It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since ACM Award winner and GRAMMY nominee Jamie O’Neal released her debut album Shiver. The 13 track RIAA Gold-Certified album would produce back-to-back #1s (“There Is No Arizona” and “When I think About Angels”) and feature Mark Wills on “I’m Not Gonna Do Anything Without You.” Two decades later, O’Neal is back with Sometimes, her first release in six years, and she’s brought along a few friends for the ride.
Paying tribute to the album that started it all for O’Neal, Sometimes features four re-imagined versions of her original tracks, each a duet. Both of those #1 singles are there – “There Is No Arizona 2.0” features Lauren Alaina, Martina McBride lends her vocals on “When I Think About Angels 2.0” and Sarah Evans joins O’Neal on “Trying to Find Atlantis 2.0” At a time when the conversation about women in country music is more important than ever, O’Neal brings in three wonderful, strong females in vocals and presence with Alaina, McBride and Evans.
But it is the re-recording of “Somebody’s Hero” that is extra special. Originally released in 2005 and included on the album Brave, the song was written about O’Neal’s family, specifically the bond between a mother and a daughter from birth to adolescence, adulthood and the elder years. The mother is the daughter’s hero through all of life’s ups and downs, but in the end the roles are reversed, as the daughter is the mother’s hero and taking care of her. On this 2020 recording, the duet is between none other than O’Neal and her own daughter Aliyah Good, who was only 2 years old when the song was first recorded, coming full circle.
The most recent single off the album, “Someone’s Sometimes,” is the album’s fourth duet featuring John Paul White. A beautiful, heart-wrenching song, the two vocals compliment each other very well as they take turns on the verses, and merge for the chorus. Both are emotional and strong in each of their own styles, delivering the conversation between two lovers who wish the other would be more committed, and not someone’s, sometimes.
Another important and timely detail behind the songs of Sometimes is found in the liner notes: the songwriters. In addition to co-writing 10 of the 12 tracks herself, O’Neal collaborated with a majority of female songwriters, from well-established songsmiths that she has worked with in the past to several up-and-comers including: Sheye Smith, Liz Rose, Nicolle Galyon, Kaylee Rutland, Hannah Bethel, Rachele Lynae, Ava Suppelsa (18 year old songwriter), Bailey Hefley and more. Much like O’Neal’s duet partners, her selection of female songwriters from different generations makes a very strong declaration about and for women in country music.
If it wasn’t clear by now, Sometimes is a very personal project for O’Neal. Of the eight new songs, she co-wrote seven, and co-produced the album with her husband Rodney Good. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the anniversary of a incredible 20 year career.
Sometimes is available starting today via BFD/Audium Nashville for download and streaming here.
For more information on Jamie O’Neal, visit her website at www.jamieoneal.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
SOMETIMES TRACK LIST (PRODUCED BY JAMIE O’NEAL AND RODNEY GOOD):
1. Wreck Me
Jamie O’Neal/Hannah Bethel/Rachele Lynae
2. There Is No Arizona 2.0 with Lauren Alaina
Jamie O’Neal/Shaye Smith/Lisa Drew
3. Closer To Closure
Jamie O’Neal/Erik Halbig/Bailey Hefley
4. Someone’s Sometimes with John Paul White
Jamie O’Neal/Ava Suppelsa/Bailey Hefley
5. Somebody’s Hero 2.0 with Aliyah Good
Jamie O’Neal/Ed Hill/Shaye Smith
6. Spin The Bottle
Carolyn Dawn Johnson/Nicolle Galyon/Liz Rose
7. Jealousy
Jamie O’Neal/Lisa Drew/Jimmy Murphy/Emily Taylor Adams
8. Trying To Find Atlantis 2.0 with Sara Evans
Chris Waters/Zack Turner
9. Sometimes It’s Too Late
Jamie O’Neal/Shaye Smith/Ilya Toshinsky
10. Prettiest Wreck
Jamie O’Neal/Shaye Smith/Kaylee Rutland
11. When I Think About Angels 2.0 with Martina McBride
Jamie O’Neal/Sonny Tillis/Roxie Dean
12. The World Goes On
Jamie O’Neal/Shaye Smith/Ilya Toshinsky