Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding covers of country oldies, 10 Sep 2008
Covers albums aren't always appreciated by those who are familiar with the songs already, but I love them as long as they are done well, as this one is. Indeed, I've heard a few great ones by country singers in recent years, notably Twang on a wire (Kate Campbell), The chain (Deana Carter), Those were the days (Dolly Parton) and Timeless (Martina McBride). I expected Patty's album to be of a similar quality, especially when I saw the track listing and so it has proved.
Patty has selected songs from the fifties, sixties and seventies that particularly appealed to her. Four of them (Why baby why, He thinks I still care, Color of the blues, That`s all it took) were originally made famous by George Jones, the last-named originally being a duet performed by Gene Pitney and George Jones, which Gram Parsons later covered; his version can be found on G.P./Grievous angel. Maybe the possibility crossed Patty's mind to do an entire album of George Jones songs, but she obviously decided not to do that as the rest of the album features songs original recorded by other singers as follows:-
The pain of loving you - originally a duet by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, later re-recorded by Dolly with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on Trio.
Sleepless nights - originally recorded by the Everly Brothers in the sixties, later covered by Emmylou Harris in the seventies and by the Judds in the eighties.
Crazy arms - originally recorded by Ray Price, this has been covered by plenty of other singers including Jerry Lee Lewis, Patsy Cline and Barbara Mandrell.
There stands the glass - originally recorded by Webb Pierce. It's great to find one of his songs included because not many singers cover his songs. There's a fine cover of this song by BR5-49 on the multi-artist Caught in the Webb, the only tribute album to Webb Pierce that I`ve come across. Van Morrison also included this song and two other Webb Pierce covers on his country album Pay the devil, but although I haven`t heard Van`s album, I understand that it`s not as good as it might have been.
I forgot more than you'll ever know - originally recorded by the Davis sisters, but I particularly like Jann Browne's version.
Next in line - originally recorded by Conway Twitty, I`ve never heard anybody but Conway sing this song before although I know that Jack Greene included a cover on one of his albums.
Don't let me cross over - originally a number one country hit for Carl and Pearl Butler, since recorded by several other country singers including Jim Reeves, the Kendalls and Dolly Parton.
Please help me I'm falling - originally recorded by Hank Locklin, but recorded by many others since, my favorite being Janie Fricke`s version.
There goes my everything - originally a country number one hit for Jack Greene but better know via pop covers by Engelbert Humperdinck and Elvis Presley.
Cold cold heart - originally written and recorded by Hank Williams, this song became a huge American pop hit for Tony Bennett early in his career.
So those are the songs that you'll find on this album, each and every one of them performed superbly by the great Patty Loveless in a style that fans of country music from the fifties, sixties and seventies enjoy.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
+1/2 -- Patty Loveless unleashes on the classics, 20 Dec 2008
As terrific as this project looks on paper, the results aren't as satisfying as the elements might suggest. Loveless is in good voice, the songs are classics, and the arrangements suitably stripped of modern Nashville conventions, but the results are lacking in dynamic range and one-dimensional. Loveless has the tone and twang to effortlessly cast herself back (unlike, for example, Martina McBride on 2005's Timeless), the problem is that she also has an incredibly powerful voice that's unleashed in full-throat on every track. The Linda Ronstadt-styled emoting is impressive, even stop-you-in-your-tracks chilling, for a track or two, but the lack of any softness is wearying at album length. Emory Gordy Jr.'s production and arrangements provide typically sympathetic settings for his wife, and Loveless obviously respects and deeply understands her material, but compacting fourteen emotionally-charged singles onto one album leaves the listener feeling battered. Perhaps it was Loveless' artistic goal to hammer home the sorrow of these songs, but it would make a better listening experience as a series of singles stretched out over a year or two. 3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com]
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning, 23 Dec 2008
Had this on pre-order as soon as it was announced. I wasn't disappointed. Patty Loveless makes her way through 14 classic country songs, done exactly as they should be.
Only one criticism of this album however. Two extra tracks were recorded ("We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning" and "If Teardrops Were Pennies") but aren't on the CD and are only available for download from iTunes. I was a little annoyed by this as having bought the CD already I then had to pay extra to get the missing tracks from iTunes.
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