Following the success of Blue, the album Unchained Melody: The Early Years, a collection of recordings made prior to her breakthrough, was issued. Considering LeAnn Rimes was only 13 when "Blue" became a hit makes the whole notion of "early years" a tad bizarre, but, in fact, they were recorded when the gal was in her preteen post-moppet stage. The recordings on this collection, which range from a note-for-note remake of the Whitney Houston version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" to Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky" to the Beatles' "Yesterday" and a countrified version of the title track, cover a wide of array of styles, and are all covers, save for the 1980s-sounding "Share My Love." This album is essentially a LeAnn Rimes vocal showcase, as though the young lass had been set loose in a karaoke booth, which results in a record without any sort of real emotion or depth. Still, it works as something of an oddity, and the vocal chops, considering the source, are nothing less than astounding.

LeANN RIMES
UNCHAINED MELODY

(Curb D2-77856)

1997
Produced by Wilbur C. Rimes

Jerry Matheny - el.guitar
Johnny Mulhair - guitar/steel
Milo Deering - steel
Bob Smith, Curtis Randall - bass
Paul Gaod - bass/keyboards
Fred Gleber, Brad Billingsley - drums
Kelly Glenn, Jimmy Kelly, Mike McLain - keyboards
Chuck Rippey - fiddle
Ray Carl - harmonica
Whitney Mulhair - flute
Vocals:
Kayla Powell, Joy McKay, Perry Coleman, Crista Carnes, Lisa Criss

1.
I WANT TO BE A COWBOY'S SWEETHEART
(Patsy Montana)
« © '35 MCA Music, ASCAP »

I wanna be a cowboy's sweetheart I wanna learn to rope and ride
I wanna ride through the plains and the desert out west of the Great Divide
I wanna hear the coyotes singin' as the sun sets in the west
I wanna be a cowboy's sweetheart that's the life I love the best
(yodel)

I wanna ride a paint move it at a run I wanna feel the wind in my face
A thousand miles away from all movin' in the cowman's face
I wanna lay my head beneath the open sky as the sun sets in the west
I wanna strum my guitar and yodel that's the life I love the best
[ guitar - steel ]
(yodel)
**********
2.
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
(Dolly Parton)
« © '73 Velvet Apple Music, BMI »

If I should stay I would only be in your way
So I'll go but I know I'll think of you each step of the way
And I will always love you I will always love you you my darlin' you
Bitter-sweet memories that is all I'm taking with me
So goodbye please don't you cry for we both know I'm not what you you need
But I will always love you I will always love you you
[ guitar ]
I hope life treats you kind and I hope you have all you've dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness but above all of this I wish you love
And I will always love you I will always love you I will always love you
I will always love you I will always love you I will always love you
**********
3.
BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY
(Bill Monroe)
« © '46 Peer International, BMI / Bill Monroe Music, BMI »

I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shinin'
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue
I said blue moon of Kentucky...

Well it was on the moonlight night stars shining bright
It whispered from on high love said goodbye
I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shinin'
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue
(Take it guys)
[ guitar - piano ]
Well it was on the moonlight...
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue
**********
4.
RIVER OF LOVE
(Buddy Blackmon - Vip Vipperman)
« © '93 Blackwood Music, BMI / Tower Street Music, BMI »

My heart's been thirsty my spirt's runin' dry and I think I feel a drop of rain
I see the lightning striking the sky sometimes a stone can bring a change
Now your love coming back like the water all around me
This feeling here inside is rising like a tide to the sea

Take me away on the river of love I wanna go where you go
Take me away on the river of love just let me roll with the flow
On the river of love
[ guitar ]
Now I don't worry bout what's round the bends as long as you're by my side
My destination is right where I am I'm just enjoyin' the ride
When I needed your love it rained down from above me
Now I'm over my head and I can feel it set me free

Take me away on the river of love...
Yeah on the river of love yeah on the river of love
**********
5.
REST IS HISTORY
(Karen Staley - Clay Blaker)
« © '93 Ensign Music, BMI / Tree Publishing, BMI »

Saw you across the room felt somethin' stir inside my soul
Knew I'd never be the same now that love had taken hold
Then when you touched me there was no doubt
You unterstood what my heart was all about

And the rest is history the story of you and me
For all eternity the record will show
We'll fill up the pages romance for the ages
There for the world to see the rest ist history
[ guitar ]
Before we spoke a word my heart's told me you were the one
When you pressed your hand to mine I knew my life had just begun
Like some old movie music filled the night
Lost in the passion held each other tight

And the rest is history...
[ fiddle - guitar ]
And the rest is history...
The rest ist history the rest ist history
**********
6.
BROKEN WING
(David Nowlen)
« © '93 Left Seat Music, BMI »

Today I watched a robin in our frontyard
I thought by now that they should all be gone
With winter round the corner snow on its way surely something must be wrong
Then in that old oak tree I finally saw her
Where she sat gazing down upon her mate
And the song that she was singing seemed to say I'll be right here
I'd like to go but your love's made me stay
He's got a broken wing and that's why he can't fly
She just can't leave him there so she stays by his side
They're just like you and me oh you should've heard her sing
They won't give up it's just a broken wing

I wish we all could learn what they seem to have found
To love our families when trouble comes around
I'll bet that God's so fit to show them unto me
Him on the ground her in that tree
He's got a broken wing and that's why he can't fly
She just can't leave him there so she stays by his side
They're just like you and me oh you should've heard her sing
They won't give up we won't give up they won't give up
It's just a broken wing uh huh it's just a broken wing
**********
7.
YESTERDAY
(John Lennon - Paul McCartney)
« © '65 ATV Tunes, ASCAP »

Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay oh I believe in yesterday
Suddenly I'm not half the girl I used to be
There's a shadow hanging over me oh yesterday came suddenly

Why he had to go I don't know he wouldn't stay
I said something wrong now I long for yesterday
[ guitar ]
Why he had to go...

Yesterday love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away oh I believe in yesterday
I believe in yesterday
**********
8.
SURE THING
(Joyce Harrison)
« © '93 17th Avenue Music, ASCAP »

Baby why you wanna waste your time on just a pretty face she changes guys
With the mood of the day save yourself a heartache
Take a look I'm waiting in the wings
A good long look cause what you got comin' is a sure thing sure thing

One-hundred-percent guaranteed love that's true just for you
No way your heart can lose on a sure thing

Well I'm not gonna switch form hot to cold
Play those little tricks you're always gonna know just where you stand
I'll be on your right hand
You won't miss those run around flings
Make your wish what you got comin' is a sure thing sure thing

One-hundred-percent guaranteed love...

I'm not putting my hopes on a might or maybe
But one plus one would make a wild pair what do you say baby
What you got comin' is a dure thing sure thing
One-hundred-percent...
What you got comin' is a sure thing you and me baby is a sure thing
Sure thing sure thing
**********
9.
SHARE MY LOVE
(Blake Vickers - Le Ann Rimes)
« © '93 Mike Curb Music, BMI / Rimes Publishing, BMI »

We'll always be together we'll make it through until the end
And I will always love you and we will be much more than friends
I'll build my life around you and I'll do anything for you
No walls will bind around us and show the world our love is true
Share my love with you my darling together let the love shine between us forever
You came along when I was down and lifted me up to higher ground
You gave me strength to live each moment fill my world with the brightest thing
Share my love with you my darling together let the love shine between us forever
Our love will shine forever we'll turn the darkness into day
Love will bind us together to make our world a brighter place
[ guitar ]
Share my love with you my darling together let the love shine between us forever
Share my love let the love shine between us forever
Share my love with you my darling together
**********
10.
UNCHAINED MELODY
(Hy Zaret - Alex North)
« © '55 Frank Music, ASCAP »

Oh my love my darling I've hungered for your touch alone lonely time
As time goes by so slowly then time can do so much are you still mine
I need your love I need your love God speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow to the sea to the sea to the open arms of the sea yeah
Lonely riverside wait for me wait for me I'll be coming home wait for me

Oh my love my darling...
**********

petrv@yahoo.com
Le Ann Rimes Discography