When Keith Urban releases his sixth studio album, “Get Closer,” on Nov. 16, he won’t only get closer with his fans — he’ll snuggle up with Target as well. The Grammy-winning country singer will release a deluxe version of the album, to be sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide and online.
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“It’s just a really exciting opportunity for us to try and get our music out to as many people as possible,” Urban tells Billboard.com. “Target also asked for extra material, and it’s great to give people a little bit more.”
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The deluxe version of “Get Closer” will include almost double the material, with four live tracks and three unreleased originals in addition to the album’s original eight songs. The three unreleased tracks came from the “Get Closer” recording sessions.
“In some ways it’s all just one record, but one is a shorter version while the Target version is the full album,” Urban says. “If people get the shorter version and love it, maybe they’ll want to hear some more songs.”
According to Urban, “Get Closer” is a love song-heavy album that captures “a turning point in a relationship.” “My instincts have been to run from love probably more than to it, just out of fear of getting hurt,” says Urban. “I think that’s really what the album is born out of. Slowly but surely, I’ve been realizing that those times when I want to run are actually when I need to be turning around and getting closer.”
The source of the live material included on the deluxe Target edition of “Get Closer” is Urban’s 2007 Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy World tour. Although only four live tracks are included, Urban believes they’ll satisfy fans’ demand for a Keith Urban live album.
“I’ve had a lot of people ask if we’re ever going to do a live album, but every time we’ve toured we’ve been recording the shows for a DVD,” says Urban. “Then we thought, ‘Let’s sort through all the live recordings and find some versions that really capture what it’s like to come out and see us live.’ I think these four songs are really indicative of that.”
He adds that there is a great possibility that he will release a full live album down the road, but for now, the four tracks — all of which are singles, including “Better Life” and “Once in a Lifetime” — will have to do.
Urban and his band will hit the road again in 2011 to tour behind “Get Closer,” and the CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee is feeling quite prepared. “I was very conscious of touring when making the record — how the songs would translate to the stage,” says Urban.
Keith Urban is the latest musician to partner with Target, which has collaborated with artists including Taylor Swift, Prince, the Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera and Pearl Jam in similar capacities.