Maps of Music

Spitfire (2013)

Where the lyrics of Spitfire take you, and where it was really made.

Originally due for late 2012, the album was pushed back for reasons that were never explained, and its first single came out months before the album itself.

Key places

Capitol Studios, Hollywood (2013)

Recording site Capitol Studios — Capitol Studios in Hollywood is listed among the recording locations for Spitfire. The source does not give the exact recording dates here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Surf Shack Studios, Los Angeles (2013)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Surf Shack Studios is listed as a recording location for Spitfire in Los Angeles. The pin marks the city center, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Blackbird Studio, Nashville (2013)

Recording site Nashville — Blackbird Studio is listed as a recording location for Spitfire in Nashville. The pin marks the city center, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Spitfire is the thirteenth studio album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes
• First released 15 April 2013 in the UK and Australia as a digital download from Curb Records
• UK CD followed on 22 April 2013; Australia and Germany CD on 26 April 2013
• US and Canada release exclusive to Walmart stores on 4 June 2013
• It is the final album Rimes released under her contract with Curb Records
• Thirteen tracks, not counting exclusive live bonus tracks

Background

• Rimes began work on the album in 2011, shortly after her cover album Lady & Gentlemen
• The album first had fifteen tracks and was trimmed to thirteen
• Rimes described it as a peek into her world, covering emotions from anger to love and from frustration to letting go
• Co-producer Darrell Brown proposed telling the story in chronological order, but that did not work sonically, so the songs are not in order
• Covers include Missy Higgins' Where I Stood and Buddy and Julie Miller's Gasoline and Matches
• Guests include Alison Krauss, Jeff Beck, Rob Thomas and Dan Tyminski
• Rimes had been with Curb Records for almost eighteen years
• In March 2012, Rimes and Brown gave a live preview of songs at Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood

Recording

• Recording locations: Capitol Studios in Hollywood, Surf Shack Studios in Los Angeles, Blackbird Studio in Nashville
• Release was first scheduled for late 2012 and was pushed back for unknown reasons

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born August 28, 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi; raised in Garland, Texas.
• Began in musical theatre and local talent shows; appeared on Star Search and Johnnie High's Country Music Revue.
• Released independent albums Everybody's Sweetheart (1991) and All That (1994).

Career

• Signed with Curb Records in 1996; the single "Blue" reached the top 10 on Billboard Hot Country Songs.
• Blue (1996) won Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance, the youngest winner of both.
• "How Do I Live" (1997) became one of the best-selling singles of the 1990s.
• Has placed more than 40 singles on international charts and sold more than 48 million records worldwide.
• Acted in films and television, and coached on The Voice Australia and The Voice UK in 2024.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critics gave mixed reviews; many praised Rimes for her third country album in a row and called it one of her best so far
• Others criticized the subject matter of the songs and said none were commercially suited for radio
• AllMusic (Stephen Thomas Erlewine): called it one of Rimes's better records and praised her cover choices; gave four out of five stars
• Country Weekly (Jon Freeman): said Rimes is also a damn good country singer and that the album is not all pretty or comfortable
• Great American Country (Daryl Addison): praised it as one of the year's most honest and revealing releases
• Taste of Country (Billy Dukes): called it a fascinating album, though the song 'Borrowed' was called awkward
• USA Today (Brian Mansfield): said Rimes finds her genuine voice here at 30, as fine and true as any country album released that year
• Associated Press (Michael McCall): gave three out of three stars and said Spitfire tops all of her albums
• Daily Express (Stephin Unwin): rated it three out of five
• The New York Times (Alan Light): said it was unclear how country fans would receive it and called Rimes far from a sure thing commercially

Records

• UK Country Albums Chart: debuted at number seven, peaked at number three the following week
• Australian Country Albums Chart: entered at number forty, peaked at number nineteen
• US Billboard 200: peaked at number thirty-six
• Billboard Top Country Albums: peaked at number nine
• Billboard 200: fell to number seventy-eight by the week of 29 June 2013

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was first planned for late 2012 but pushed back for unknown reasons, and its first single 'What Have I Done' came out in November 2012, months before the album.
• The US Walmart edition includes a live version of 'Borrowed'; the Amazon digital release has a live version of the title track; the US iTunes version has a live 'What Have I Done'.
• Rimes said she wrote 'What Have I Done' about a friend, though it seemed to foresee things that later happened.
• Rimes called 'Borrowed' a very controversial topic to write about and said she felt guilty and in complete limbo at the time.
• In 2018, Rimes re-recorded 'Borrowed' as a duet with Stevie Nicks.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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