Released July 6, 1997 Length 3:59 | Genre Country | |
B-side "The Week the River Raged" Format Cassette single, CD single Recorded February 1997
Burbank, California, U.S. | ||
"Three Chords and the Truth" is a song co-written and released as a single by American country artist Sara Evans. The song was released as the second single from Evans' debut album of the same name in July 1997. Despite its minor success on the Billboard country chart, it was critically acclaimed for its retro-themed production. Since its release, "Three Chords and the Truth" has been identified with Evans' early career persona as a traditionally-oriented country music vocalist.
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Content and reception
"Three Chords and the Truth" was co-written by Sara Evans, and also with Ron Harbin and Aimee Mayo. The latter songwriter would later be a frequent collaborator with Evans. The song's plot focuses on lost love and the narrator reconciling with her partner. The song references guitar chords to describe the lyrics. It was recorded at the Mag Dog Studio in Burbank, California, United States in February 1997. The song is one of the few tracks in Evans' career that has been recorded outside of Nashville, Tennessee. It was produced by Pete Anderson, whose intention was to try to give the song (and the future album) a traditionally-themed production.
"Three Chords and the Truth" received praise and acclaim from various music critics. James Crispell of Allmusic called the track "a must for new country fans". Crispell also stated that Pete Anderson's production allowed Evans' voice an "opportunity to shine". Kathy Coleman from About.com called the song "fantastic" and praised Evans' vocal styling, stating, "her conviction apparently obvious in every vocal phrasing, in every sentimental weeping tone. She is country, sweet and sincere; she is country, strong and sorrowful." Daniel Cooper of New Country magazine was less favorable, citing it as an example of Evans' "fondness for abstraction", as he did not understand what "the truth" was referring to: "What truth? That her cheating heart will make her weep? That Rubber Duckie is the one?"
Music video
The music video for "Three Chords and the Truth" was filmed in 1997 and was directed by Susan Johnson. It was the very first music video Evans would make. Johnson would also direct her next two releases; "I Don't Wanna See the Light" and "Cryin' Game". The video depicts a retro-oriented theme, featuring Evans driving a 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible and dressed in vintage attire. The song's video was nominated for three awards by Country Music Television and from Billboard Magazine. On CMT's televised list of the 100 Greatest Videos in 2008, "Three Chords and the Truth" was ranked at number seventy-one.
Chart performance
"Three Chords and the Truth" was released on July 6, 1997 via RCA Nashville. It was the second single issued from Evans debut album of the same name. The song reached a peak of forty-four on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, becoming only a minor hit. The song did however become Evans' highest-charting single from her debut album, as its other releases reached lower positions. In an interview with BuzzFeed in 2014, Evans said that although the song did not gain major success, she learned a lot from the experience:
"I learned a huge lesson in that: There’s definitely an effort that needs to be made between being authentic and artsy and cool and who you are, yet being commercial. Having that commercial success. Because I wasn’t gonna be satisfied with just the critical acclaim. I wanted it all. I wanted radio hits, because that had been my dream since I was a little girl. Partying and beer drinking and all that; it would have been so dishonest if I had tried to come out with a record like that just to be part of the trend."