Some Things I Know is the second studio album by American country music artist Lee Ann Womack. It was released on September 22, 1998, and rose to the #20 position on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album's first two singles, "A Little Past Little Rock" and "I'll Think of a Reason Later," both peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Additionally, "(Now You See Me) Now You Don't" reached the Top 20 on the chart. The album's fourth and final single, "Don't Tell Me," failed to reach the Top 40 on the chart.

Some Things I Know
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 22, 1998 (1998-09-22)
StudioJavelina, Nashville
GenreCountry
Length38:32
LabelDecca Records
ProducerMark Wright
Lee Ann Womack chronology
Lee Ann Womack
(1997)
Some Things I Know
(1998)
I Hope You Dance
(2000)
Singles from Some Things I Know
  1. "A Little Past Little Rock"
    Released: June 22, 1998
  2. "I'll Think of a Reason Later"
    Released: December 28, 1998
  3. "(Now You See Me) Now You Don't"
    Released: August 7, 1999
  4. "Don't Tell Me"
    Released: October 18, 1999

Background

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Womack told Billboard, "I didn't venture out too much or change anything, really, but went with the same process as the first: an extensive song search, plus writing with some other writers at Tree."[1]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide [5]
Entertainment WeeklyA[3]
Los Angeles Times    [4]

Editors at Billboard gave the album a positive review and wrote, "Lee Ann Womack's sophomore album is a solid collection of bedrock country songs that tap elemental emotions. The current single, "A Little Past Little Rock," is a blue-chip country weeper. The real gem here, though, is Bobby Braddock's composition "I'd Rather Have What We Had." The writer of such country classics as George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," Braddock has penned a cheating song for the ages with "I'd Rather Have What We Had." And Womack brings home the groceries with her emotional delivery."[6] Bill Friskics-Warren of The Washington Post gave the album a mixed review and wrote, "Some Things I Know" has its share of winning moments, but the record is not, as some have hailed it, the traditional country album of the year. Given more sensitive production, as well as the inclusion of more material that suited Womack's vocal strengths, it might have come close, though."[7] Mario Tarradel of The Dallas Morning News listed it as the second best country album of 1998 and wrote, "Ms. Womack followed up her marvelous self-titled debut album with an equally stellar effort that once again honors rich country traditions. But this is no history lesson. Some Things I Know is filled with songs and performances that chronicle everyday life with elegance and emotion."[8] Brian Mansfield of USA Today also listed it as the second best album of 1998 and he wrote, "Womack's delicate, vulnerable soprano is one of the most beautiful sounds in contemporary country, and the style and tone of her second album place her squarely in the footsteps of greats like Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn."[9] Allmusic's Brian Wahlert was less favorable, saying that "It seems that producer Mark Wright has made an effort to soften Womack's sound to make it more palatable to country radio, but in the process he has removed the soul of her music."[2]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Some Things I Know" (duet with Vince Gill)
  • Burton Banks Collins
  • Sally Barris
3:04
2."A Little Past Little Rock" (featuring Jason Sellers)
3:44
3."(Now You See Me) Now You Don't"
  • Lane
  • Brown
  • David Lee
2:39
4."I'd Rather Have What We Had" (duet with Joe Diffie)Bobby Braddock3:17
5."The Man Who Made My Mama Cry"
4:04
6."I'll Think of a Reason Later"3:37
7."Don't Tell Me" (featuring Buddy Miller and Julie Miller)4:03
8."I Keep Forgetting" (duet with Vince Gill)Jamie O'Hara3:35
9."If You're Ever Down in Dallas"2:32
10."When the Wheels Are Coming Off" (featuring Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White)3:39
11."The Preacher Won't Have to Lie"
4:18
Total length:38:32

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Bessman, Jim. Billboard Womack Reveals 'Some Things' With Her Sophomore Decca Set (AUGUST 22, 1998)
  2. ^ a b https://www.allmusic.com/album/r376283
  3. ^ Alanna Nash (October 2, 1998). "Some Things I Know Review | News Reviews and News". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  4. ^ LEWIS, RANDY (October 16, 1998). "Pop". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (October 15, 2000). Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishing. p. 339. ISBN 9780312245603.
  6. ^ Billboard Album Reviews. (October 10th 1998)
  7. ^ Friskics-Warren, Bill. The Washington Post Honky-Tonk Women?; From Four Country Music Mamas, a Down-Home Dilution (November 1, 1998)
  8. ^ Tarradel, Mario. The Dallas Morning News The Year 98' in Review (December 25, 1998)
  9. ^ Mansfield, Brian. USA Today Country pumps up the sales volume Solid numbers conceal genre's creative poverty (December 29, 1998)
  10. ^ "Lee Ann Womack Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Lee Ann Womack Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "Lee Ann Womack Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "American album certifications – Lee Ann Womack – Some Things I Know". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 29, 2023.