Stronger (Sara Evans album)
Stronger | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 8, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2009–2010 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 39:44 | |||
Label | RCA Nashville | |||
Producer | Nathan Chapman and Sara Evans (1, 4, 6 & 8) Tony Brown (2, 3, 5, 7 & 10) Marti Frederiksen (9) | |||
Sara Evans chronology | ||||
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Singles from Stronger | ||||
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Stronger is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released on March 8, 2011, via RCA Records Nashville.[1] Her first since 2005's Real Fine Place, the album came after a divorce from her now ex-husband Craig Schelske. Initially set to be released in 2009, the album was delayed due to the divorce. Evans was heavily involved in the writing for the album, co-writing seven of the eleven tracks. She co-produced the album with Nathan Chapman, Tony Brown, and Marti Frederiksen.
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Background
Stronger is Evans' first studio album to be released in nearly six years.
In an interview with "The Boot", Evans spoke highly of the record saying, "I am so excited and thrilled to finally have NEW music coming out! It took me a long time to make this record for many reasons, both personally and professionally, and now it's all about to come to fruition. This new album is full of fresh new sounds from me, and many songs that I co-wrote, but it's also the signature Sara Evans sound that I hope will make the fans want to buy this record!"[2] Also included is a song titled "Alone", and Evans has stated that she wants it released as the third single from the album, saying "There's a song called 'Alone' that is going to be the third single. It's a very country ballad, but I'm telling you, that song ... I have such high hopes that this song can really change my career".[5]
"My Heart Can't Tell You No" was originally recorded by Rod Stewart on his 1988 album, Out of Order.
Reception
Commercial
The album debuted at number six on the U.S. Billboard 200, and at number one on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart selling 55,000 copies in its first week of release.[6] As of January 2014, the album has sold 405,000 copies in the US.[7]
Critical
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Associated Press | (mixed)[9] |
Billboard | (positive)[10] |
Country Weekly | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | (B)[12] |
The New York Times | (positive)[13] |
Roughstock | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Washington Post | (positive)[15] |
Upon its release, Stronger received generally positive reviews from most music critics.
Jon Caramanica with
Jessica Phillips with Country Weekly gave it a 3½ star rating, calling the track "What That Drink Cost Me" "the album’s standout ballad" and compared Evans to Trisha Yearwood and Patty Loveless.[11] Bill Friskics-Warren with The Washington Post gave it a favorable review, also comparing her voice to that of Patty Loveless.[15] Michael McCall with the Associated Press gave the release a mixed review, saying "the anthemic songs fall flat: On the fist-pumping "A Little Bit Stronger" and the spiritually inclined "Desperately," Evans sounds oddly detached and the arrangements sound overly dramatic" but called the track "Alone" "the album's most powerful ballad".[9]
Singles
"A Little Bit Stronger" was released as the album's first single on September 27, 2010. It became Evans' fifth number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart[17] and her first since "A Real Fine Place to Start" in October 2005. The album's second single "My Heart Can't Tell You No", was released on June 20, 2011,[18] and peaked at number 21 in January 2012. "Anywhere," the third single, was released on July 23, 2012.[19]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Desperately" | Sara Evans, Marcus Hummon | 3:13 |
2. | "A Little Bit Stronger" | Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, Hillary Scott | 5:04 |
3. | "My Heart Can't Tell You No" | Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan | 4:33 |
4. | "Anywhere" | Matt Evans, Jaren Johnston | 4:06 |
5. | "Alone" | Brian Henningsen, Aaron Henningsen | 3:25 |
6. | "Ticket to Ride" | S. Evans, Leslie Satcher | 4:22 |
7. | "Life Without Losing" | S. Evans, Barry Dean, Andrew Dorff, Laird | 3:42 |
8. | "What That Drink Cost Me" | S. Evans, M. Evans, Nathan Chapman | 4:00 |
9. | "Wildfire" | S. Evans, M. Evans, Kara DioGuardi, Marti Frederiksen | 3:38 |
10. | "Born to Fly" (Bluegrass version) | S. Evans, Hummon, Darrell Scott | 3:36 |
11. | "Cabana Boy" (iTunes bonus track) | S. Evans, M. Evans, Chapman | 3:22 |
Total length: | 39:44 |
Personnel
Production and Technical
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Vocals and Musicians
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Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||
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US Country | US | CAN | ||
2010 | "A Little Bit Stronger"[17] | 1 | 34 | 75 |
2011 | "My Heart Can't Tell You No"A | 21 | 105 | — |
2012 | "Anywhere" | 53 | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
- ADid not enter the Hot 100 but charted on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[26]
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[27] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- CMT. December 9, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ a b Darden, Beville (January 11, 2011). "Sara Evans 'Stronger' Track List Revealed - The Boot". The Boot. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Gerome, John (September 28, 2007). "Country star Sara Evans granted divorce - USATODAY.com". Associated Press. USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- CMT. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Duvall, Erin (December 9, 2010). "Sara Evans to Release New, 'Stronger' Album - The Boot". The Boot. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 16, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' Lands at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
- ^ "Hits Daily Double". Hits Daily Double. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ^ Allmusic. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ a b McCall, Michael (March 8, 2011). "Sara Evans struggles on new CD 'Stronger'". Associated Press. Deseret News. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ a b Evans Price, Deborah (March 25, 2011). "Sara Evans, "Stronger"". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ^ a b Phillips, Jessica (March 4, 2011). "Stronger - CountryWeekly.com". Country Weekly. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (March 2, 2011). "Stronger (2011)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (March 7, 2011). "Critics' Choice: New CDs - Sara Evans - Stronger". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ a b Bjorke, Matt (March 8, 2011). "Sara Evans - Stronger". Roughstock. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ a b Friskics-Warren, Bill (March 8, 2011). "Album review: Sara Evans's 'Stronger'". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ a b "Stronger Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
- ^ a b "Country Songs". Billboard. February 27, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
- ^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". All Access. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations - New Music Artist Free Song". AllAccess.com. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
- ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "Sara Evans Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "Sara Evans Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Week of January 21, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
- ^ "American album certifications – Sara Evans – Stronger". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 14, 2021.