Take Me as I Am is the debut studio album by American country music singer Faith Hill, released on October 12, 1993, by Warner Bros. Nashville. The album has been certified 3× platinum in the United States for shipments of three million copies.
Four singles were released from the album. The first two—"Wild One" and "Piece of My Heart"—reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1994. "Wild One," the tale of a rebellious teen-aged girl in conflict with her parents' more conservative ways, was the lead-off single, spending four weeks at No. 1 that January. "Piece of My Heart", a cover of the 1967 song by Erma Franklin, was issued as the follow-up. The third single, "But I Will", also charted, and the title track reached No. 2 in 1994.
Contents
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard stated that on "But I Will", "the power of her pliable, pure country voice has never been better showcased than on this heartfelt ballad about a woman who's had just about enough." Ian Nicolson from Music Week wrote, "Pushing Trisha Yearwood in the glamour and multi-format merchandise stakes, the debut release from this rich-voiced singer shows she has the pipes to back up the hype. The rock and roll-tinged US country number one single, 'Wild One', sets the tone, but the 'I've Got This Friend' duet with Larry Stewart will please traditionalists."
Track listing
All tracks produced by Scott Hendricks; except "Just Around the Eyes" produced by Michael Clute and Gary Burr.
Personnel
As listed in liner notes.
All tracks except "Just Around the Eyes"
Gary Burr – background vocals
John Catchings – cello
Bill Cuomo – synthesizer
Stuart Duncan – mandolin, fiddle
Paul Franklin – steel guitar, Dobro
Dann Huff – electric guitar
John Barlow Jarvis – piano
Mary Ann Kennedy – background vocals
Mark Luna – background vocals
Brent Mason – electric guitar
Terry McMillan – congas, cymbals, tambourine
Don Potter – acoustic guitar
Michael Rhodes – bass guitar
Pam Rose – background vocals
Victoria Shaw – background vocals
Karen Staley – background vocals
Larry Stewart – background vocals
Cindy Richardson Walker – background vocals
Ron Wallace – background vocals
Lari White – background vocals
Lonnie Wilson – drums
On "Just Around the Eyes"
Gary Burr – background vocals
Jerry Douglas – dobro
Rob Hajacos – fiddle
Terry McMillan – percussion
Edgar Meyer – acoustic bass guitar
Harry Stinson – drums
Biff Watson – acoustic guitar
Glenn Worf – electric bass guitar
Production
Producers: Scott Hendricks (all tracks except "Just Around the Eyes"); Mike Clute and Gary Burr ("Just Around the Eyes" only)
Assistant producer: John Kunz
Engineers: Mike Clute, John Kelton
Assistant engineers: Jon "JD" Dickson, Amy Hughes, John Kunz, Shawn McLean, Wayne Morgan, Herb Tassin
Mixing: Scott Hendricks
Mastering: Denny Purcell
Overdubs: Scott Hendricks, John Kunz
Art direction: Laura LiPuma
Design: Garrett Rittenberry
Photography: Aaron Rapoport
Make-up: Eric Bernard, Beth Katz