Whitey Ford Sings the Blues is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Everlast, and the first one following his departure from House of Pain. It was released on September 8, 1998, via Tommy Boy Records, a full eight years after his solo debut album Forever Everlasting and after he had a major heart attack. "Whitey Ford" in the album title refers to the New York Yankees pitcher of the same name. The album was both a commercial and critical success (selling more than three million copies) and went 2× platinum according to RIAA. It peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200. Its hit single "What It's Like" became Everlast's most popular and successful song, which garnered him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. Whitey Ford Sings the Blues blended rap with acoustic and electric guitars, developed by Everlast together with producers Dante Ross and John Gamble. The album incorporates a mix of musical styles such as blues, rock and hip hop. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel wrote that the album "exudes the folk-rock vibe – if not quite the peerless songwriting – of a Bruce Springsteen or a Steve Earle, augmented by the beats that Everlast perfected in his former band."

Singles

Whitey Ford Sings the Blues spawned five singles: "What It's Like", "Painkillers", "Money (Dollar Bill)", "Ends", and "Today (Watch Me Shine)". Its lead single "What It's Like" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks. "Ends" peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Alternative Songs, "Today (Watch Me Shine)" peaked at No. 12 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40, and the other two did not appear in main music charts. "Painkillers" appeared in the 1999 Jet Li film Black Mask.

Track listing

Notes Samples

Personnel

Adapted from Discogs Vocalists Instrumentalists Technicals Additional

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications