Wikipedia

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

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".

Sittin' on Top of the World
Studio album by
LeAnn Rimes
ReleasedMay 5, 1998
Recorded1997
StudioRosewood Studio (Tyler, Texas)
Genre
Length60:12
LabelCurb
ProducerWilbur 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]

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

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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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [5]
Entertainment WeeklyC[6]
Robert ChristgauC+[7]
Rolling Stone     [8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [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

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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

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Sittin' on Top of the World track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Commitment"
  • Tony Colton
  • Tony Marty
  • Bobby Wood
4:37
2."Looking Through Your Eyes" (From the Quest for Camelot Motion Picture)
4:05
3."Undeniable"
3:44
4."Feels Like Home"Diane Warren4:30
5."Surrender"
4:06
6."These Arms of Mine"
  • Gail Thompson
  • Jeff Tweel
2:57
7."Nothin' New Under the Moon"
3:31
8."When Am I Gonna Get Over You"
3:27
9."Rock Me"
  • Allen
  • Van Hoy
3:42
10."More Than Anyone Deserves"
  • Rimes
  • Ron Grimes
4:19
11."Insensitive"Anne Loree4:19
12."All the Lovin' and Hurtin'"
  • Allen
  • Van Hoy
3:57
13."Sittin' on Top of the World"Amanda Marshall4:15
14."The Heart Never Forgets"
3:52
15."Purple Rain"Prince4:52
Total length:60:12
UK edition[11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue"Bill Mack2:47
2."How Do I Live"Warren5:05
Total length:68:07
International edition[12][13][14][15]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."How Do I Live" (Extended Mix)Warren4:56
Total length:65:13

Personnel

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Compiled from liner notes.[4]

  • LeAnn Rimes – lead vocals, backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 11, 13), percussion (9)
  • Steve Nathan – keyboards (1)
  • Gary Leach – keyboards (1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 14), backing vocals (1–7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14), acoustic piano (3, 9, 13, 14), acoustic guitar (13), arrangements
  • Kelly Glenn – keyboards (3, 8, 15), acoustic piano (7), backing vocals (15)
  • Randy Fouts – acoustic piano (6, 12)
  • Marty Walsh – electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14), acoustic guitar (1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 14)
  • Glynn Flemming – electric guitar (2, 15)
  • Jerry Metheny – electric guitar (2, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15), acoustic guitar (3, 10)
  • Milo Deering – acoustic guitar (1, 2, 6, 8, 11–15), mandolin (5), steel guitar (5–8, 12, 14), electric guitar (6, 12), fiddle (6, 8, 10), dobro (10)
  • Kevin Bailey – acoustic guitar (3, 10)
  • Junior Knight – acoustic guitar (3), steel guitar (9)
  • Curtis Randall – bass (1–5, 7–11, 13, 14, 15), backing vocals (9, 15)
  • Bob Gentry – bass (6, 12), assisting arrangements
  • Dan Wojciechowski – drums
  • Carl Albrecht – percussion (1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13)
  • Fred Glieber – percussion (3, 7)
  • Greg Hunt – assisting arrangements
  • Wilbur C. Rimes – assisting arrangements
  • Perry Coleman – backing vocals (1, 5, 13, 14)
  • Chastity Marie – backing vocals (1, 5, 14)
  • Stephanie Marie – backing vocals (1, 5, 14)
  • Rita Baloche – backing vocals (3, 6, 7, 10, 12)
  • Debi Lee – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 10)
  • Matthew Ward – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 10)
  • Terry Casburn – backing vocals (6, 12)
  • Bryan White – backing vocals (8)

Production

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  • Wilbur C. Rimes – producer, mixing
  • Greg Hunt – chief engineer, mixing, mastering
  • Austin Deptula – assistant engineer, editing
  • Gary Leach – assistant engineer, mixing, editing
  • J. B. Patterson – assistant engineer
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California) – mastering location
  • Sue Allen – design coordinator
  • Glenn Sweitzer and Fresh Design – art direction, design
  • Andrew Eccles – photography
  • Trish Townsend – wardrobe stylist
  • Debra Wingo – hair stylist, make-up

Charts

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References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e Allmusic review
  6. ^ a b c d Nash, Alanna (1998-05-08). "Sitting On Top of World Music Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2018-03-30.
  7. ^ a b Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
  8. ^ a b 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 (CD). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Denon Records. 1998. COCB-83083.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ 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)
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ "Australiancharts.com – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  17. ^ "Austriancharts.at – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2269". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  19. ^ "RPM Country Albums for May 25, 1998". RPM. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "European Top 100 Albums". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 24. June 13, 1998. p. 12.
  22. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  23. ^ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」[dead link‍]
  24. ^ "Swisscharts.com – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  25. ^ "LeAnn Rimes | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  26. ^ "LeAnn Rimes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  27. ^ "LeAnn Rimes Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  28. ^ Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved on 2011-08-22.
  29. ^ Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved on 2011-08-22.
  30. ^ a b Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1998-12-26. ISSN 0006-2510.
  31. ^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 25, 1999. p. YE-64. ISSN 0006-2510.
  32. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  33. ^ "Canadian album certifications – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World". Music Canada.
  34. ^ "British album certifications – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin' on Top of the World". British Phonographic Industry.
  35. ^ "American album certifications – LeAnn Rimes – Sittin on Top of the World". Recording Industry Association of America.
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