Sittin' on Top of the World (LeAnn Rimes album) explained
| Sittin' on Top of the World |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | LeAnn Rimes |
| Cover: | Sittinontopoftheworld leannrimes.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Released: | May 5, 1998 |
| Recorded: | 1997 |
| Studio: | Rosewood Studio (Tyler, Texas) |
| Genre: | [1] |
| Length: | 60:12 |
| Label: | Curb |
| Producer: | Wilbur C. Rimes |
| Prev Year: | 1997 |
| Next Title: | LeAnn Rimes |
| Next Year: | 1999 |
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".
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",[2] "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".
Critical reception
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." While Rimes's vocal abilities were praised, both reviewers noted that a number of songs on the album were "oversung".
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". 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".[3] In a more positive review, James Hunter of Rolling Stone described the cover as "neither travesty nor triumph; it's just earnestly delivered". 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".
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.
Personnel
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
- 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
Weekly charts
| Chart (1998–99) | Peak
position |
|---|
| Australian Albums Chart[5] | 42 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 28 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 15 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums[6] | 2 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 27 |
| German Albums Chart[7] | 42 |
| Japanese Oricon Albums Chart[8] | 69 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 34 |
| UK Albums Chart[9] | 11 |
| US Billboard 200[10] | 3 |
| US Billboard Top Country Albums | 2 | |
Year end-chart
| Chart (1998) | Position |
|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Albums[11] | 93 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums[12] | 7 |
| US Billboard 200[13] | 69 |
| US Billboard Top Country Albums | 10 |
| Chart (1999) | Position |
|---|
| US Billboard Top Country Albums[14] | 35 | |
Certifications
Notes and References
- https://www.allmusic.com/album/sittin-on-top-of-the-world-mw0000036305 Review in Allmusic
- LeAnn Rimes – Looking Through Your Eyes / Commitment . CD Single . 1998 . The Hit Label, Curb Records . CUBC 32 . Taken from the album Sittin' on Top of the World.
- Jackson, Rimes recapture magic of classic country music. Observer-Reporter, republished from Fort Worth Star Telegram. B4. November 3, 1999. June 27, 2024.
- Sittin' on Top of the World . LeAnn Rimes . 1998 . CD booklet . Curb Records . 77901.
- Web site: LeAnn Rimes – Sittin On Top Of The World (Album). Ultratop. 2011-08-22.
- http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3580&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=khshdrmucdbma4k8uctvlu14d0 Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada
- http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Rimes,LeAnn/?type=longplay Chartverfolgung – Rimes,LeAnn
- http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=490916&samecd=1&chart_kbn=11A&linkcd=30058734 オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」
- https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/Sittin%27%20On%20Top%20Of%20The%20World Leann Rimes – Sittin' On Top Of The World
- Web site: allmusic. Sittin On Top Of The World > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums. 2011-08-22. Allmusic.
- http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7015&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=khshdrmucdbma4k8uctvlu14d0 Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada
- http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7009&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=khshdrmucdbma4k8uctvlu14d0 Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada
- Book: Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . Billboard . 1998-12-26 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . 0006-2510.
- Billboard. Top Country Albums. December 25, 1999. 111. 52. 0006-2510. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. YE-64.
