Based on a True Story (Kimberley Locke album)
# Based on a True Story (Kimberley Locke album)

Based on a True Story is the second album from American Idol finalist, Kimberley Locke. Kimberley chose this title because the songs on the album, 8 of which co-written by Kimberley herself, tell the true story of the emotions she dealt with during and after her relationship with her ex-fiance. She found that when she sat and talked with her collaborators about the issues she was working through, the songs began to write themselves.

## Background and recording

Kimberley Locke co-wrote ten of the album's songs, which she described as a "very personal and confessional" process.

## Composition

According to AllMusic's Andy Kellman, Based on a True Story is a pop album with influences from country, rock, and adult contemporary. Kellman cited the track "Doin' It Tonight" as an example of "urban-oriented dance-pop". Jonathan Bernstein of Entertainment Weekly the songs "Any Which Way" and "Everyday Angels" as a "lurching rocker" and an "Oprah-ready anthem of gratitude", respectively. He described the single "Change" as a "cathartic country ballad". Locke covers Freda Payne's 1970 single "Band of Gold" as a bonus track; she performed the song as a contestant on American Idol, along with Frenchie Davis. Bernstein wrote that Locke provides "a reverent cover of a chestnut".

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | link |
| Billboard | link |
| Entertainment Weekly | (C) link |

Gordon Ely of Billboard praised it as "powerfully performed and perfectly presented", and referred to Locke as "a major new artist in the making". Kellman praised the album as a "polished, professional set", though he felt the songs were "samey and not all that memorable". Despite his positive response to Locke's experimentation with musical genres, Bernstein wrote that she "fails to inject personality into these songs".

## Track listing

### Cut tracks

Only a month before the release of the album, a decision was made for Kimberley to record her versions of "Fall" and "Band of Gold". The label was so impressed by these recordings that two songs that had previously been recorded, "What I Gotta Do" and "Hey DJ (Let That Song Play)", were cut from the album. They remain unreleased.

## Charts

### Album

| Year | Country | Peak | Sales | Certification |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 | USA | 160 | 22,000 | N/A |

### Singles

| Charting year | Single | Charts | Peak position |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2007 | Change | U.S. Hot Dance Club Play $^1$ | 1 |
| 2007 | Change | U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents | 4 |
| 2007 | Change | U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 6 |
| 2007 | Change | U.S. Top Dance Club Tracks of $2007^1$ | 8 |
| 2007 | Change | U.S. Top Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks of 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | Band of Gold | U.S. Hot Dance Club Play $^1$ | 1 |
| 2008 | Band of Gold | UK Commercial Club $^1$ | 6 |
| 2008 | Band of Gold | U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 9 |
| 2008 | Band of Gold | U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents | 19 |
| 2008 | Band of Gold | Canadian Adult Contemporary | 21 |
| 2008 | Band of Gold | U.S. Top Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks of 2007 | 39 |
| 2008 | Band of Gold | UK Upfront Club $^1$ | 52 |
| 2008 | Fall | U.S. Hot Dance Club Play $^1$ | 1 |
| 2008 | Fall | U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 17 |

$^1$ Remixed dance versions.

