Unchained Melody: The Early Years

Unchained Melody: The Early Years
Studio album (reissue) by LeAnn Rimes
Released	February 11, 1997
Recorded	1994–1995
Studio	Norman Petty (Clovis, N.M.), Rosewood (Tyler, Tex.), Masterfonics (Nashville)
Genre	Country
Length	32:36
Label	Curb Records
Producer	Greg Walker Johnny Mulhair Wilbur C. Rimes
LeAnn Rimes chronology
Blue (1996) Unchained Melody: The Early Years (1997) You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs (1997)
Singles from Unchained Melody: The Early Years
"Unchained Melody" Released: December 17, 1996

Unchained Melody: The Early Years or simply The Early Years^[1][2] is the major label reissue of American country singer LeAnn Rimes's second studio album, All That (1994). The album was released in the United States on February 11, 1997 by Curb Records. The album contains seven tracks from All That alongside three new tracks. All That was originally released independently, and Unchained Melody: The Early Years was issued due to the sales success of her debut major label album, Blue (1996). "Unchained Melody" (originally by The Righteous Brothers) was released as the sole single from the album.

Unchained Melody: The Early Years contains several cover versions alongside original material. The album was certified 2× Platinum for shipments of two million copies in the United States. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making her the fourth solo artist under the age of 18 to achieve this feat. Despite its commercial success, the album received generally negative reviews from music critics, who criticized its production and deemed the release premature.