The Secret of Life | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1996 | |||
Recorded | 1995–1996 | |||
Genre | Country, folk | |||
Length | 42:12 | |||
Label | Imprint | |||
Producer | Green Daniel | |||
Gretchen Peters chronology | ||||
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The Secret of Life is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters. It was released in 1996, and featured a minor hit single in the track, "When You Are Old". The song reached number 68 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The album was the first release for Imprint Records. [1]
Faith Hill covered the title track and took it to number 4 on the country chart in the States (while also scraping into the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100). Trisha Yearwood recorded her own version of "On a Bus to St. Cloud" for her full-length Thinkin' About You (two years prior to the release of this album), while Martina McBride has recorded 3 songs: "This Uncivil War", "When You Are Old" and "Independence Day" which she took to number 12 on the U.S. country chart.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AllMusic gave the album three stars (out of a possible five), comparing her to fellow singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, calling the songs "highly introspective, thoughtful and intelligent". [2] An uncredited review in Billboard said that Peters "proves to be as satisfying a singer as she is a writer." [1]
All tracks are written by Gretchen Peters except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Waiting For the Light to Turn Green" | Peters, Suzy Bogguss | 3:42 |
2. | "Border Town" | 4:07 | |
3. | "I Ain't Ever Satisfied" | Steve Earle | 3:50 |
4. | "I Was Looking For You" | 3:58 | |
5. | "On a Bus to St. Cloud" | 3:55 | |
6. | "Over Africa" | 4:10 | |
7. | "This Uncivil War" | 4:08 | |
8. | "The Secret of Life" | 4:16 | |
9. | "A Room With a View" | 3:39 | |
10. | "Circus Girl" | 3:34 | |
11. | "When You Are Old" | 2:53 | |
12. | "Independence Day" | 3:44 |
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