LeAnn Rimes is the sixth studio album by American country music artist LeAnn Rimes, released on October 26, 1999, by Curb Records. The album consists almost entirely of covers of old-time country hits. Only one original song, "Big Deal", was included, which was released as the album's first single.
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, who described its country stylings as a return to form for Rimes. Commercially, the album debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums chart and at number 8 on the Billboard 200. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies in the United States.
Contents
Singles
"Big Deal" was the album's sole release to country radio, where it reached number six on the US Hot Country Songs chart and number three on the Canada RPM Country Tracks.
A cover of the Willie Nelson song made famous by Patsy Cline, "Crazy", was released exclusively in the United Kingdom, where it reached the top forty of the UK Singles Chart.
Critical reception
LeAnn Rimes received generally positive reviews from music critics. Rimes's vocal ability on the album was praised as improving over time, and it was heralded by many as a return to form for Rimes, resembling the country sound of her major label debut Blue (1996) more so than her previous records.
They were also very complimentary of the album's sole original song, "Big Deal". Beth Johnson called it "contagiously youthful". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic felt that it was the best track on the album, saying "she sounds loose, confident and exciting [...] and even more importantly, she never sounds like one of her idols - she sounds like herself".
Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times described it as "a sassy number that fits her age and temperament to a T," however criticized her choice of covers, saying that she "imitates rather than truly inhabits the deepest emotions of these heartbreak-heavy songs". Likewise, Beth Johnson of Entertainment Weekly felt that Rimes's interpretations of country classics were missing the "gutsiness and gut-wrenching urgency of performers who felt what they sang".
Acknowledging the criticism she received on the age appropriateness of her choice of covers, Rimes said, "I knew that making this record was taking a chance, but I think it's unfair and just really sad something like my age is used against me instead of appreciating what I worked so hard to do."
Shirley Jinkins of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram sided with Rimes, saying that LeAnn Rimes showcased that she had some "emotional maturity to go along with that perfect voice" at age 17.
Commercial performance
LeAnn Rimes debuted at #8 on Billboard 200 with 115,000 copies sold in its first week.
Personnel
LeAnn Rimes – lead vocals, backing vocals (11, 12)
Randy Fouts – acoustic piano (1, 2, 4–10, 12), keyboards (11)
Gary Leach – backing vocals (1–10, 12), keyboards (3), organ (12)
Kelly Glenn – acoustic piano (3)
Austin Deptula – keyboards (12), backing vocals (12)
B. James Lowry – electric guitars (1, 2, 4–11), acoustic guitars (1, 2, 4–12)
Jerry Metheny – electric guitars (3), acoustic guitars (3)
Marty Walsh – electric guitars (12)
Milo Deering – steel guitar (1, 2, 4–10, 12), fiddle (4, 9, 10)
Junior Knight – steel guitar (3)
Mike Brignardello – bass (1, 2, 4–12), tic-tac bass (1, 2, 4–10)
Curtis Randall – bass (3)
Paul Leim – drums (1, 2, 4–12), percussion (8)
Fred Gleber – drums (3)
Darrell Holt – vibraphone (1, 4–8)
Charlie Barnett – percussion (11)
Carl Albrecht – percussion (12)
Rita Baloche – backing vocals (1–10, 12)
Perry Coleman – backing vocals (1, 2, 4–10, 12)
Production
Wilbur C. Rimes – producer
LeAnn Rimes – co-producer
Greg Hunt – chief engineer, mixing
Austin Deptula – assistant engineer, digital editing, mastering
Gary Leach – assistant engineer
Terry Christian – string recording
Bob Horn – second string engineer
Glenn Sweitzer and Fresh Design – art direction, design
Andrew Southam – photography
George Blodwell – wardrobe stylist
Heidi Lee – make-up
Kohl – hair stylist