No Place That Far

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No Place That Far

Studio album by Sara Evans
Released	October 27, 1998
Genre	Country
Length	37:05
Label	RCA
Producer(s)	Norro Wilson, Buddy Cannon
All Music Guide (4/5) link
Sara Evans chronology
Three Chords and the Truth (1997)	No Place That Far (1998)	Born To Fly (2000)

No Place That Far is the second album released by country singer songwriter Sara Evans.

1 Making of the Album
2 Reception
3 Track listing
4 References

[edit] Making of the Album

Sara Evans' previous album, Three Chords and The Truth, was a commercial failure. Many people attributed this to the fact that the sound of country music was changing to more of a "country pop" sound. Evans realized why her album did not sell well and was willing to conform to the current Nashville sound.

Evans wanted this album to contain songs that were top-notch, and which would allow her to showcase her vocal talents as well. Though the songs lean toward the "country pop" sound, they also retain elements of traditional country influences found on her début album. When "No Place That Far" was completed, many hoped that this would be her breakthrough album.

[edit] Reception

The album's first single, "Cryin' Game", was aimed at the country pop fan base. Critics slammed Evans for choosing music similar to Shania Twain and Faith Hill and ignoring the music that most critics enjoyed so much. Critics felt that she was simply "conforming" to the new Nashville sound.

Though "Cryin' Game" was aimed at more mainstream country listeners than her début, the single performed disappointingly, reaching #56 on the charts. Evans was extremely frustrated at not getting her song played on the radio. She knew all she needed was the "perfect song".

Meanwhile, No Place That Far débuted at #116 on the pop chart and #11 on the country charts. Though higher than her début album, not being able to crack the top 100 was seen as yet another disappointment.

The producers had suggested that Sara write a song about a happy marriage. Sara had originally wrote sad love songs similar to Tammy Wynette's songs. She felt unsure of the idea but continued to write a song anyway. As it turned out, that song would be the "perfect song" she was waiting for.

The single, "No Place That Far", turned out to be Sara's breakout song. Featuring harmonies by Vince Gill, the single gained much radio airplay and finally introduced Sara into new territory on the chart, the Top 40. The song eventually climbed its way up to #1 on the country charts and #37 on the Hot 100, becoming one of her better showings on that chart. The song becoming Sara's first number one hit and would begin a trend of albums containing a number one single.

After her breakthrough single had fallen off the charts, Evans released "Fool, I'm A Woman." Though the single had made it inside the top 40 (#32) it still failed to get much radio airplay and left some listeners and critics to believe that she might be a one-hit wonder.

Though "No Place That Far" was hoped to be her breakout album, Sara Evans was still not a huge star yet. It would not be until Born To Fly that Sara would get much time on the radio and dominate the charts. "No Place That Far" was eventually certified gold.