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JAKE OWEN
BAREFOOT BLUE JEAN NIGHT

Guitar 1: Acoustic Rhythm
Guitar 2: Acoustic Lead
Format
 

SV-TABS

Intensity
  

INTERMEDIATE

About the Track

“Barefoot Blue Jean Night” wasn’t actually written by Jake Owen — it was penned by Dylan Altman, Eric Paslay, and Terry Sawchuk. Eric Paslay, who later became a successful solo artist in his own right, co-wrote several hits for other country stars before breaking out on his own.

The song is an upbeat, feel-good anthem about carefree summer nights — the perfect windows-down, radio-up track. Its nostalgic vibe and catchy chorus made it stand out immediately.

🌟 Why It’s a Career Song:
When Jake says there’s a difference between a hit song and a career song, he means this:

A hit song might chart well for a few weeks, get radio play, and then fade.

A career song becomes a signature that fans associate with the artist forever. It can define tours, sell out concerts, and keep an artist relevant for years.

“Barefoot Blue Jean Night” did just that — it went No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs in 2011 and became an anthem for summer country playlists.

🎸 How It Changed Jake Owen’s Career:
Before this, Jake Owen had some hits like “Yee Haw” and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You,” but they didn’t break him wide open like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” did. The song helped him reach a broader audience and established him as a major radio artist.

Chart Performance

“Barefoot Blue Jean Night” hit #1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs in *September 2011.


It was also a Top 40 crossover on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking around #21 — rare for a country single at the time.


The song stayed on country radio for 40+ weeks, dominating summer playlists.

The Album

The song is the title track of Jake Owen’s third studio album, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, released in 2011.


The album went Gold and produced four singles — three of which hit #1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay:

1 - Barefoot Blue Jean Night

2 - Alone with You

3 - The One That Got Away

4 - Anywhere with You


This run of hits gave Jake his first string of back-to-back No. 1s — a huge step up from his earlier singles.

Production & Recording

The track was produced by Joey Moi, who’s known for working with artists like Nickelback and later Florida Georgia Line.

That influence gave the song a slick, arena-ready country-rock sound that felt fresh compared to the more traditional country radio at the time.

The sound also opened the door for other country acts to mix pop-rock vibes into country more freely in the 2010s.
Patrick Jones - Course author
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR

STAYCE ROBERTS

Electric, Acoustic and 12-String Guitars
With over 40 years of dedication to the instrument, Stayce has taken his love of songwriting, guitar playing and producing that allows him to bring a fresh, professional style to his Online Instructional Videos, making him a top tier instructor in song and lesson tutorials.