Everlasting (Martina McBride album)

Everlasting is the twelfth studio album by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released on April 8, 2014,^[1][2] on McBride's own label through Kobalt Label Services.^[3][4] The album features covers of soul and R&B songs.^[5][6] It was produced by Don Was^[7] and includes duets with Gavin DeGraw and Kelly Clarkson.^[8]

Everlasting
Studio album by Martina McBride
Released	April 8, 2014 (2014-04-08)
Recorded	2013
Genre	Soul, Pop, Country
Length	39:02
Label	Vinyl Recordings
Producer	Don Was
Martina McBride chronology
The Essential Martina McBride (2012) Everlasting (2014) Reckless (2016)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[9]
Country Weekly	A−[10]
The Oakland Press	[11]
USA Today	[12]

Everlasting garnered generally positive reception from five music critics. At The Oakland Press, Gary Graff rated the album three stars out of four, saying how the release "is a welcome and successful exercise in creative stretching."^[11] Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, remarking how "There's warmth in Was' production and honey in McBride's voice and if the combination can sometimes result in too-sweet tea, it's nevertheless soothing."^[9] At USA Today, Jerry Shriver rated the album three stars out of four, indicating how "Covering classic soul tunes is an overdone concept, but this well chosen collection shines".^[12] Jon Freeman of Country Weekly graded the album an A−, writing that "Overall the recording sounds great—warm and intimate without sacrificing polish."^[10] At The Boston Globe, Sarah Rodman gave a positive review, stating that the release "finds the mighty-voiced McBride deftly tackling a clutch of pop, soul, and blues tunes complete with horns, a sultry Southern organ sound, and heavenly harmonies from the McCrary Sisters."^[13]

McBride embarked on the Everlasting Tour in supporting of the album beginning May 8, 2014, in Kansas.^[14]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original artist(s)	Length
1.	"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"	Chips Moman, Dan Penn	Aretha Franklin	3:33
2.	"Suspicious Minds"	Mark James	Mark James	3:50
3.	"If You Don't Know Me by Now"	Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff	Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes	3:32
4.	"Little Bit of Rain"	Fred Neil	Fred Neil	2:20
5.	"Bring It On Home to Me" (with Gavin DeGraw)	Sam Cooke	Sam Cooke	3:33
6.	"Come See About Me"	Holland–Dozier–Holland	The Supremes	2:58
7.	"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted"	William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser, James Dean	Jimmy Ruffin	3:51
8.	"I've Been Loving You Too Long"	Otis Redding, Jerry Butler	Otis Redding	3:48
9.	"Wild Night"	Van Morrison	Van Morrison	3:06
10.	"In the Basement" (with Kelly Clarkson)	Billy Davis, Carl Williams Smith, Raynard Miner	Etta James and Sugar Pie DeSanto	2:39
11.	"My Babe"	Willie Dixon	Little Walter	3:09
12.	"To Know Him Is to Love Him"	Phil Spector	The Teddy Bears	2:42
Total length:				39:07

Target bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original artist(s)	Length
13.	"That's How Strong My Love Is"	Roosevelt Jamison	O. V. Wright	3:00
14.	"Baby What You Want Me to Do"	Jimmy Reed	Jimmy Reed	3:35
Total length:				45:43

iTunes bonus tracks^[15]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original artist(s)	Length
13.	"By Your Side"	Sade Adu, Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Spencer Denman	Sade	4:48
14.	"Perfect"	Pink, Max Martin, Shellback	Pink	4:27
Total length:				48:24

Personnel

• Rayse Biggs – trumpet
• Tom Bukovac – acoustic and electric guitars
• Vinnie Ciesielski – trumpet
• Kelly Clarkson – duet vocals on "In the Basement"
• Eric Darken – percussion
• Gavin DeGraw – duet vocals on "Bring It On Home to Me"
• Charles Dixon – viola, violin
• Shannon Forrest – drums, percussion
• Edward Gooch – trombone
• Vicki Hampton – backing vocals
• Mike Henderson – electric guitar, harmonica
• Timothy Hewitt – alto saxophone
• John Hinchey – trombone
• Jim Hoke – horn arrangements, tenor saxophone
• Dann Huff – electric guitar
• Charlie Judge – organ, piano, strings
• Randy Leago – baritone saxophone
• Martina McBride – handclaps, percussion, lead and backing vocals
• Alfreda McCrary – handclaps, backing vocals
• Ann McCrary – handclaps, backing vocals
• Regina McCrary – handclaps, backing vocals
• Kevin McKendree – organ, piano, Wurlitzer
• Jim Medlin – Fender Rhodes, organ, piano, Wurlitzer
• Andrea Merritt – backing vocals
• Gordon Mote – Farfisa organ, piano
• Wendy Moten – backing vocals
• Patrick O'Conner – drums
• Steve Patrick – flugelhorn, trumpet
• Luis Resto – keyboards
• Michael Rhodes – bass guitar
• Paul Riser – horn arrangements, conductor
• Don Was – handclaps, producer
• Reggie Young – electric guitar

Chart performance

The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, and at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, with sales of 21,000 in the US.^[16][17] The album has sold 70,000 copies in the U.S as of April 2016.^[18]

McBride made history with the album by becoming the first ever female artist in the 50-year history of the Top Country Albums chart to debut at No. 1 with an independently released and distributed album.^[19]

Weekly charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
UK Country Albums (OCC)[20]	2
US Billboard 200[21]	7
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[22]	1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (2014)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[24]	73

References

1. "Martina McBride Returns With Soulful, Self-Released Covers Set 'Everlasting'". Billboard. January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
2. Stephens, Samantha (December 17, 2013). "Martina McBride Returning With a Covers Album". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
3. Nicholson, Jessica (December 12, 2013). "Martina McBride Launches Label, Will Release 'Everlasting' in March". MusicRow. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
4. Bjorke, Matt (December 12, 2013). "Martina McBride To Release "Everlasting" Album On March 4, 2014". Roughstock. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
5. Wyland, Sarah (January 16, 2014). "Martina McBride Teams Up with Don Was to Release Everlasting". Great American Country. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
6. Hudak, Joseph (January 16, 2014). "Martina McBride Previews Soulful New Album". Country Weekly. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
7. Vinson, Christina (December 15, 2013). "Martina McBride Announces 2014 Cover Album, 'Everlasting'". Taste of Country. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
8. Nicholson, Jessica (January 16, 2014). "Martina McBride Extends Her Comfort Zone on 'Everlasting'". MusicRow. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
9. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (April 7, 2014). "Everlasting - Martina McBride : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
10. Freeman, Jon (April 8, 2014). "Everlasting by Martina McBride". Country Weekly. American Media, Inc. ISSN 1074-3235. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
11. Graff, Gary (April 3, 2014). "Listening Room: Martina McBride, Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey and more new releases". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
12. Shriver, Jerry (April 7, 2014). "Listen Up: Other notable releases". USA Today. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
13. Rodman, Sarah (April 8, 2014). "ALBUM REVIEW: Martina McBride, 'Everlasting'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
14. "Martina McBride goes back to the classics for new album 'Everlasting'". Today.com. 8 April 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
15. "iTunes - Music - Everlasting (Bonus Track Version) by Martina McBride". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
16. Keith Caulfield, Los Angeles (April 16, 2014). "'Frozen' Spends 10th Week at No. 1 On Billboard 200; Sales Climb Past 2 Million". Billboard.
17. Alanna Conaway (April 16, 2014). "Country Album Chart News: The Week of April 16, 2014: Martina McBride's "Everlasting" Debuts On Top". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014.
18. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016.
19. Wade Jessen, Nashville (April 17, 2014). "Luke Bryan, Martina McBride Top Country Songs, Albums Charts". Billboard.
20. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company.
21. "Martina McBride Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
22. "Martina McBride Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
23. "Martina McBride Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
24. "Top Country Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.