Spitfire
Studio album by
LeAnn Rimes
ReleasedApril 15, 2013
Recorded2011–2012
StudioCapitol Recording Studios
Blackbird Studios
Absolute Sound
Surf Shack Studios
Sputnik Sound
Capitol Mastering
GenreCountry
Length47:20
LabelCurb
Producer
LeAnn Rimes chronology
Lady & Gentlemen
(2011)		 Spitfire
(2013)		 Dance Like You Don't Give a.... Greatest Hits Remixes
(2014)
Singles from Spitfire
  1. "What Have I Done"
    Released: November 20, 2012
  2. "Borrowed"
    Released: December 18, 2012
  3. "Spitfire"
    Released: September 10, 2013
  4. "Gasoline and Matches"
    Released: December 23, 2013

Spitfire is the eleventh studio album by American country music singer LeAnn Rimes. It was first released in the United Kingdom and Australia on April 15, 2013, by Curb Records via digital download and a CD release followed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2013, while in Australia and Germany the CD was released on April 26, 2013. In the United States and Canada, the album was released exclusively to Walmart stores on June 4, 2013. It is the final album released by Rimes under her contract with Curb Records.

It garnered positive, mixed, and negative reviews by music critics. Many praised Rimes for her third country album in a row and stated that the album was one of Rimes's best so far, while others criticized the album for the subject topics in the songs and none being "commercially" suited for radio.

Following its release in the UK, the album debuted at number seven on the UK Country Albums Chart and peaked at number three the following week. In Australia, on the week of May 6, 2013, the album entered the Australian Country Album Chart at number forty and peaked at number nineteen. Meanwhile, in the US, the album peaked at number thirty-six on the Billboard 200, while on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart it peaked at number nine.

Background

Album

Rimes began working on Spitfire back in 2011 shortly after the release of her cover album, Lady & Gentlemen.[1] The album originally had fifteen tracks[2] but was condensed down to thirteen tracks (not including the exclusive live bonus tracks). According to Rimes, "[the album] is a peek into my world; who I am, what I've gone through, what my emotions are, it's an intimate conversation between me and whoever's listening. I hope I'm saying things that are hard for others to express."[3] Rimes also stated that the album "covers a range of emotions that I've experienced in my lifetime, from anger to love, from frustrations to letting go," as well as how her and co-producer, Darrell Brown, had "talked about telling that story in chronological order, but that didn't work sonically, so he said, ‘It's the truth…in no particular order.' And isn't that what life is about?"[4] Rimes also noted that "It certainly took me a lot of work to get to this point. And it’s still easier to sing these thoughts than it is to say them out loud. The intimacy in my music is just beginning."[5] Mike Curb also commented on the album stating "We've always known she is a great singer, this album simply proves outright that LeAnn is a great, multi-faceted artist."[6] The album includes a cover of Australian singer, Missy Higgins' "Where I Stood" from Higgins' album, On a Clear Night (2007),[7][8] as well as a cover of Buddy and Julie Miller's "Gasoline and Matches" from their album Written in Chalk (2009),[9] and features Alison Krauss, guitarist Jeff Beck, Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty[5][9] and Dan Tyminski.[10][11] It is Rimes's last contract-obligated release with the label, Curb Records, of which she had been with for almost eighteen years.[7][8][12]

Songs

In an interview with the New York Daily News, Rimes went into the background of two songs on the album. According to Rimes, when speaking about "What Have I Done" noted, "[I] actually wrote it about a friend, but it was almost foreseeing things that were going to happen in a way. I was still with Dean at the time, and he heard the song and knew it was about [Eddie and me] before I did." With "Borrowed", Rimes stated, "Obviously, it was a very controversial topic to write about...As hard as it was for me to write the song, I think it painted a true picture of that situation. I wanted to describe a very stark moment in my life. You just feel in complete limbo, and I felt guilty too; it wasn’t pretty at all."[13]

In 2018, Rimes re-recorded "Borrowed" as a duet with Stevie Nicks.[14]

Release

The album was originally scheduled for a late release in 2012[2] but for unknown reasons the album was pushed back. The album was first released to digital download on iTunes in both the UK and Australia on April 15, 2013.[15][16] On April 22, 2013, a physical CD was released in the UK,[17] while the physical album was released in Australia and Germany on April 26.[18][19] Rimes announced via her Twitter that the album would be released on June 4, 2013, in the US.[20] It was released exclusively to US Walmart stores[10][11] and includes a bonus track consisting of a live version of "Borrowed".[6][21] The US division of Amazon.com also released the album, via digital download, with an exclusive bonus track, a live version of the title track, "Spitfire".[22] The US iTunes Store also released the album by digital download with an exclusive bonus track of a live version of "What Have I Done".[23] The album was also released to Walmart stores in Canada featuring the same bonus track as the US album.[24] The Canadian division of iTunes also released the album to digital download also with the same bonus track released in the US.[25]

Promotion

Singles

To promote the album, Rimes released four singles, the first "What Have I Done",[26][27] was released on November 20, 2012[28] and was intended to be released to radio stations but was replaced by the second single, "Borrowed",[29] which was released on December 18, 2012.[30] Dan Milliken of Country Universe gave a positive review on "What Have I Done" giving it a grade rating of "A" and stating that it "manages to unfold all this reality gently, each line like a carefully measured breath in a meditation."[31] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave a negative review of the song "Borrowed" stating that the song "won't help her threadbare tie to radio". Dukes called the song "awkward" and stated that it "may be cathartic for the singer, but no matter how artistically sound and beautiful the song is, [it’s awkward…] like a lump in your throat when you’re trying to enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie."[32] The title track was released as the third single from the album on September 10, 2013.[33][34] "Gasoline and Matches" began playing on "The Pulse" on Sirius Satellite Radio starting December 23, 2013.[35]

Videos

Rimes also released five music videos of in the studio recordings on YouTube, as well as CMT.com. The first, "What Have I Done", was released on November 19, 2012.[36] The second, "Borrowed", was released on January 3, 2013.[37] The third, the title track, was released on April 9, 2013.[38] The fourth, "Just a Girl Like You", was released on May 24, 2013.[39] An animated music video for "Gasoline and Matches" was released on December 7, 2013.[40]

Other

In March 2012, Rimes and Brown gave family, friends, music executives and The Boot a live preview of songs from the album in a studio at Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, California.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[41]
Associated Press[42]
Country WeeklyB+[43]
Daily Express3/5[44]
Taste of Country[45]
USA Today[46]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stated that the album is one of Rimes's "better records". He continued by stating "When she's not collaborating, Rimes demonstrates excellent taste in cover material – she records Missy Higgins' "Where I Stood," kicks up dust on Liz Rose/Chris Stapleton/Morgane Hayes' rockabilly raver "You Ain't Right," and gets down and dirty on Buddy & Julie Miller's "Gasoline and Matches," trading verses with Rob Thomas then letting Jeff Beck run wild—which gives the record dimension if not a singular momentum." Erlewine concluded by stating that Rimes's label, Curb Records, "[isn't] banking on its success—but that's one of the reasons it's satisfying: all the loose ends, the deliberate detours into sounds both old and new, illustrate Rimes' range and her skill, as she never sounds uneasy in any of these settings. It's not perfect—it's too long, its sequencing is haphazard—and yet all the music on Spitfire resonates, every song suggesting an avenue Rimes could pursue the next time out." Erlewine gave the album four out of five stars.[41] At Country Weekly, Jon Freeman wrote that "unlike most of us, she's also a damn good country singer. On her new album, Spitfire, LeAnn attempts to wade through some of what's happened in her life over the last three years—the highs and lows and the stuff in between. With that in mind, Spitfire is not all pretty or comfortable."[43] Daryl Addison of Great American Country praised the album by stating Rimes "delivers a fascinating look at her own hard lessons with one of the year's most honest and revealing releases."[47] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country noted how "Spitfire is a fascinating album, and at times one feels like a voyeur listening to it. It's like breaking into your sister's dresser drawer and finding her diary, but high-quality songwriting keeps it from resembling a childish tabloid."[45] At USA Today, Brian Mansfield affirmed that "Rimes has been making records since she was 12 but finds her genuine voice here, at 30, with songs so honest and vulnerable they'll provide her haters fresh ammunition. As fine and true as any country album released this year."[46] Michael McCall from the Associated Press gave the album three out of three stars and wrote a positive review stating that out of all the albums released throughout Rimes's career that Spitfire "tops them all" and continued by stating "[Rimes] displays a newfound subtlety in her strong voice on several songs, effectively using phrasing and shifts in tone to express complex feelings that sound as if they come from real experience. It's too soon to say Rimes has finally found a direction that can carry her back to the top of the charts, but Spitfire does show she's found her adult voice – as a songwriter as well as a singer."[42]

Stephin Unwin of Daily Express rated the album three out of five and commented on "Borrowed" by saying the song is "the best riposte to the question on everybody's lips which is… well, if you don't know about the affair she had with another woman's famous man this will fill you in." He continued on about the song stating that "[It's] a perfect country song, gets you right there, even brings up a tear or two if you're in the mood." Unwin concluded by commenting on Rimes growing up and maturing by stating "we love, a mature, talented and affecting songwriter, who is also a human being. Sounds naff, right? Maybe, until you hear the songs."[44] Alan Light of The New York Times stated "It’s unclear [though] how Spitfire will be received by country music fans. Having left Nashville for Los Angeles, become fodder for the scandal sheets and recorded an album that doesn’t sound like the glossy hits on country radio, Ms. Rimes is far from a sure thing commercially." Light also added that "Spitfire... represents the boldest steps — in both music and lyrics — of her career."[48]

Commercial performance

The album debuted on the UK Country Albums Chart at number seven on the week of April 27, 2013,[49] and on the following week of May 4, 2013, the album peaked at number three,[50] and in the following week of May 11, 2013, the album dropped to number nine.[51] In Australia, the album charted at number forty on the Australian Country Albums Chart on the week of May 6, 2013.[52] The following week, May 13, 2013, the album peaked at number nineteen.[53] On the week of May 20, 2013, the album dropped to number twenty-four.[54] In the United States, the following week after the album's release, it entered and peaked the Billboard 200 at number thirty-six.[55] and entered and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[56] On the week of June 29, 2013, the album had dropped to number twenty-one on the Top Country Albums chart,[57] whilst on the Billboard 200 it fell to number seventy-eight.[58]

Track listing

Spitfire track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Spitfire"
2:57
2."What Have I Done" (featuring Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski)
  • Rimes
  • Brown
  • Baerwald
4:21
3."Gasoline and Matches" (featuring Rob Thomas and Jeff Beck)
3:46
4."Borrowed"
3:32
5."You Ain't Right"
3:06
6."I Do Now"
  • Rimes
  • Brown
  • Wilson
3:54
7."Where I Stood"Missy Higgins4:24
8."You've Ruined Me"
3:44
9."Bottle"
3:35
10."A Waste Is a Terrible Thing to Mind"
  • Rimes
  • Brown
  • Baerwald
2:58
11."Just a Girl Like You"
3:53
12."God Takes Care of Your Kind"
  • Rimes
  • Brown
  • Dean Sheremet
3:14
13."Who We Really Are"
3:56
Total length:47:20
Walmart exclusive bonus track[6][21][24]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Borrowed" (live)
  • Rimes
  • Brown
  • Wilson
3:37
Total length:50:57
US Amazon.com exclusive bonus track[22]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Spitfire" (live)
  • Rimes
  • Brown
  • Baerwald
3:00
Total length:50:20
US and Canada iTunes exclusive bonus track[23][25]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."What Have I Done" (live)
  • Rimes
  • Brown
  • Baerwald
4:34
Total length:51:54

Personnel

Credits for Spitfire adapted from the liner notes.[59][60]

Charts

Chart performance for Spitfire
Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[61] 193
Australian Country Albums Chart (ARIA)[53] 19
UK Country Albums Chart (OCC)[50] 3
US Billboard 200[55] 36
US Billboard Top Country Albums[56] 9

Release history

Release history and formats for Spitfire
Country Date Format Label Catalog number
Australia April 15, 2013[16] Digital download Curb —
April 26, 2013[18] Compact disc 88725478672
Canada June 4, 2013[24][25] D2-79365
Digital download —
Germany April 26, 2013[19] Compact disc Rhino UK, Curb 5053105663828
United Kingdom April 15, 2013[15] Digital download Curb —
April 22, 2013[17] Compact disc Rhino UK, Curb 5053105663828
United States June 4, 2013[20][21][22][23] Curb D2-79365
Digital download —

References

  1. ↑ Stromblad, Cory (December 9, 2011). "LeAnn Rimes Already Working on New Album". The Boot. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Bryant, Kelly (March 20, 2012). "LeAnn Rimes 'Spitfire' Album Previewed at Special Event". The Boot. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lansky, Sam (April 30, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes Announces 'Spitfire' Album & Unveils Tracklist". Idolator. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  4. ↑ Nessif, Bruna (April 29, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes Reveals Sexy Spitfire Album Art—Take a Look!". E! Online. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Greenwald, David (April 29, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes Returning with 'Spitfire'". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 Whitaker, Sterling (April 30, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes Announces Release Date for 'Spitfire'". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Bryant, Kelly (March 21, 2012). "LeAnn Rimes' Divorce Dramas Drive 'Bitchy' New Album 'Spitfire'". AOL Music. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Bryant, Kelly (March 20, 2012). "LeAnn Rimes 'Spitfire' Album Previewed at Special Event". The Boot. AOL Music via AOL Inc. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  9. 1 2 CMT.com (May 1, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes' New Album Features Alison Krauss, Jeff Beck". Country Music Television. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "LeAnn Rimes Announces Release of New Album SPITFIRE". LeAnn Rimes. April 29, 2013. Archived from the original on May 4, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  11. 1 2 Wyland, Sarah (May 2, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes to Release Spitfire June 4". Great American Country. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  12. ↑ Dukes, Billy (March 19, 2012). "LeAnn Rimes Reveals Title of Her Forthcoming New Album". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  13. ↑ Rivera, Zayda (April 16, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes addresses anorexic rumors, says 'now I'm secure about my body'". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  14. ↑ "LeAnn Rimes Reveals Story Behind 'Borrowed' Duet".
  15. 1 2 "Spitfire by LeAnn Rimes". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Spitfire by LeAnn Rimes". iTunes Store. April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Spitfire: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.com (UK). Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  18. 1 2 "LeAnn Rimes Spitfire CD". The Music Shop. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Spitfire: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.com (Germany). Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  20. 1 2 LeAnn Rimes Cibrian [@leannrimes] (April 10, 2013). "6/4/13 is the official US release date for "Spitfire" it starts to roll out 4/14/13 in the UK" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. 1 2 3 "Spitfire (Walmart Exclusive), LeAnn Rimes: Country". Walmart. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  22. 1 2 3 "Spitfire (Amazon Exclusive): Amazon.com: Music". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  23. 1 2 3 "Spitfire by LeAnn Rimes". iTunes Store. April 15, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  24. 1 2 3 "LeAnn Rimes – Spitfire (Walmart Exclusive)". Walmart. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  25. 1 2 3 "Spitfire by LeAnn Rimes". iTunes Store. April 15, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  26. ↑ "First Single Off "Spitfire" : Leann Rimes". LeAnn Rimes. August 28, 2012. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  27. ↑ "LeAnn Releases NEW Single "What Have I Done" TODAY!!". LeAnn Rimes. November 20, 2012. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  28. ↑ "What Have I Done – Single by LeAnn Rimes". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  29. ↑ Dunkerley, Beville (November 19, 2012). "LeAnn Rimes' 'What Have I Done' Is Heartfelt Apology to Ex". The Boot. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Borrowed – Single by LeAnn Rimes". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  31. ↑ Dan Milliken (December 12, 2012). "Single Review: LeAnn Rimes, "What Have I Done"". Country Universe. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  32. ↑ Duke, Billy (November 26, 2012). "LeAnn Rimes, 'Borrowed' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Spitfire (Remixes) by LeAnn Rimes". iTunes Stores. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Spitfire (Remixes)". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Listen to The Pulse!". LeAnn Rimes. December 23, 2013. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  36. ↑ leannsblogs (LeAnn Rimes) (November 19, 2012). "LeAnn Rimes – What Have I Done". Retrieved June 13, 2013 – via YouTube.
  37. ↑ "Borrowed : LeAnn Rimes". CMT.com. January 3, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  38. ↑ leannsblogs (LeAnn Rimes) (April 9, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes – Spitfire". Retrieved June 13, 2013 – via YouTube.
  39. ↑ "Just a Girl Like You : LeAnn Rimes". CMT.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  40. ↑ "CMT : Videos : LeAnn Rimes : Gasoline and Matches". CMT.com. December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  41. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (April 15, 2013). "Spitfire – LeAnn Rimes : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  42. 1 2 McCall, Michael (June 6, 2013). "Album review LeAnn Rimes, 'Spitfire'". Courier Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2013 – via Associated Press.
  43. 1 2 Freeman, Jon (June 3, 2013). "Spitfire by LeAnn Rimes". Country Weekly. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  44. 1 2 Unwin, Stephen (April 12, 2013). "CD Review: LeAnn Rimes – Spitfire". Daily Express. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  45. 1 2 Dukes, Billy (June 5, 2013). "LeAnn Rimes, 'Spitfire' – Album Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  46. 1 2 Mansfield, Brian (June 3, 2013). "Listen up: Rimes, Benson serve up four-star tunes". USA Today. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  47. ↑ Addison, Daryl (May 28, 2013). "GAC Album Review: LeAnn Rimes' Spitfire". Great American Country. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  48. ↑ Light, Alan (May 31, 2013). "'Spitfire' by LeAnn Rimes: Writing the Blues Into Country". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Country Artist Albums Top 20 – 27th April 2013". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  50. 1 2 "Country Artist Albums Top 20 – 4th May 2013". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  51. ↑ "Country Artist Albums Top 20 – 11th May 2013". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  52. ↑ "Australian Top Country Albums". ARIAcharts.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 6, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  53. 1 2 "Australian Top Country Albums". ARIAcharts.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 13, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  54. ↑ "Australian Top Country Albums". ARIAcharts.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 20, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  55. 1 2 "LeAnn Rimes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  56. 1 2 "Top Country Albums : Jun 22, 2013". Billboard. June 22, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  57. ↑ "Top Country Albums : Jun 29, 2013". Billboard. June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  58. ↑ "Billboard 200 : Jun 29, 2013". Billboard. June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  59. ↑ Rhino Records UK, Curb Records (2013). Spitfire (liner notes). LeAnn Rimes. Rhino Records UK, Curb Records. 5053105663828.
  60. ↑ Curb Records (2013). Spitfire (liner notes). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records. D2-79365.
  61. ↑ "Part of LeAnn Rimes' ARIA Albums chart history 1988 to 2022, received from ARIA in 2022". ARIA. Retrieved December 3, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
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