Take Me as I Am (Faith Hill album) explained

Take Me as I Am
Type:	studio
Artist:	Faith Hill
Cover:	Faith Hill - Take Me As I Am.jpg
Released:	October 12, 1993
Recorded:	July 1993
Studio:	Woodland Recording Studios, Midtown Tone and Volume, and The Soundshop, Nashville, Tennessee, US
Genre:	Country
Length:	34:07
Label:	Warner Bros. Nashville
Producer:	Scott Hendricks, Michael Clute, Gary Burr
Next Title:	It Matters to Me
Next Year:	1995

Take Me as I Am is the debut studio album by American country music singer Faith Hill, released on October 12, 1993, by Warner Bros. Nashville. The album has been certified 3× platinum in the United States for shipments of three million copies.

Four singles were released from the album. The first two—"Wild One" and "Piece of My Heart"—reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1994. "Wild One," the tale of a rebellious teen-aged girl in conflict with her parents' more conservative ways, was the lead-off single, spending four weeks at No. 1 that January. "Piece of My Heart", a cover of the 1967 song by Erma Franklin, was issued as the follow-up. The third single, "But I Will", also charted, and the title track reached No. 2 in 1994.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard stated that on "But I Will", "the power of her pliable, pure country voice has never been better showcased than on this heartfelt ballad about a woman who's had just about enough."^[1]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Scott Hendricks; except "Just Around the Eyes" produced by Michael Clute and Gary Burr.

Personnel

As listed in liner notes.

All tracks except "Just Around the Eyes"

• Gary Burr – background vocals
• John Catchings – cello
• Bill Cuomo – synthesizer
• Stuart Duncan – mandolin, fiddle
• Paul Franklin – steel guitar, Dobro
• Dann Huff – electric guitar
• John Barlow Jarvis – piano
• Mary Ann Kennedy – background vocals
• Mark Luna – background vocals
• Brent Mason – electric guitar
• Terry McMillan – congas, cymbals, tambourine
• Don Potter – acoustic guitar
• Michael Rhodes – bass guitar
• Pam Rose – background vocals
• Victoria Shaw – background vocals
• Karen Staley – background vocals
• Larry Stewart – background vocals
• Cindy Richardson Walker – background vocals
• Ron Wallace – background vocals
• Lari White – background vocals
• Lonnie Wilson – drums

On "Just Around the Eyes"

• Gary Burr – background vocals
• Jerry Douglas – dobro
• Rob Hajacos – fiddle
• Terry McMillan – percussion
• Edgar Meyer – acoustic bass guitar
• Harry Stinson – drums
• Biff Watson – acoustic guitar
• Glenn Worf – electric bass guitar

Production

• Producers: Scott Hendricks (all tracks except "Just Around the Eyes"); Mike Clute and Gary Burr ("Just Around the Eyes" only)
• Assistant producer: John Kunz
• Engineers: Mike Clute, John Kelton
• Assistant engineers: Jon "JD" Dickson, Amy Hughes, John Kunz, Shawn McLean, Wayne Morgan, Herb Tassin
• Mixing: Scott Hendricks
• Mastering: Denny Purcell
• Overdubs: Scott Hendricks, John Kunz
• Art direction: Laura LiPuma
• Design: Garrett Rittenberry
• Photography: Aaron Rapoport
• Make-up: Eric Bernard, Beth Katz

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993–1994)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (RPM)	51
Canadian Country Albums (RPM)	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[2]	23
Chart (1995)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[3]	40

Notes and References

1. Larry . Flick . Single Reviews . . May 28, 1994 . 51 . March 18, 2021 . Larry Flick.
2. Web site: Top Country Albums – Year-End 1994. Billboard. February 22, 2021.
3. Web site: Top Country Albums – Year-End 1995. Billboard. February 22, 2021.