Storms of Life is the debut studio album by American country music artist Randy Travis. It was released on June 2, 1986 by Warner Records. Certified 3× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA for American shipments of three million copies.[2] it features the singles "On the Other Hand" (previously recorded by Keith Whitley on his 1985 album L.A. to Miami), "1982", "Diggin' up Bones" and "No Place Like Home". Although "On the Other Hand" charted at number 67 on the Hot Country Songs chart upon its initial release, the song reached number one on the same chart once it was re-released, following "1982" which peaked at number six. "Diggin' up Bones" also reached number one, while "No Place Like Home" peaked at number two.

Storms of Life
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 2, 1986
Recorded1985
StudioEmerald Sound Studio, GroundStar Lab, Morning Star Studio, Sound Stage Studio, Nashville, TN
GenreNeotraditional country[1]
Length31:45
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
ProducerKyle Lehning
Keith Stegall
Randy Travis chronology
Storms of Life
(1986)
Always & Forever
(1987)
Singles from Storms of Life
  1. "On the Other Hand"
    Released: July 29, 1985
  2. "1982"
    Released: December 2, 1985
  3. "Diggin' Up Bones"
    Released: August 4, 1986
  4. "No Place Like Home"
    Released: November 24, 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
Chicago Tribunefavorable link
Robert Christgaulink
Rolling Stonefavorable link

"There'll Always Be a Honky Tonk Somewhere" was later recorded by Daron Norwood for his second album Ready, Willing and Able.

The 35th anniversary edition of the album was released on 24 September 2021. The anniversary edition includes remastered versions of the original ten tracks, as well as three previously unreleased songs ("Ain't No Use", "The Wall" and "Carryin' Fire"), labelled "From the Vault".

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."On the Other Hand"Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz3:06
2."The Storms of Life"Max D. Barnes, Troy Seals2:45
3."My Heart Cracked (But It Did Not Break)"Ronny Scaife, Don Singleton, Phil Thomas2:20
4."Diggin' Up Bones"Al Gore, Paul Overstreet, Nat Stuckey3:01
5."No Place Like Home"Paul Overstreet4:08
6."1982"Buddy Blackmon, Vip Vipperman2:59
7."Send My Body"Randy Travis3:02
8."Messin' with My Mind"Joe Allen, Charlie Williams3:07
9."Reasons I Cheat"Randy Travis4:23
10."There'll Always Be a Honky Tonk Somewhere"Steve Clark, Johnny MacRae3:13

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[10] Gold 35,000^
United States (RIAA)[11] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Randy Travis". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  2. ^ David Malitz (July 11, 2013). "Randy Travis: 'Storms of Life' launched the career of one of country's biggest stars". Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  3. ^ "Randy Travis Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "Randy Travis Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "American album certifications – Randy Travis – Storms of Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 29, 2020.