I Need You (album)

The tracks on I Need You were taken from various studio tracks released between 1999 and 2001, as well as B-sides tracks to help satisfy Rimes' recording contract obligations during litigation with the label[1] and her management.[2] During the litigation with her label, Rimes asked "that Curb give Rimes the rights to all past recordings and videos, give up all publishing interests in her compositions and destroy all currently available recordings."[3] The album was publicly disowned by Rimes four days after its 2001 release, with Rimes stating that: "[t]his album was made without my creative input, it consists largely of unfinished material and songs that didn't make other albums ... I want to make abundantly clear to you that this album is not a reflection of myself as an artist but is solely the conception of Curb Records, and for that I am truly and deeply sorry."[4]

The album was first released on January 30, 2001, by Curb Records.[14] and featured an alternate country version of "But I Do Love You".[15] "You Are" was released on the soundtrack for Angel Eyes after the album's release.[16] "Soon" was also launched after the release of the album on the soundtrack for Driven.[17] After Rimes disowned the 2001 release, it was discontinued, and she officially re-issued the album on March 26, 2002.[18] It contained all ten original tracks from the 2001 release with an extended version of "You Are"; a bonus song, "Light the Fire Within",[18] which Rimes performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Salt Lake City;[19] and four bonus remixes.[18] The 2002 release also contains the version of "But I Do Love You" featured on the Coyote Ugly soundtrack.[18] On May 13, 2008, the 2002 release was packaged together with Rimes' debut album, Blue (1996).[20]

Two promotional singles were released from the album. "You Are" was released in 2001.[21] The song was featured on the soundtrack for Angel Eyes on May 18, 2001,[16] and was included on the Asian release of The Best of LeAnn Rimes,[22] as well as the remixed edition.[23] "You Are" is a pop song[24][25] with a duration of four minutes and fifty-eight seconds,[18] and it was written by Laurie Webb.[26] Mark Huxley at Barnes & Noble.com called the song a "full-on dance-pop".[24] "Soon" was released in 2001[27] as a promotional CD single that consisted of the album version of the song and the Graham Stack Radio Edit of the song.[28] "Soon" is a ballad[24] of three minutes and fifty-three seconds.[18] 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.[29] The song was featured on the soundtrack for Driven, which was released on April 27, 2001.[17] Mark Huxley at Barnes & Noble.com praised the song, claiming that "Rimes is back on more familiar turf on the big ballad[s]."[24] A review in Billboard stated that the song "leans more towards the AC side then anything resembling true country."[30] It peaked at fourteen on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart.[31]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[32]
AllMusic	[25]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[33]
Rolling Stone	[34]

Mark Huxley at Barnes & Noble gave a positive review of the album, saying that Rimes is "comfortably adopting some distinctly modern sonic elements without sacrificing her tradition-steeped country roots."[24] Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly gave a mixed review about the album, saying "The good news about Rimes' latest: It reprises two songs, 'But I Do Love You' and 'Can't Fight the Moonlight,' from the Coyote Ugly soundtrack. Now the bad: You'll snooze through the rest, except 'Written in the Stars', her slugfest duet with Elton John. If only you could sleep through that."[33]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic also gave a mixed review, stating that "Rimes' impressive voice sounds restrained in this setting, too self-consciously mature. In a nutshell, that's the problem with I Need You -- it's a teenager attempting to make a thirtysomething album. That she occasionally succeeds is a testament to her vocal talents and the skills of her producers, but it shouldn't be surprising that it also feels awkward for large stretches, never quite becoming as alluring as Breathe, because this is a sound that she needs to grow into to be totally convincing."[25] Rolling Stone gave the album two-and-a-half out of five stars and called the album "synthetic-feeling."[34] Trisha Huenke of About.com gave the album four out of five stars[32] and praised it for its pop sound, stating that, "Finally we have an artist who is straightforward about the fact that she wants to sing pop music."[19]

Despite the mixed reviews the album performed well on the charts. I Need You debuted at number ten on 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.[35] It spent four weeks in the top fifty and a total of thirty weeks in Billboard 200.[36] It also debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums.[37]

Internationally, the album performed well, peaking at number four on the Finnish Albums Chart,[38] number ten on the Canadian Albums Chart,[39] and number eleven on both the Austrian Albums Chart[38] and the Irish Album Charts.[40] The album also peaked at number five on the Swedish Albums Chart[38] and number six on the Swiss Albums Chart.[38] It peaked at number seven on both the UK Albums Chart and the European Top 100 Albums.[41][42]

I Need You also peaked at number five on the year-end charts in Finnish Albums Chart,[43] and thirteen on the Billboard Top Country Albums.[44] The album was certified Gold by the RIAA[45] as well the IFPI Denmark, the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and the British Phonographic Industry[46] and was certified Platinum by both Music Canada and the IFPI Finland.[47]

Notes

• ^a Although the 2002 re-issue in the US features an extended version of "You Are" on it, the track listing on the back cover of the CD still gives the 2001 issue duration. However, this does not appear on the Japanese re-issue.
• ^b signifies remix producer

Credits for I Need You were adapted from liner notes.[52] Additional credits adapted from liner notes of the Coyote Ugly soundtrack,[53] the Jesus: Music From and Inspired by the Epic-Mini Series soundtrack,[54] and the Aida concept album.[55]

*Note: According to the liner notes, Elton John appears courtesy of The Rocket Record Company.[52]