This is unlike Sara's subsequent albums, which have enabled her to achieve great success as a contemporary country singer. Produced by Pete Anderson (famous as Dwight Yoakam's producer), this is one of the finest traditional country albums to appear on a major label in recent years. The Bakersfield influence is reinforced by the inclusion of I've got a tiger by the tail (one of the best covers of a Buck Owens song I've heard) and another up-tempo song, If you ever want my lovin', that sounds like it could be a Buck Owens song but is actually an original, one of seven songs here that Sara co-wrote.

Among the other songs are two other covers of country oldies from the sixties - Imagine that (Patsy Cline) and Walk out backwards (Bill Anderson). They are excellent, but what really makes this album are the brilliant original songs, Sara's great voice and Pete's tasteful production. Sara proves to be equally capable of the slow songs (including the poignant title track) and the rousing up-tempo numbers.

I enjoy Sara's subsequent albums but this seems likely to remain my favorite. If you enjoy traditional country music, especially if you like Dwight Yoakam, you'll love this. If you became a Sara fan because of her more recent albums (especially Born to fly) and you're not sure about this, you ought to hear some samples before buying this.

Note that the USA and European versions of this album have different packaging but the music is identical.

This is Sara Evans' debut CD and it is by far the best of the three she has released so far. Her powerful vocals are at the forefront with a (relatively) simple arrangement for most of the songs. Sara wrote or co-wrote 7 of the 11 songs and the writing is truly superb. If you ever want to know why people listen to country music at all, the title track explains it thoroughly. Sara displays a little attitude with the upbeat numbers "Shame about that" and "If you ever want my lovin'". "I don't want to see the light" and "Unopened" are, along with the title track, some of the best country ballads to come along in recent years. "The week the river raged" is an impressive semi-gospel number and her cover of the Buck Owens classic "Tiger by the Tail" is very well done--it so impressed the song's co-writer Harlan Howard that he helped her get a record deal.

Sara Evans music has devolved in her last two albums to something you wouldn't recognize as country at all. It's hard to blame her given that she's on a major label and radio has essentially blacklisted anything traditional. Still it is a sad development when you know what kind of talent she has.

If you pick up any Sara Evans CD, get this one. It's all downhill from there.

On the strength of a single song Sara Evans sings on the soundtrack for the movie "Songcatcher," I decided to buy one of her CDs. I am now thanking my lucky stars that I have discovered her for myself, and am telling everyone I know about her! This album, "Three Chords and the Truth" is an absolute delight. The woman sings superbly--with a rich caramel tone and rippling vibrato in her voice, she immediately raises the ghost of Patsy Cline. Evans wrote seven of the eleven songs on this album as well, and her songwriting deftness is clear in every single one of these well-crafted tunes.

"Shame About That" is a sassy, in-your-face anthem to seeing an ex-lover go down for a fall. The rhythm drives the song forward, reminding me of Dwight Yoakam's backing band. "If You Ever Want My Lovin'" laughs at the futility of what you want and what you end up with:

If you ever want my lovin'

"Imagine That" is a smoky, atmospheric piece that brings to mind not only Patsy Cline, but Etta James. It's glorious in its rich and evocative portrait of being misused emotionally by an unreliable man. On the classic Buck Owens/Harlan Howard song "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail," Evans swings out into the lyrics with an energy that's positively infectious. Whooeeee! This album is just a big ol' treat!

This is simply a fantastic traditional country album. After listening to so much pop-country on the radio this CD is wonderfully different. The songs are all great, the instrumentation is delightfully hard-core country and Sara's vocals are powerful and strongly convey the emotions of each song. It is a real shame that country radio never gave these songs much airplay. Just in case you are wondering, I don't like traditional country because of nostalgic memories from many, many years ago; I have only been listening to country for about six years. Sara's second album is also good but, unfortunately, it has a more mainstream country sound. I don't blame her for changing her sound; she is just doing what she has to do to become successful and keep her recording contract. Hopefully she will eventually return to this style of music. Then again, this could be the only hard-core traditional album she will ever record, which would be sad but it would also make this album all that much more precious.

Quite an impressive traditional album for Sara Evans. I do not own any of her other albums but I sure have enjoyed this one produced by Dwight Yoakam's guitarist Pete Anderson. The Harlan Howard / Buck Owens "I've Got A Tiger By the Tail" cover is nicely done. The first three tracks are excellent, kind of like Dwight Yoakam, early Mavericks meet Patsy Cline. I was skeptical at first but she won me over right away with "Shame About That." I knew Evans had talent when I heard her sing with the great Ralph Stanley on Clinch Mountain Sweethearts. I wish all of her music sounded this authentic. The title track is quite a powerful ballad. Her vocal range and versatility shines through on "Three Chords and the Truth." There are a few weak songs, but for the most part you will be pleased unless you like that Rascal Flooks stuff.