Unbroke | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 7, 2024 | |||
Studio | Sound Emporium | |||
Genre | Country [1] | |||
Length | 41:59 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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Sara Evans chronology | ||||
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Singles from Unbroke | ||||
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Unbroke is the eleventh studio album by American country artist Sara Evans. It was released on June 7, 2024 by Melody Place Records and Evans's own Born to Fly record label. The 11-track album chronicles her separation from husband Jay Barker and their reunification. The songs on the album were mostly written by Evans and were co-produced with Jeff Trott. It was preceded by the release of the lead single "Pride" on March 21, 2024.
During the 2000s, Sara Evans found commercial success recording both country ballads and uptempo love songs. Five of her singles topped the country charts, including "Suds in the Bucket" (2004), "A Real Fine Place to Start" (2005) and "A Little Bit Stronger" (2011). [2] [3] In 2015, she left her long time label, RCA Records, and founded her own recording company. Evans has released two more studio albums independently since her departure. [2] In 2023, it was announced that she signed a new contract with Melody Place Records and that her next album would be released through the label. [4] During this time, Evans and her husband Jay Barker separated. He was then arrested after an incident involving the couple and their daughter in 2022. [5] Evans then filed for divorce but ultimately reunited with Barker after the couple underwent counseling services. [3] During this period, she began writing "really sad songs" about her difficulties with Barker. [6] Ultimately, Evans chose to record an album that centered on the couple's separation and reunification. [3]
Unbroke was recorded at Sound Emporium, a studio located in Nashville, Tennessee. The project was co-produced by Evans and Jeff Trott. [7] Known for his production work with Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks, Jeff Trott was sought out by Evans. The two met at Trott's home where they unpacked her personal challenges and started writing songs. [6] Evans believed that Trott "really understood" her "vision for the project" and decided he would serve has her co-producer. [8]
Unbroke consists of 11 tracks, ten of which were co-written by Evans. [1] [9] The album's songs were described by Billboard as having "traditional country lyricism" that resembled George Jones or Tammy Wynette. [3] Evans described the album's concept as going "from break down to breakthrough". [8] The songs discuss that challenging feelings she had and ends with her reconciliation with Barker. The opening track "Pride" was written following Barker was arrested and her feelings surrounding the incident. [3] The second track "21 Days" is an uptempo song that was inspired by a conversation Evans had with her therapist about separating from Barker. "A relationship can be a habit, or you can take 21 days and start a good habit like running every day," she told Woman's World . [6] The third track "Mask" described the emotional abuse Evans faced with Barker. [3]
The fourth track, "Cleaning Out Your Closet", was described by Evans as being about the damage alcoholism can have on others. [6] In the ninth track, "Better Than This", Evans explores the lighter times of her marriage to Barker. [3] On the title track, Evans explained that the song has "a double meaning" because it is about the "generational trauma" people bring into relationships but also about how her relationship with Barker has ended "in a good place". [8] The final track "Gypsy Ways" describes being away from a partner. [6]
Unbroke was preceded by the release of the album's lead single "Pride". The song was released on March 21, 2024. [10] "Pride" debuted (and peaked) at number 60 on the Billboard Canada Country chart week dated April 13, 2024, becoming Evans' first single to chart there since "Slow Me Down". [11] The same day of the song's release also saw the debut of Evans' podcast called Diving in Deep with Sara Evans. [3] A music video for "Pride" premiered on March 27. [12] Unbroke was then released on June 7, 2024 by Melody Place Records, in conjunction with Evans's Born to Fly imprint. It was distributed as both a compact disc and a vinyl LP. [7] It was also released to digital platforms, which includes Apple Music. [9]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Pride" | 3:40 | |
2. | "21 Days" |
| 3:46 |
3. | "Mask" |
| 3:29 |
4. | "Cleaning Out Your Closet" |
| 3:34 |
5. | "Heartless" |
| 4:09 |
6. | "Downfall" |
| 4:03 |
7. | "I Wanna Be Wrong" |
| 4:04 |
8. | "Sorry Now" |
| 3:29 |
9. | "Better Than This" |
| 3:56 |
10. | "Unbroke" |
| 4:59 |
11. | "Gypsy Ways" |
| 2:45 |
Total length: | 41:59 |
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Unbroke. [7]
Musical personnel
| Technical personnel
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Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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North America | June 7, 2024 |
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| [7] [9] |
Brazil |
| [13] | ||
France | [14] | |||
Mexico | [15] | |||
Sara Lynn Evans is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is also credited as a record producer, actress, and author. She had five songs reach the number one spot on the Billboard country songs chart and has sold over six million albums. Nine additional singles have reached the top ten of the Billboard country chart, including "I Could Not Ask for More", "I Keep Looking", and "Cheatin'". Among her top 20 charting singles are "Saints & Angels", "Backseat of a Greyhound Bus", and "As If". She has won accolades from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. She has also been nominated for several more accolades from both associations, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year.
Deborah Cox is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, she began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before becoming a professional backing vocalist for Celine Dion. In 1994, Cox relocated to the United States and was signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis, releasing her self-titled debut album the following year. Her second studio album, One Wish (1998), was certified platinum in the United States. It was marked by the commercial success of the pop crossover single "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", which would become her most successful entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number two and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks. Cox signed with J Records for her third studio album The Morning After (2002), which saw moderate commercial success.
Jamie O'Neal is an Australian country music singer and songwriter.
Born to Fly is the third studio album by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in October 2000 via RCA Records Nashville. The album produced four singles with its title track, "I Could Not Ask for More", "Saints & Angels", and "I Keep Looking", all of which reached within the Top 20 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The title track reached number one, "I Could Not Ask for More" and "I Keep Looking" both broke the Top 5 at numbers 2 and 5 respectively, and "Saints & Angels" peaked at number 16. Born to Fly has been Evans' highest-selling album to date, having been certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for U.S. sales of two million copies. The album was also one of the most successful of the year. Evans was nominated for five CMA Awards: Album of the Year; song, single, and music video ; and Female Vocalist of the Year. She won her first CMA award for music video of the year. The international version of the album includes a bonus track, "You", which was later released in North America as a bonus track on her 2005 album Real Fine Place. Born to Fly was a defining album for Evans. Her earlier albums had more of a neotraditional country sound, while all of her later albums had a more crossover-friendly country pop sound, similar to Martina McBride and Faith Hill.
"No Place That Far" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Sara Evans. It was released in September 1998 as the second single and title track from her album of the same name. It was her first Top 40 single on the Hot Country Songs chart, as well as her first number one hit. An acoustic version of "No Place That Far" without backing vocals was included on Evans' compilation album Feels Like Home. Evans wrote this song with Tom Shapiro and Tony Martin.
The discography of American country music artist Sara Evans consists of 11 studio albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays, one video album, three additional albums, 44 singles, and four other charted songs. After briefly recording with "E and S Records", Evans reworked her musical direction and signed with RCA Nashville in 1997. Her debut album, Three Chords and the Truth, was released in July 1997. Although the singles were unsuccessful, it was critically acclaimed. Her second studio album was released in September 1998 entitled No Place That Far. The title track reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart. The success helped the album earn gold certification in the United States. Evans' third studio album, Born to Fly, was released in October 2000. Born to Fly reached number six on the Top Country Albums chart and the top-sixty of the Billboard 200. Its title track became her second number-one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart. The album also spawned the hits "I Could Not Ask for More", "Saints & Angels", and "I Keep Looking". It is the best-selling album of Evans' career, having been certified 2× platinum in the United States. In August 2003, she released the pop-inspired Restless, whose lead single "Perfect" reached the Top 5. Restless was certified platinum in the United States shortly after the success of its third single "Suds in the Bucket", which became Evans' third number one hit.
"Someone Else's Dream" is a song co-produced and recorded by American country music artist Faith Hill. Written by Trey Bruce and Craig Wiseman and co-produced with then-husband Scott Hendricks, it was released on February 16, 1996, as the third single from her second studio album It Matters to Me (1995).'
Greatest Hits is a 2007 compilation album by American country music singer Sara Evans. It features ten of her greatest hits from her second through fifth albums, as well as four newly recorded tracks.
"Born to Fly" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in June 2000 as the first single and title track from her 2000 album of the same name. It became Evans' second number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in January 2001. Evans wrote this song with Marcus Hummon and Darrell Scott.
"I Could Not Ask for More" is a song composed by American songwriter Diane Warren and originally recorded and released in February 1999, by American singer-songwriter Edwin McCain for the original soundtrack of the 1999 romantic drama film Message in a Bottle, starring Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn and Paul Newman. It was also on his third studio album Messenger (1999) and became a Billboard-charted top 40 single in the summer of 1999.
"I Just Wanna Be Mad" is a song written by Kelley Lovelace and Lee Thomas Miller and recorded by Canadian country music artist Terri Clark. The song was released on August 19, 2002, as the lead single to her fifth studio album Pain to Kill (2003) through Mercury Nashville. The song was originally offered to John Michael Montgomery, but he passed on it.
"Believe Me Baby " is a song recorded by American country music artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released in July 1996 as the lead single from her album, Everybody Knows. It was Yearwood's fourth single out of five during the course of her career to reach number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
"Feels Just Like a Love Song" is a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Sara Evans. It was released to country radio in July 2009, and as a digital download on August 18, 2009. "Feels Just Like a Love Song" is the twenty-third single release of Evans' career.
"A Little Bit Stronger" is a song written by Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, and Hillary Scott and recorded by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in September 2010 and as the first single from Evans' 2011 album Stronger. The song was also included on the soundtrack for the 2010 movie Country Strong and released as the second single from the film's soundtrack album. The song became Evans' fifth and final number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in May 2011. It is also her first single to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Stronger is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released on March 8, 2011, via RCA Records Nashville. Her first since 2005's Real Fine Place, the album came after a divorce from her now ex-husband Craig Schelske. Initially set to be released in 2009, the album was delayed due to the divorce. Evans was heavily involved in the writing for the album, co-writing seven of the eleven tracks. She co-produced the album with Nathan Chapman, Tony Brown, and Marti Frederiksen.
"Three Chords and the Truth" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in July 1997 as the second single from Evans' debut album of the same name in July 1997. Despite its minor success on the Billboard country chart, it was critically acclaimed for its retro-themed production. Since its release, "Three Chords and the Truth" has been identified with Evans' early career persona as a traditionally-oriented country music vocalist.
Copy That is a studio album by American country artist Sara Evans. The album was released on May 15, 2020 via Born to Fly Records and was produced by Jarrad K. The project was Evans's tenth studio recording and her first album to consist entirely of covers material. A collection of thirteen songs were chosen for the album and it included two additional artists on the album.
"Marquee Sign" is a song written by Sara Evans, Heather Morgan and Jimmy Robbins, and recorded by Evans for her 2017 studio album, Words. It was the lead single off the album and was released via her own recording label entitled Born to Fly Records. The song was Evans' first single release in three years since leaving RCA Nashville and would be one of three singles spawned from the Words album. The song was received positively by music critics and writers.
The discography of American country artist Jamie O'Neal contains six studio albums, 25 singles, 11 music videos and two album appearances. Her debut album Shiver was released in October 2000 by Mercury Records Nashville. It reached number 14 on the US Top Country Albums chart and certified gold in sales from the Recording Industry Association of America. The album spawned a total of four singles. Its first two releases, "There Is No Arizona" and "When I Think About Angels", topped the US Hot Country Songs chart. Both singles also made the top 40 of the US Hot 100. Capitol Records Nashville only released an advanced promotional copy of her next studio album Every Little Thing in 2003. Its title track was released as a single the same year and made the US country songs top 40.
"Pride" is a song by American country music singer Sara Evans. It was released on March 21, 2024, as the lead single to her eleventh studio album, Unbroke. Evans co-wrote the track with Madi Diaz and Sean McConnell, and co-produced it with Jeff Trott.