Free Soul | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 29, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2014–16 in Nashville, TN | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 38:59 | |||
Label | Open Road | |||
Producer |
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Madeline Merlo chronology | ||||
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Singles from Free Soul | ||||
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Free Soul is the debut studio album by Canadian country music artist Madeline Merlo. It was released on April 29, 2016 via Open Road Recordings. [1] The album includes the singles "Sinking Like a Stone", "Alive", "Honey Jack", "Whatcha Wanna Do About It", "War Paint", and "Over and Over". [2] Upon release, the album debuted at number 88 on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart. The album's fourth single, "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" earned Merlo her first top ten single on the Canadian country singles chart.
In early 2014, Merlo signed a record deal with Open Road Recordings and spent approximately eight months developing her sound. [3] She released her debut single, "Sinking Like a Stone", on February 18, 2014. [4] The song stayed on the Canada Country chart for 20 weeks and reached a peak position of 32, which helped to establish Merlo's presence on Canadian country radio. [5] That summer (July 22, 2014), she released an eponymous debut extended play, along with a new single, "Alive". [6] [7]
Merlo experienced a commercial breakthrough in 2015 with the release of her third single, "Honey Jack." The track reached the top 25 on the Canada Country chart and the song's success contributed to her being chosen as the opening act on Dean Brody and Paul Brandt's The Road Tour that year. [8] At the 2015 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards, Merlo won the prestigious Rising Star award. [9] The fourth single, "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" became Merlo's first top-10 at country radio. Free Soul was made available for pre-order on April 19, 2016. [9] [10]
Merlo previously recorded a version of "Ready to Say Goodnight" with duet partner Tim Hicks on the latter's 2014 album, 5:01 . [11]
Nanci Dagg of Canadian Beats wrote that Free Soul is "extremely well written and well produced – from the first song to the last," and found the full-length album format "refreshing." [8]
Tom Harrison of The Vancouver Sun was ambivalent toward the record's duelling country and pop influences but criticized Merlo's lack of personality. "Through it all," he writes, "Merlo sings well (and even writes a few songs) without having a personal style." [12]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer | Length |
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1. | "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" |
| Matt Rovey | 3:31 |
2. | "War Paint" |
| EO | 3:24 |
3. | "Over and Over" | Rovey | 3:19 | |
4. | "Holding On to Freedom" |
| Swinimer | 3:30 |
5. | "Tumbling" |
| Swinimer | 3:38 |
6. | "Honey Jack" |
| Rovey | 3:08 |
7. | "Ready to Say Goodnight" (featuring Tim Hicks) |
| Jeff Coplan | 3:55 |
8. | "Crush" |
| Clark | 3:28 |
9. | "Sinking Like a Stone" |
| Swinimer | 3:57 |
10. | "Alive" |
| Swinimer | 3:36 |
11. | "Twist of Fate" |
| Swinimer | 3:33 |
Total length: | 38:59 |
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [13] | 88 |
Year | Single | Peak positions |
---|---|---|
CAN Country [14] | ||
2014 | "Sinking Like a Stone" | 32 |
"Alive" | 42 | |
2015 | "Honey Jack" | 25 |
2016 | "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" | 10 |
"War Paint" | 13 | |
2017 | "Over and Over" | 13 |
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"Whatcha Wanna Do About It" is a song recorded by Canadian country music artist Madeline Merlo for her debut studio album, Free Soul (2016). The song was written by Connie Harrington, Matt McGinn, and Steve Moakler, and was produced by Matt Rovey. It was released January 22, 2016 as the album's fourth official single. Following its release, "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" became Merlo's fastest-rising single and earned Merlo her first top ten single on the Canada Country chart.
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