This Side of the Moon

This Side Of The Moon
An image of a blonde woman standing in front of a white background. She is wearing a yellow dress, and the words "Elizabeth Cook" and "This Side of the Moon" are included in different colored fonts.
Studio album by
Elizabeth Cook
ReleasedAugust 2004
Studio
  • Bel Air Studios
  • County Q
  • the Hum Depot
  • Nightingale Studios
  • SCruggs Sound Studio
  • Station West
  • Sound Emporium (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • The Sound Kitchen (Franklin)
GenreCountry
Length38:53
LabelHog Country Production
ProducerJeff Gordon
Elizabeth Cook chronology
Hey Y'all
(2002) 		This Side Of The Moon
(2004) 		Balls
(2007)

This Side of the Moon is the third studio album by American singer Elizabeth Cook, released on May 17, 2005, by Hog Country Production. Cook based the album on her experience with the Warner Bros. record label, which had released her second studio album, Hey Y'all in 2002. Initially signed to AOL-Time Warner, she was transferred to Warner Bros. and experienced problems with the label, including an album delay. Hey Y'all was commercially unsuccessful and was not heavily promoted; its songs were not played on country radio. Cook voluntarily left Warner Bros. in 2003, and used her disappointment working in Nashville's Music Row as inspiration for her follow-up album.

A country album, This Side of the Moon features lyrics about love and heartbreak. Before being packaged as an album, the songs were recorded independently, with the assistance of five producers in eight Tennessee recording studios. Most of the songs were written by Cook and songwriter Hardie McGehee, both of whom worked for music publisher Sis 'N Bro Music. Critics likened Cook's vocals to those of country artists such as Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton.

This Side of the Moon had a limited release in August 2004 before becoming more widely available the following year. Cook promoted it with live performances at the Grand Ole Opry and international music festivals. The album received little airplay and, after its release, Cook worked as a waitress to secure steady pay. Critical response at the time was generally positive and, in retrospective articles, reviewers felt This Side of the Moon helped enhance Cook's musical career.