Blue is the debut studio album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on July 9, 1996, by Curb Records.[1] It reached No. 3 on Billboard 200, and No. 1 on Top Country Albums.
Singles released from this album include, in order of release: "Blue", "Hurt Me", "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)", "Unchained Melody" and "The Light in Your Eyes". These songs all charted on Billboard Hot Country Songs charts between 1996 and 1997; "Blue" and "The Light in Your Eyes" both reached top 10, while "Hurt Me" fell short off top 40. "One Way Ticket" is Rimes's only No. 1 hit on the country music charts.[2]
When purchased at Target stores during the 1996 Christmas season, the album included a bonus single of "Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart", with "Unchained Melody" on the B-side.[2][3][4] "Unchained Melody" peaked at number three on the Country Songs chart[5] while "Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart" peaked at number 51 on the same chart in 1997.[6]
The album was met with some positive reviews. Allmusic rated Blue four out of five stars. Shawn M. Haney, who reviewed the album, called 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."[7] Similarly, Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+ and stated that "such raw, old-fashioned country music, with such a big, twangy, sexy voice at the center, wouldn't be making such a stir in bland '90s Nashville if LeAnn Rimes weren't 13. In other words, the hype machine has inadvertently coughed up a gem."[8]Los Angeles Times gave the album two-and-a-half stars out of four and said that "Rimes displays the unbridled power and freshness you'd expect from a teenager. In an ideal world, she'd bring all that to bear on songs that tap her youthful zeal. Instead, too many on this major-label debut require a level of experience that's clearly beyond her years. There's no question Rimes has been blessed with a magnificent voice. Let's hope she'll be given a few years--say, at least until she's out of high school--to let her natural talent mature."[9] In his Consumer Guide, however, Robert Christgau gave the album a "neither" score,[10] and said it "may impress once or twice with consistent craft or an arresting track or two. Then it won't."[11]
Blue debuted at No. 4 on Billboard 200 with 123,000 copies sold in the week ending of July 27, 1996,[14] it peaked at No. 3 in its second week with 129,500 copies sold.[15]
^ Jump up to: abBlue (CD booklet). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records. 1996. 77821.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Jump up to: abPut a Little Holiday In Your Heart (CD single). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records. 1996. Curb D-1308, PRCD-6945-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Billboard". July 27, 1996. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
^"Billboard". August 3, 1996. Retrieved December 2, 2011.