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Unbroke

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Unbroke
Studio album by
Sara Evans
ReleasedJune 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)
StudioSound Emporium (Nashville, Tennessee)
GenreCountry[1]
Length41:59
Label
  • Melody Place
  • Born to Fly
Producer
Sara Evans chronology
Copy That
(2020) 		Unbroke
(2024)
Singles from Unbroke
  1. "Pride"
    Released: March 21, 2024

Unbroke is the eleventh studio album by American country artist Sara Evans. It was released on June 7, 2024, by Melody Place Records and Evans's own Born to Fly record label. The 11-track album chronicles her separation from husband Jay Barker and their reunification. The songs on the album were mostly written by Evans and were co-produced with Jeff Trott. It was preceded by the release of the lead single "Pride" on March 21, 2024.

Background

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During the 2000s, Sara Evans found commercial success recording both country ballads and uptempo love songs. Five of her singles topped the country charts, including "Suds in the Bucket" (2004), "A Real Fine Place to Start" (2005) and "A Little Bit Stronger" (2011).[2][3] In 2015, she left her long time label, RCA Records, and founded her own recording company. Evans has released two more studio albums independently since her departure.[2] In 2023, it was announced that she signed a new contract with Melody Place Records and that her next album would be released through the label.[4] During this time, Evans and her husband Jay Barker separated. He was then arrested after an incident involving the couple and their daughter in 2022.[5] Evans then filed for divorce but ultimately reunited with Barker after the couple underwent counseling services.[3] During this period, she began writing "really sad songs" about her difficulties with Barker.[6] Ultimately, Evans chose to record an album that centered on the couple's separation and reunification.[3]

Recording and content

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Unbroke was recorded at Sound Emporium, a studio located in Nashville, Tennessee. The project was co-produced by Evans and Jeff Trott.[7] Known for his production work with Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks, Jeff Trott was sought out by Evans. The two met at Trott's home where they unpacked her personal challenges and started writing songs.[6] Evans believed that Trott "really understood" her "vision for the project" and decided he would serve has her co-producer.[8]

Unbroke consists of 11 tracks, ten of which were co-written by Evans.[1][9] The album's songs were described by Billboard as having "traditional country lyricism" that resembled George Jones or Tammy Wynette.[3] Evans described the album's concept as going "from break down to breakthrough".[8] The songs discuss that challenging feelings she had and ends with her reconciliation with Barker. The opening track "Pride" was written following Barker was arrested and her feelings surrounding the incident.[3] The second track "21 Days" is an uptempo song that was inspired by a conversation Evans had with her therapist about separating from Barker. "A relationship can be a habit, or you can take 21 days and start a good habit like running every day," she told Woman's World.[6] The third track "Mask" described the emotional abuse Evans faced with Barker.[3]

The fourth track, "Cleaning Out Your Closet", was described by Evans as being about the damage alcoholism can have on others.[6] In the ninth track, "Better Than This", Evans explores the lighter times of her marriage to Barker.[3] On the title track, Evans explained that the song has "a double meaning" because it is about the "generational trauma" people bring into relationships but also about how her relationship with Barker has ended "in a good place".[8] The final track "Gypsy Ways" describes being away from a partner.[6]

Release, promotion and singles

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Unbroke was preceded by the release of the album's lead single "Pride". The song was released on March 21, 2024.[10] "Pride" debuted (and peaked) at number 60 on the Billboard Canada Country chart week dated April 13, 2024, becoming Evans' first single to chart there since "Slow Me Down".[11] The same day of the song's release also saw the debut of Evans' podcast called Diving in Deep with Sara Evans.[3] A music video for "Pride" premiered on March 27.[12] Unbroke was then released on June 7, 2024, by Melody Place Records, in conjunction with Evans's Born to Fly imprint. It was distributed as both a compact disc and a vinyl LP.[7] It was also released to digital platforms, which includes Apple Music.[9]

Track listing

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Unbroke (CD, LP and digital versions)[7][9]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Pride"
3:40
2."21 Days"
3:46
3."Mask"
3:29
4."Cleaning Out Your Closet"
  • Evans
  • Alex Kline
  • Allison Veltz Cruz
3:34
5."Heartless"
4:09
6."Downfall"
  • Evans
  • McConnell
  • Trott
4:03
7."I Wanna Be Wrong"
4:04
8."Sorry Now"
3:29
9."Better Than This"
3:56
10."Unbroke"
4:59
11."Gypsy Ways"
  • Evans
  • Fuller
  • Trott
2:45
Total length:41:59

Personnel

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All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Unbroke.[7]

Musical personnel

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
North America June 7, 2024
  • Compact disc
  • vinyl LP
  • music download
  • streaming
  • Born to Fly Records
  • Melody Place Records
 [7][9]
Brazil
  • Music download
  • streaming
 [13]
France [14]
Mexico [15]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Unbroke: Sara Evans: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Bush, John. "Sara Evans Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Nicholson, Jessica (March 21, 2024). "Sara Evans Discusses Reuniting with Husband Jay Barker, Writing an Album About Their Troubled Relationship: 'The Story Is Mine to Tell'". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  4. ^ Hollabaugh, Lorie (June 29, 2023). "Sara Evans Signs With Melody Place Records". MusicRow. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  5. ^ DeSantis, Rachel (March 22, 2024). "Why Sara Evans Is Asking for 'Benefit of the Doubt' After Reconciling with Husband: 'People Are Going to Be Mad' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Evans Price, Deborah (June 7, 2024). "Country Star Sara Evans Shares Emotional Journey on New Album 'Unbroke' (EXCLUSIVE)". Woman's World. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Evans, Sara (June 7, 2024). "Unbroke (Liner Notes)". Born to Fly Records/Melody Place Records. 198391453663 (LP); MPSE-01 (CD).
  8. ^ a b c Schreffler, Laura (June 12, 2024). "Country Star Sara Evans Breaks Down Her Latest Album, "UnBroke"". Haute Living. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "Unbroke - Album by Sara Evans". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  10. ^ ""Pride"". Spotify. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Sara Evans Chart History: Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  12. ^ DeSantis, Rachel (March 27, 2024). "Sara Evans Recruits Daughter Audrey for Powerful New 'Pride' Music Video — Watch Now! (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Unbroke - Album by Sara Evans [Brazil]". Apple Music. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Unbroke - Album by Sara Evans [France]". Apple Music. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Unbroke - Album by Sara Evans [Mexico]". Apple Music. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
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