • Bob Doyle – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Ty England – acoustic guitar, backing vocals (track 5)
  • The Englands (plus one) – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Dave Gant – piano, keyboard, organ, fiddle, backing vocals (track 5)
  • James Garver – electric guitar, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Rob Hajacos – fiddle, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Dan Heins – audio engineer, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Wendy Johnson – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Steve King – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Earl of Bud Lee – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Chris Leuzinger – electric guitar
  • Pam "The Chick" Lewis – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Steve McClure – electric guitar, pedal steel guitar
  • David McVay – backing vocals (track 10)
  • Edgar Meyer – double bass
  • Mark Miller – recording engineer, mixing engineer
  • Buddy Mondlock – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Steve Morley – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Jennifer O'Brien – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Mike Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Brian Petree – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Dale Pierce – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Denny Purcell – mastering engineer
  • Jim Rooney – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Tami Rose – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Lee Sartin – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Bill Shore – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Milton Sledge – drums
  • Charlie Stefl – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Scott Stem – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Neil Thrasher – backing vocals (track 10)
  • Stephen Tolman – backing vocals (track 10)
  • Hurshel Wiginton – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Kim Williams – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Bobby Wood – piano, keyboards, organ, backing vocals (track 5)
  • Curry Worsham – backing vocals (track 10)
  • Curtis Young – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Nashville String Machine – string orchestra

Charts

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Certifications

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[28] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[29] 7× Platinum 700,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[30] 5× Platinum 75,000^
United States (RIAA)[31] 18× Platinum 18,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Coleman, Kathy. "Garth Brooks – 'No Fences'". About.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "No Fences – Garth Brooks". AllMusic. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Garth Brooks". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ Alanna Nash (September 21, 1990). "No Fences Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 105. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved June 7, 2026. Rolling Stone Garth Brooks Album Guide
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1995). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Albums (3rd ed.). Billboard Books. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-8230-7631-4.
  7. ↑ "RIAA – Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  8. 1 2 "No Fences (1990)". Country Music Project. University of Texas, Austin. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Garth Brooks - No Fences (album review)". SputnikMusic. October 21, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (November 5, 2020). "Friends in Low Places Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  11. ↑ Newman, Melinda. "Garth Brooks' All-Star 'Friends in Low Places' & Album Reissue On Hold Over Royalty Dispute: Exclusive". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  12. ↑ No Fences (CD). Garth Brooks. Capitol Records. 1990. 93866.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Garth Brooks – No Fences". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Hits of the World – Eurochart". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. May 17, 1994. p. 43.
  15. ↑ "Hits of the World – Ireland". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 23, 1994. p. 47.
  16. ↑ "Garth Brooks Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Garth Brooks Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  25. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums 1994". Australian Record Industry Association Ltd. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  27. ↑ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  28. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 42.
  29. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Garth Brooks – No Fences". Music Canada.
  30. ↑ Duffy, Thom (January 29, 1994). "EMI Makes Brooks Ana International Priority". Billboard. p. 100. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Google Books.
  31. ↑ "American album certifications – Garth Brooks – No Fences". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
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