Whatever Comes First is the debut album of the American country music band Sons of the Desert. The album was released in 1997 (see 1997 in country music) on Epic Records. It produced three singles for them on the Billboard country singles charts: the Top Ten "Whatever Comes First", as well as "Leaving October" and "Hand of Fate".

Whatever Comes First
Studio album by Sons of the Desert
Released	June 3, 1997
Genre	Country
Length	43:41
Label	Epic
Producer	Johnny Slate, Doug Johnson
Sons of the Desert chronology
Whatever Comes First (1997) Change (2001)
Singles from Whatever Comes First
"Whatever Comes First" Released: February 17, 1997 "Hand of Fate" Released: August 30, 1997 "Leaving October" Released: January 17, 1998

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Country Standard Time	link

Content

"Drive Away" was co-written by Phil Vassar, who would later record the song for his self-titled debut album. Additionally, lead singer Drew Womack later re-recorded "Leaving October" on his 2004 self-titled debut.

Track listing

1. "Hand of Fate" (Michael Lunn, Michael Noble) - 3:47
2. "Whatever Comes First" (Walt Aldridge, Brad Crisler, Drew Womack) - 3:02
3. "Leaving October" (Womack, Tom Douglas) - 4:28
4. "Bring On the Angel" (Womack, Jack Blades, Vinx) - 4:05
5. "You Can Come Cryin' to Me" (Radney Foster) - 4:04
6. "Colorado" (Womack) - 4:54
7. "When It's Right" (Womack, Steve Pippin, Chris Lindsey) - 3:16
8. "Promises" (Pippin, Womack, Pat MacDonald) - 3:34
9. "Drive Away" (Phil Vassar, Charlie Black) - 3:26
10. "Devil on Both Shoulders" (Womack) - 4:08
11. "Burned in My Mind" (Womack) - 4:57

Personnel

Sons of the Desert

• Scott Saunders - keyboards
• Doug Virden - bass guitar, background vocals
• Brian Westrum - drums
• Drew Womack - acoustic guitar, lead vocals
• Tim Womack - electric guitar, background vocals

Additional musicians

• Bob Mason - cello on "Colorado"
• Brent Mason - electric guitar on "Hand of Fate"
• Tom Roady - percussion on "Drive Away," "Hand of Fate," "Promises"
• Matt Rollings - keyboard on "Leaving October"
• Billy Joe Walker, Jr. - acoustic guitar on "Promises"
• John Willis - "eclectic guru instruments"

Chart performance

References

• Liner notes to Whatever Comes First. Epic Records, 1997.