Making Plans

New  songs like "She Needs Me," "I Wish You Were More Like Your Memory"  and "The Best Thing Goin'," show him singing the kind of consummate,  vintage country that has garnered him 12 Number One singles, 5  Platinum albums and 3 more Gold ones. In addition to these future Shelton classics, making plans includes choice cuts from Merle Haggard ("When The Feeling Goes Away"), Mel Street ("Borrowed Angel") and Johnny Russell ("Making Plans").

Shelton has entered into a partnership with Anderson Merchandisers and Wal-Mart, which will exclusively distribute during its initial release. Wal-Mart is credited with selling approximately 40 to 50 percent of all country albums sold in the United States, and that math works fine for Shelton. "If I sell 40 to 50 percent of what I was selling," he says, "I'll probably make more than I did with a major label, plus I can offer the CD at a lower price to the consumer." "Wal-Mart is going to price the CD at $8.96 and the cassette at $5.96; and with 12 songs, that is quite a good value for the fan."