Based on a True Story (Kimberley Locke album) explained

Based on a True Story
Type:Album
Artist:Kimberley Locke
Cover:Kimlocke-truestory.jpg
Released:May 1, 2007
Recorded:2005–07
Genre:Adult contemporary pop, R&B
Length:43:04
Label:Curb
Producer:Mark J. Feist, Damon Sharpe, Kimberley Locke, Jerry J. Sharell, Bryan Stewart
Prev Title:One Love
Prev Year:2004
Next Title:Christmas
Next Year:2007

Based on a True Story is the second album of American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke. Locke chose this title because the songs on the album, eight of which were co-written by her, tell the story of the emotions she dealt with during and after her relationship with her ex-fiance. She found that when she sat and talked with her collaborators about the issues she was working through, the songs began to write themselves.

Background and recording

Locke co-wrote ten of the album's songs,[1] which she described as a "very personal and confessional" process.[2]

Composition

According to AllMusic's Andy Kellman, Based on a True Story is a pop album with influences from country, rock, and adult contemporary. Kellman cited the track "Doin' It Tonight" as an example of "urban-oriented dance-pop". Jonathan Bernstein of Entertainment Weekly the songs "Any Which Way" and "Everyday Angels" as a "lurching rocker" and an "Oprah-ready anthem of gratitude", respectively. He described the single "Change" as a "cathartic country ballad".[3] Locke covers Freda Payne's 1970 single "Band of Gold" as a bonus track; she performed the song as a contestant on American Idol, along with Frenchie Davis.[4] Bernstein wrote that Locke provides "a reverent cover of a chestnut".

Critical reception

Gordon Ely of Billboard praised it as "powerfully performed and perfectly presented", and referred to Locke as "a major new artist in the making". Kellman praised the album as a "polished, professional set", though he felt the songs were "samey and not all that memorable". Despite his positive response to Locke's experimentation with musical genres, Bernstein wrote that she "fails to inject personality into these songs".

Track listing

Cut tracks

Only a month before the release of the album, a decision was made for Kimberley to record her versions of "Fall" and "Band of Gold". The label was so impressed by these recordings that two songs that had previously been recorded, "What I Gotta Do" and "Hey DJ (Let That Song Play)", were cut from the album. They remain unreleased.

Charts

Singles

Charting
year
SingleChartsPeak
position
2007"Change"U.S. Hot Dance Club Play 11
U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents4
U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks6
U.S. Top Dance Club Tracks of 200718
U.S. Top Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks of 200716
2008"Band of Gold"U.S. Hot Dance Club Play 11
UK Commercial Club 16
U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks9
U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents19
Canadian Adult Contemporary21
U.S. Top Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks of 200739
UK Upfront Club 152
"Fall"U.S. Hot Dance Club Play 11
U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks17

1 Remixed dance versions.

Notes and References

  1. Based on a True Story. May 21, 2007. Ely. Gordon. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20070521202005/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3i53270960c7c27f1c8659bd8c91670e8a. May 21, 2007. dead.
  2. 963. 28. Kimberely Locke. Hensley. Dennis. May 23, 2006. The Advocate. November 14, 2018.
  3. Based on a True Story. Bernstein. Jonathan. May 11, 2007. Entertainment Weekly. https://web.archive.org/web/20180626054601/http://ew.com/article/2007/05/11/based-true-story/. June 26, 2018. live. mdy-all.
  4. Web site: AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman. Kellman. Andy. AllMusic. https://web.archive.org/web/20160519232332/http://www.allmusic.com/album/based-on-a-true-story-mw0000775027. May 19, 2016. live. mdy-all.
  5. Mansfield, Brian "Idol Presence on Album Chart Back Down to 3", USA Today, July 30, 2008