I Need You (album)
I Need You is the third compilation album from American recording artist LeAnn Rimes. The album was first released on January 30, 2001, through Curb Records to help satisfy Rimes' recording contract obligations during litigation with the label and her management. Rimes publicly disowned the album just days after its release, causing it to be discontinued. The album was then officially released by Rimes on March 26, 2002, with four additional tracks and a new recording: "Light the Fire Within". In 2008, the album was released as a package with Rimes' debut album, Blue (1996).
I Need You
January 30, 2001 (original)
March 26, 2002 (re-release)
1999–2002
- SARM West Coast, The Town House (London, England)
- Royal Tone, The Village Recorders (Los Angeles, California)
- East Iris (Nashville, Tennessee)
59:59
- Wilbur C. Rimes
- LeAnn Rimes
- Chuck Howard
- Mike Curb
- Trevor Horn
- Peter Collins
- David Foster
I Need You received mixed reviews by music critics, who praised its pop appeal but criticized the selection of the songs, noting that none of them made a significant impact on the listeners. In the United States, the album peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and reached number ten on the Billboard 200. Internationally, it peaked at number four on the Finnish Albums Chart, number ten on the Canadian Albums Chart, and number eleven on both the Austrian Albums Chart and the Irish Album Chart. The album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), among other organizations, and was certified platinum by both Music Canada and the IFPI Finland.
Release and promotion[edit]
The album was first released on January 30, 2001, by Curb Records.[15] and featured an alternate country version of "But I Do Love You".[16] "You Are" was released on the soundtrack for Angel Eyes after the album's release.[17] "Soon" was also launched after the release of the album on the soundtrack for Driven.[18] After Rimes disowned the 2001 release, it was discontinued, and she officially re-issued the album on March 26, 2002.[19] It contained all ten original tracks from the 2001 release with an extended version of "You Are"; a bonus song, "Light the Fire Within",[19] which Rimes performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Salt Lake City;[20] and four bonus remixes.[19] The 2002 release also contains the version of "But I Do Love You" featured on the Coyote Ugly soundtrack.[19] On May 13, 2008, the 2002 release was packaged together with Rimes' debut album, Blue (1996).[21]
Two promotional singles were released from the album. "You Are" was released in 2001.[22] The song was featured on the soundtrack for Angel Eyes on May 18, 2001,[17] and was included on the Asian release of The Best of LeAnn Rimes,[23] as well as the remixed edition.[24] "You Are" is a pop song[25][26] with a duration of four minutes and fifty-eight seconds,[19] and it was written by Laurie Webb.[27] Mark Huxley at Barnes & Noble.com called the song a "full-on dance-pop".[25] "Soon" was released in 2001[28] as a promotional CD single that consisted of the album version of the song and the Graham Stack Radio Edit of the song.[29] "Soon" is a ballad[25] of three minutes and fifty-three seconds.[19] The song, which was written by Diane Warren, is in the key of D-flat major with Rimes' vocals spanning two octaves, from G3 to E5.[30] The song was featured on the soundtrack for Driven, which was released on April 27, 2001.[18] Mark Huxley at Barnes & Noble.com praised the song, claiming that "Rimes is back on more familiar turf on the big ballad[s]."[25] A review in Billboard stated that the song "leans more towards the AC side then anything resembling true country."[31] It peaked at fourteen on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart.[32]
Commercial performance[edit]
I Need You debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200; with 84,915 copies sold in its first week, falling to number twenty-three in its second week with 54,877 copies sold, number twenty-six with 63,792 copies in its third week, and number forty-two with 40,720 copies in its fourth week.[36] It spent four weeks in the top fifty and a total of thirty weeks in Billboard 200.[37] It also debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums.[38]
Internationally, the album performed well, peaking at number four on the Finnish Albums Chart,[39] number ten on the Canadian Albums Chart,[40] and number eleven on both the Austrian Albums Chart[39] and the Irish Album Charts.[41] The album also peaked at number five on the Swedish Albums Chart[39] and number six on the Swiss Albums Chart.[39] It peaked at number seven on both the UK Albums Chart and the European Top 100 Albums.[42][43]
I Need You also peaked at number five on the year-end charts in Finnish Albums Chart,[44] and thirteen on the Billboard Top Country Albums.[45] The album was certified Gold by the RIAA[46] as well the IFPI Denmark, the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and the British Phonographic Industry[47] and was certified Platinum by both Music Canada and the IFPI Finland.[48]
Notes