I Am Shelby Lynne

• Artist: Shelby Lynne
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 25, 2000
• Total Time: 36:04
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Country

Review

After years of kicking around Nashville to great acclaim but nonexistent sales, Shelby Lynne got fed up with the system and reinvented herself on I Am Shelby Lynne as a tough and sexy singer, equal parts Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow. Though this album is undeniably classicist in approach, borrowing from classic R&B, country, soul, and rock & roll, it's cleverly constructed, as producer Bill Bottrell gives it a wonderful, warm production graced by slight contemporary flourishes (such as the rolling rhythms behind "Thought It Would Be Easier") that keep it fresh, not entrenched in history (even though its succinct ten tracks and half-hour running time are welcome holdovers from classic rock). Ultimately, of course, the triumph of the record belongs to Lynne, who finally sounds comfortable in her writing and voice. This music is so warm and welcoming, it's easy to overlook the darker themes running through the songs, particularly because Lynne's greatest strength is that she never oversings, shading her phrasing and drawing listeners in with her easy confidence and sexy rasp. This isn't an album that flaunts its strengths -- it's expertly constructed, subtle music that grows in stature with each spin, revealing Lynne as a trad rocker of uncommon skill and charm. It may have taken her years to finally find her groove, but I Am Shelby Lynne is so good, the wait seems worthwhile. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Your Lies	Shelby Lynne, Bill Bottrell	Shelby Lynne	(2:54)
Leavin'	Shelby Lynne	Shelby Lynne	(3:11)
Life Is Bad	Shelby Lynne, Roger Fritz, Bill Bottrell	Shelby Lynne	(3:18)
Thought It Would Be Easier	Shelby Lynne, Bill Bottrell	Shelby Lynne	(3:55)
Gotta Get Back	Shelby Lynne, Bill Bottrell, Dorothy Overstreet	Shelby Lynne	(3:37)
Why Can't You Be	Shelby Lynne, Bill Bottrell	Shelby Lynne	(4:19)
Lookin' Up	Shelby Lynne, Bill Bottrell	Shelby Lynne	(3:28)
Dream Some (Lyrics)	Shelby Lynne, Jay Joyce, Dorothy Overstreet	Shelby Lynne	(4:12)
Where I'm From	Shelby Lynne, Bill Bottrell	Shelby Lynne	(3:49)
Black Light Blue	Shelby Lynne, Bill Bottrell	Shelby Lynne	(3:23)

Credits

Thomas Bird (Art Direction), Shelby Lynne (Guitar (Acoustic)), Greg d'Augenlli (Horn), George DelBarrio (Arranger), Roger Fritz (Slide Guitar), Shelby Lynne (Vocals (Background)), Ivy Scoff (Project Coordinator), Mark Cross (Engineer), Greg d'Augenlli (Flute), Bill Bottrell (Vocals (Background)), Bill Bottrell (Organ), Mark Cross (Mixing), Bill Bottrell (Guitar (12 String)), Terry Doty (Project Administrator), Bill Bottrell (Pedal Steel), Roger Fritz (Slide Mandolin), Shelby Lynne (Stomping), Bill Bottrell (Keyboards), Ivy Skoff (Coordination), Jay Joyce (Musician), Bill Bottrell (Guitar), Bill Bottrell (Bass), Jay Joyce (Keyboards), Rankin (Photography), Shelby Lynne (Clapping), Bill Bottrell (Harmonica), Dorothy Overstreet (Drums), Jay Joyce (Guitar), Jay Joyce (Bass), Rick Lecoat (Design), Greg d'Augenlli (String Bass), Bill Bottrell (Producer), Bill Bottrell (Drums (Snare)), Bill Bottrell (Stomping), Roger Fritz (Guitar), Roger Fritz (Dobro), George DelBarrio (String Arrangements), Bill Bottrell (Percussion), Jay Joyce (Organ), Shelby Lynne (Vocals), Rick Patrick (Art Direction), Bill Bottrell (Mixing), Jameson Brandt (String Contractor), Dorothy Overstreet (Drums (Snare)), Greg d'Augenlli (Keyboards), Bill Bottrell (Clapping), Bill Bottrell (Drums), Jay Joyce (Songwriter), Bill Bottrell (Vocals), George DelBarrio (Conductor), Shelby Lynne (Guitar (Electric)), Shelby Lynne (Guitar)

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