Chesney returns; Hot Country Knights debut

Chesney's disc was once again produced by Buddy Cannon along with Chesney. Chesney worked on the 12-song album for the past 18 months. The lead single was "Tip of My Tongue," written by Chesney, Ed Sheeran and Ross Copperman.

Hot Country Knights consists of Douglas "Doug" Douglason, aka Dierks Bentley, and his backing band. The shtick is that the Knights are an ode to '90s country music. The cover, however, makes the band look it was a big-haired rock act from the '80s. Bentley wrote half of the 10 songs, which run the gamut from traditional country fare to more revved up sounds. Travis Tritt and Terri Clark also help out on vocals on a few songs.

New artist CJ Solar makes his Sony debut with "Coming My Way." Solar co-wrote all six cuts in the collection, which follows his "Get Away With It" and "Hard One To Turn Down" EPs. He co-wrote "Watered Down Whiskey" with Charlie Berry and partnered with Smith Ahnquist, Brent Anderson, Jordan Brooker, Jacob Davis, Bob DiPiero, Mark Fuhrer, Jason Gantt, Michael Hardy, Neil Medley and Jake Mitchell on the other five songs. Solar, a Baton Rogue, La. native, co-wrote Morgan Wallen's hit "Up Down" and also co-wrote Jason Aldean's "I Don't Drink Anymore" and Jameson Rodgers' "Some Girls." He has had cuts by Jerrod Niemann and Justin Moore.