Blue (LeAnn Rimes album)

Singles released from Blue include, in order of release: "Blue", "Hurt Me", "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)", and "The Light in Your Eyes". These songs all charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart between 1996 and 1997; "Blue" and "The Light in Your Eyes" both reached top 10, while "Hurt Me" peaked at 43. "One Way Ticket" became a number one hit on the country music chart. During the 1996 Christmas season, copies of the album sold at Target stores included the promotional single "Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart" as a free gift with purchase. The song peaked at number 51 on the Country Songs chart in January of the following year. "Unchained Melody", included as the single's b-side, peaked at number three on the Country Songs chart in March 1997 when released as a single from Unchained Melody: The Early Years (1997). ==Critical reception==

The album was met with generally positive reviews. Shawn M. Haney of AllMusic rated Blue four out of five stars, calling it "a glorious free-for-all of sassy pick-me-up country", and stated that "perhaps people of any age or style of interest will feel youthful again after a good listen and a half." ==Commercial performance==

Blue debuted at number four on Billboard 200 with 123,000 copies sold in the week ending of July 27, 1996. It peaked at number three in its second week with 129,500 copies sold. Blue has been certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is Rimes's best-selling album. ==Track listing==

Musicians • LeAnn Rimes – lead vocals • Kelly Glenn – keyboards • Paul Goad – acoustic piano, keyboards, bass • John Hobbs – acoustic piano • Jimmy Kelly – acoustic piano, keyboards • Mike McClain – acoustic piano • Steve Nathan – keyboards • Dann Huff – electric guitar • John Jorgenson – electric guitar • Brent Rowan – electric guitar • Jerry Matheny – acoustic guitar, electric guitar • Johnny Mulhair – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar • Michael Spriggs – acoustic guitar • Bruce Bouton – steel guitar • Milo Deering – steel guitar • Paul Franklin – steel guitar • Mike Chapman – bass • Curtis Randall – bass • Bob Smith – bass • Glenn Worf – bass • Brad Billingsley – drums • Chad Cromwell – drums • Fred Gleber – drums • Greg Morrow – drums • Terry McMillan – percussion • Kevin Bailey – harmonica • Larry Franklin – fiddle • Crista Carnes – backing vocals • Perry Coleman – backing vocals • Lisa Criss – backing vocals • LaDonna Johnson – backing vocals • Mary Ann Kennedy – backing vocals • Joy McKay – backing vocals • Kayla Powell – backing vocals • Pam Rose – backing vocals • Matthew Ward – backing vocals • Dennis Wilson – backing vocals • Eddy Arnold – lead vocals on "Cattle Call" Production • Wilbur C. Rimes – producer • Chuck Howard – producer (3, 5, 6, 7, 9) • Johnny Mulhair – co-producer (6, 8, 9, 11), recording, mixing • Greg Hunt – recording, mixing • Bob Campbell-Smith – recording, production assistant (3, 5, 6, 7, 9) • Daniel Kresco – recording assistant • Gary Leach – recording assistant, mix assistant • Aaron Swihart – recording assistant • Greg Walker – recording assistant, mix assistant, production assistant (6, 8, 9, 11) • Jeff Watkins – recording assistant • John Kelton – mixing • Csaba Petocz – mixing • David Hall – mix assistant • Glenn Meadows – mastering • Neuman, Walker & Associates, Inc. – art direction, design • Sue Austin – design coordinator • Peter Nash – photography Studios • Recorded at Petty Sound Studios (Clovis, New Mexico); Rosewood Studio (Tyler, Texas); Midtown Tone & Volume and OmniSound (Nashville, Tennessee). • Overdubbed at KD Studios (Nashville, Tennessee). • Mixed at Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee); Petty Sound Studios; Rosewood Studio. • Mastered at Masterfonics ==Charts==

Weekly charts Decade-end chart Year-end charts == Certifications ==