Sittin' on Top of the World (LeAnn Rimes album)

Last updated
Sittin' on Top of the World
Sittinontopoftheworld leannrimes.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 5, 1998
Recorded1997
StudioRosewood Studio (Tyler, Texas)
Genre [1]
Length60:12
Label Curb
Producer Wilbur C. Rimes
LeAnn Rimes chronology
You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs
(1997)
Sittin' on Top of the World
(1998)
LeAnn Rimes
(1999)
Singles from Sittin' on Top of the World
  1. "Commitment"
    Released: March 16, 1998
  2. "Looking Through Your Eyes"
    Released: March 24, 1998
  3. "Nothin' New Under the Moon"
    Released: July 14, 1998
  4. "Feels Like Home"
    Released: October 3, 1998
  5. "These Arms of Mine"
    Released: November 21, 1998 [2]

Sittin' on Top of the World is the fifth studio album by American singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on May 5, 1998, by Curb Records. The album comprises new material alongside several cover songs. It was preceded by the singles "Looking Through Your Eyes" and Commitment".

Contents

The album received generally negative to mixed reviews from music critics, who criticized the album's production and selection of material. In the United States, the album peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 has been certified platinum.

Background

The album includes the singles "Looking Through Your Eyes", [3] "Commitment", "Nothin' New Under the Moon", "These Arms of Mine", and "Feels Like Home". It also contains cover versions of "Insensitive" by Jann Arden, "Sittin' on Top of the World" by Amanda Marshall, "Purple Rain" by Prince, and "Rock Me (In the Cradle of Love)" by Deborah Allen.

International and UK editions of Sittin' on Top of the World include her previous hit, "How Do I Live"; the latter also includes her first hit, "Blue". [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Entertainment Weekly C [6]
Robert Christgau C+ [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Sittin' on Top of the World received generally negative to mixed reviews from music critics. Much like her previous record, most criticism was given to the album's production and selection of material. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described the album's production by Wilbur Rimes as "overarranged" and Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly described his production style as "often squeezing as many instruments as possible onto a track without leaving any breathing room." [5] [6] While Rimes's vocal abilities were praised, both reviewers noted that a number of songs on the album were "oversung". [5] [6]

Many critics felt that the included cover songs were inappropriate for Rimes. In particular, her cover of "Purple Rain" (originally by Prince) was critically panned. Alanna Nash called it "unlistenable", describing her performance as "both ridiculous and totally unbelievable". [6] Both Stephen Erlewine and Robert Christgau specifically singled it out as inappropriate for Rimes; Shirley Jinkins of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram described it as a "misfire". [5] [7] [10] In a more positive review, James Hunter of Rolling Stone described the cover as "neither travesty nor triumph; it's just earnestly delivered". [8] Erlewine concluded that Rimes's "gifts and personality surface just often enough to make you realize that this blandly pleasant album could have been much, much better". [5]

Commercial performance

Sittin' on Top of the World debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 in its first week with 156,500 copies sold; it peaked at number 3 in its second week. The album spent 3 weeks in the top 10 and 37 weeks in the Billboard 200.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Commitment"Tony Colton, Tony Marty, Bobby Wood4:37
2."Looking Through Your Eyes" (From the Quest for Camelot Motion Picture) David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager 4:05
3."Undeniable" Deborah Allen, Rafe Van Hoy3:44
4."Feels Like Home" Diane Warren 4:30
5."Surrender" Robin Lee Bruce, Christi Dannemiller, Jamie O'Neal 4:06
6."These Arms of Mine"Gail Thompson, Jeff Tweel2:57
7."Nothin' New Under the Moon"Rick Bowles, Josh Leo, Tom Shapiro 3:31
8."When Am I Gonna Get Over You"John Tirro, Bryan White 3:27
9."Rock Me"Allen, Van Hoy3:42
10."More Than Anyone Deserves"Rimes, Ron Grimes4:19
11."Insensitive" Anne Loree 4:19
12."All the Lovin' and Hurtin'"Allen, Van Hoy3:57
13."Sittin' on Top of the World" Amanda Marshall 4:15
14."The Heart Never Forgets" Gary Baker, Frank J. Myers, Jerry Williams3:52
15."Purple Rain" Prince 4:52
Total length:60:12
UK edition [11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue" Bill Mack 2:47
2."How Do I Live" Diane Warren 5:05
3."Commitment"Colton, Marty, Wood4:36
4."Looking Through Your Eyes" (From the "Quest for Camelot" Motion Picture)Foster, Sager4:05
5."Undeniable"Allen, Van Hoy3:44
6."Feels Like Home"Warren4:30
7."Surrender"Bruce, Dannemiller, O'Neal4:06
8."These Arms of Mine"Thompson, Tweel2:57
9."Nothin' New Under the Moon"Bowles, Leo, Shapiro3:31
10."When Am I Gonna Get Over You" (Featuring Bryan White)Tirro, White3:27
11."Rock Me"Allen, Van Hoy3:42
12."More Than Anyone Deserves"Rimes, Grimes4:19
13."Insensitive"Loree4:19
14."All the Lovin' and Hurtin'"Allen, Van Hoy3:57
15."Sittin' on Top of the World"Marshall4:15
16."The Heart Never Forgets"Baker, Myers, Williams3:52
17."Purple Rain"Prince4:52
Total length:68:07
International edition [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."How Do I Live" (Extended Mix)Warren4:56
2."Commitment"Colton, Marty, Wood4:36
3."Looking Through Your Eyes" (From the "Quest for Camelot" Motion Picture)DFoster, Sager4:05
4."Undeniable"Allen, Van Hoy3:44
5."Feels Like Home"Warren4:30
6."Surrender"Bruce, Dannemiller, O'Neal4:06
7."These Arms of Mine"Thompson, Tweel2:57
8."Nothin' New Under the Moon"Bowles, Leo, Shapiro3:31
9."When Am I Gonna Get Over You" (Featuring Bryan White)John Tirro, Bryan White3:27
10."Rock Me"Allen, Van Hoy3:42
11."More Than Anyone Deserves"Rimes, Grimes4:19
12."Insensitive"Loree4:19
13."All the Lovin' and Hurtin'"Allen, Van Hoy3:57
14."Sittin' on Top of the World"Marshall4:15
15."The Heart Never Forgets"Baker, Myers, Williams3:52
16."Purple Rain"Prince4:52
Total length:65:13

Personnel

Compiled from liner notes. [4]

Production

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Do I Live</span> 1997 single by LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood

"How Do I Live" is a song written by Diane Warren. It was originally performed by American singer and actress LeAnn Rimes and was the first single from her second studio album, You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs (1997). It also appeared on international editions of her follow-up album Sittin' on Top of the World (1998). A second version was performed by American singer Trisha Yearwood, which was featured in the film Con Air. Both versions were released to radio on May 23, 1997.

<i>Blue</i> (LeAnn Rimes album) 1996 studio album by LeeAnn Rimes

Blue is the debut major-label album and third studio album by American country music singer LeAnn Rimes, released on July 9, 1996 in the United States, shortly before the singer’s fourteenth birthday, by Curb Records. It peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200, and number one on the Top Country Albums chart.

<i>You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs</i> 1997 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs, or simply You Light Up My Life, is the fourth studio album by the American country singer LeAnn Rimes. Released in the United States by Curb Records on September 9, 1997, when Rimes was 15 years old, it followed her third album and major label debut Blue (1996). The album comprises several covers of pop standards alongside original material.

<i>LeAnn Rimes</i> (album) 1999 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes is the sixth studio album by American country music artist LeAnn Rimes, released on October 26, 1999 on 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.

<i>I Need You</i> (album) 2001 compilation album by LeAnn Rimes

I Need You is a compilation album by American recording artist LeAnn Rimes. The album was first released on January 30, 2001, through Curb Records to help satisfy Rimes's recording contract obligations following her issuance of a lawsuit against the label. The original release of the album consists of four previously released soundtrack appearances alongside six new tracks. Rimes publicly disowned the album just days after its release, but despite her comments, Curb continued to promote the record and released three singles in support of the album. The album was re-released on March 26, 2002, with four additional remixes and the new recording "Light the Fire Within".

<i>All That</i> (album) 1994 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

All That is the second studio album by LeAnn Rimes, released independently under the label Nor Va Jak. It was released on July 22, 1994. The album did not sell well, but a copy was given to Curb Records owner, Mike Curb, who later signed Rimes to his label and recorded her debut major label album, Blue (1996). The album was later reissued as Unchained Melody: The Early Years (1997).

<i>This Woman</i> (LeAnn Rimes album) 2005 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

This Woman is the ninth studio album by American singer LeAnn Rimes, released on January 25, 2005. While promoting This Woman, she stated that it was her return to her "roots", country music. The album has a theme of falling in love and marriage. It was a success on the country charts. Rimes co-wrote three tracks on the album: "You Take Me Home", "I Got It Bad" and "When This Woman Loves a Man".

<i>Whatever We Wanna</i> 2006 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

Whatever We Wanna is the tenth studio album by American singer LeAnn Rimes, released June 6, 2006. The album has a more rock-oriented sound. The album was released and promoted exclusively in Europe, Taiwan, and Brazil. It was originally slated to be released in the U.S., however, the release was pulled due to the success of her single, "Something's Gotta Give", leading to an increase in sales of This Woman. A deluxe edition with three bonus remixes was released in the US on September 10, 2021, fifteen years after the original release.

<i>Blue Moon</i> (Steve Holy album) 2000 studio album by Steve Holy

Blue Moon is the debut studio album of country music artist Steve Holy. Released in 2000 on Curb Records, the album produced four hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The first one, "Don't Make Me Beg", peaked at No. 29 on the charts, and its follow-ups both reached No. 24. Following "The Hunger," Holy charted with "Good Morning Beautiful," which he recorded for the soundtrack to the film Angel Eyes. After this song reached Number One, Curb re-issued the album with "Good Morning Beautiful" as a bonus track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life Goes On (LeAnn Rimes song)</span> 2002 song by LeAnn Rimes

"Life Goes On" is a song by American country music artist LeAnn Rimes. Recorded for her fifth studio album Twisted Angel (2002), the song was penned by Rimes, Desmond Child, and Andreas Carlsson, with production from Child, Peter Amato, and Gregg Pagani. Lyrically, "Life Goes On" speaks of moving on and letting go of the past. Rimes's then-label, Curb Records, first released the song on August 5, 2002, as the lead single from the album.

<i>What a Wonderful World</i> (LeAnn Rimes album) 2004 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

What a Wonderful World is a 2004 album by American country pop recording artist LeAnn Rimes. It is her eighth studio album and first Christmas album, consisting of jazz inspired holiday music. Rimes released four promotional singles from this album: "O Holy Night", "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", and "A Different Kind of Christmas". Rimes also co-wrote three tracks on this holiday album, one of which with her then husband Dean Sheremet. "Santa Baby" was released as a limited exclusive bonus track on the album at US Target stores. It was also released as an exclusive bonus track on the Australian, Japanese and UK versions of the album and was the fifth promotional single.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (LeAnn Rimes album) 2003 greatest hits album by LeAnn Rimes

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American country music singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on November 18, 2003, by Curb Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commitment (LeAnn Rimes song)</span> 1998 single by LeAnn Rimes

"Commitment" is a song written by Tony Colton, Tony Marty and Bobby Wood, and recorded by American country music artist LeAnn Rimes. It was released on March 16, 1998 as the lead single from her album Sittin' on Top of the World. In most parts of the world, "Commitment" was released as a double A-side with "Looking Through Your Eyes".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Looking Through Your Eyes</span> 1998 single by LeAnn Rimes

"Looking Through Your Eyes" is a single by American country pop recording artist LeAnn Rimes. The song was released as a single from the Quest for Camelot soundtrack and Rimes's album Sittin' on Top of the World on March 24, 1998. In most parts of the world, "Looking Through Your Eyes" was released as a double A-side with "Commitment".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Arms of Mine (LeAnn Rimes song)</span> 1998 single by LeAnn Rimes

"These Arms of Mine" is a song by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released as the final single from her third studio album, Sittin' on Top of the World. The song was released to radio on November 21, 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feels Like Home (LeAnn Rimes song)</span> 1998 single by LeAnn Rimes

"Feels Like Home" is a song by LeAnn Rimes from her studio album, Sittin' on Top of the World. The single was released on October 3, 1998. The song peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suddenly (LeAnn Rimes song)</span> 2003 single by LeAnn Rimes

"Suddenly" is a song by American country music artist LeAnn Rimes, released as the third and final single from her fifth studio album Twisted Angel (2002) on February 24, 2003. The song was written by Desmond Child and Andreas Carlsson and produced by the former along with Peter Amato and Gregg Pagani. The song was included in the soundtrack for the 2003 box-office bomb View from the Top.

<i>Remnants</i> (LeAnn Rimes album) 2016 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

Remnants is the fifteenth studio album by American country and pop singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes. It was released in the United Kingdom and Europe on October 28, 2016. The album was released in the United States on February 3, 2017. It is the first and only album released by Rimes under her contract with RCA Records, following the end of her contract with Curb Records.

Martin Kevin Walsh is an American guitarist, songwriter, arranger, composer and record producer. In 1979 Walsh had the opportunity to play on his first Billboard charting song, "Love Pains", by Yvonne Elliman. During his career as a session musician in the 1980s, Walsh participated as a guitarist on hits "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" by Barbara Mandrell, "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton, "She Works Hard for the Money" by Donna Summer and "Heartlight" by Neil Diamond. Among Walsh's credits on albums of artists such as John Denver, Eddie Kendricks, Seals and Crofts, Julio Iglesias, Kenny Rogers and John Fogerty, he was also a touring musician with Supertramp., and took part in recording the albums Brother Where You Bound in 1985 and Free as a Bird in 1987. Walsh perform in three LeAnn Rimes' albums in the late 1990s, Sittin' on Top of the World (1998), LeAnn Rimes (1999) and I Need You (2001)

<i>All-Time Greatest Hits</i> (LeAnn Rimes album) 2015 greatest hits album by LeAnn Rimes

All-Time Greatest Hits is the fourth greatest hits album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes. The album was released on February 3, 2015, by Curb Records. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

References

  1. Review in Allmusic
  2. "Billboard - Google Books". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 28, 1998. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  3. LeAnn Rimes – Looking Through Your Eyes / Commitment (CD Single). The Hit Label, Curb Records. 1998. CUBC 32. Taken from the album Sittin' on Top of the World
  4. 1 2 Sittin' on Top of the World (CD booklet). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records. 1998. 77901.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Allmusic review
  6. 1 2 3 4 Nash, Alanna (1998-05-08). "Sitting On Top of World Music Review". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 2018-03-30.
  7. 1 2 Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
  8. 1 2 James Hunter (1998-06-25). "LeAnn Rimes - Sittin' on Top of the World". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  9. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 692. ISBN   9780743201698.
  10. "Jackson, Rimes recapture magic of classic country music". Observer-Reporter, republished from Fort Worth Star Telegram . November 3, 1999. p. B4. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  11. "Sittin' on Top of the World: LeAnn Rimes: Music". Amazon.com (UK), Amazon.com, Inc. 1999. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  12. "Sittin' on Top of the World: LeAnn Rimes: Music". Amazon.com (Germany), Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  13. Sittin' on Top of the World (CD). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Denon Records. 1998. COCB-83083.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Sittin' on Top of the World (CD). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records. 1998. 491258 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Sittin' on Top of the World (CD). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records/Warner Strategic Marketing International. 1998. 0927-42453-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Sittin' on Top of the World (CD). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records/BMG Africa. 1998. CDCURB(WF)028.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. 1 2 3 4 "LeAnn Rimes – Sittin On Top Of The World (Album)". Ultratop . Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  18. 1 2 3 "allmusic. Sittin On Top Of The World > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  19. Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine . Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved on 2011-08-22.
  20. Chartverfolgung – Rimes,LeAnn Archived 2012-09-12 at the Wayback Machine . Musicline.de. Retrieved on 2011-08-22.
  21. オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 [ dead link ]
  22. Leann Rimes – Sittin' On Top Of The World. Chart Stats (1998-12-26). Retrieved on 2011-08-22.
  23. Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine . Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved on 2011-08-22.
  24. Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine . Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved on 2011-08-22.
  25. 1 2 Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1998-12-26). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN   0006-2510.{{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  26. "Top Country Albums". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 25, 1999. p. YE-64. ISSN   0006-2510.
  27. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  28. "Canadian album certifications – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World". Music Canada.
  29. "British album certifications – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World". British Phonographic Industry.
  30. "American album certifications – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin on Top of the World". Recording Industry Association of America.