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
"Blue Moon of Kentucky"
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
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. ~ Jose F. Promis