wifeofvolsfan's Full Review: The Essential Patsy Cline by Patsy Cline
I spotted The Essential Patsy Cline while I was at the library. It had a lot of songs that I had never heard before so I checked it out. Patsy Cline has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. She is my favorite female singer. Tragically her career was cut short when she was killed in a plane crash. That was March 5, 1963 when she was just thirty years old.
Now forty years later people are still listening to her music and probably will be forty years from now. Her music is timeless. The songs are about things that relate to today as well as the time she sang them. She has a wonderful voice that can not only do the low parts, but also can hit the high notes as well. Patsy is someone that many country stars will say has influenced them. Although Patsy considered herself country she had many fans who loved her music that did not like country music. She had hits not only on the country charts, but the pop charts as well.
The Songs:
Walkin’ After Midnight was a song that Patsy herself didn’t like. She thought it didn’t make much sense that someone would be out “walking after midnight”. She sang the song on the Arthur Godfrey show. This is the song that put Patsy on the musical map. It was Patsy’s first big hit peaking at number 2 on the country chart and number 12 on the pop chart. A Church, A Courtroom, and Then Goodbye tells a story of a couple who were married and then were divorced. This was the Patsy’s first single under producer Owen Bradley. Lovesick Blues was a song that Hank Williams previously had a big hit with. It’s a fast paced song that I love to hear Patsy sing. She has a yodel sound to her voice and really hits the high note in the ending. Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray is a slow song about the pain of losing your man to another woman. "I watched her take him from me - And his love is no longer my own - Now they are gone - And I sit alone - And watch one cigarette burn away”
Walking Dream is a fast be-bopping song. Patsy’s voice is roaring in this song. I imagine this was a great song to dance to back when it came out. The drums give the song a nice beat. That Wonderful Someone has very descriptive lyrics. Patsy sings it so beautifully. This is a wonderful praise song. ”That wonderful someone, Who makes the stars all shine; Who fashioned the mountains, To reach to the sky. Who brings each tomorrow; Who hears every prayer. In sunshine or sorrow, If you call, He'll be there.” The piano can be heard throughout the song Never No More. It’s a song about getting over an old love because of the new love that she had found. Stop the World (And Let Me Off) begins with the background singers singing ”Round n' around n' around”. This song is about the pain and heartbreak of losing a lover. Fingerprints is another sad song. It is about someone looking back on a past love and thinking of the times they spent together. She sings it with so much emotion and pain in her voice. ”And when the day is thru- I think of only you - I sit alone and dream - And think of things we didn't do - Now I am all alone - And as the teardrops start - I feel the fingerprints - That you left on my heart”.
Just a Closer Walk With Thee is a gospel song that Patsy does beautifully. It begins with the sound of the background singers singing “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” so deeply. The Jordainers provide the background vocals can be heard throughout the song. This is a wonderful praise song. Love Me Honey Do is a fast paced, toe-tapping song that would be great for dancing. Patsy’s voice really has a lot of pep in it I Can’t Forget is another sad song about trying to get over someone. The background singers sing a couple of lines in the middle of the song. ”I can't forget you - Please tell me what must I do - My memories haunt me - Because I'll always love you”.
I Don’t Wanta is a song about not ever wanting to let go of the one you love. The fiddle and drums have a solo in the middle of the song that sound great together. Yes I Understand is song that has prominent background vocals. It’s a song about letting someone go who has found a new love. How Can I Face Tomorrow is a song about someone thinking of an old love. He is going to be marrying another and she doesn’t know if she can face losing him.
Gotta Lot of Rhythm in My Soul begins with the sound of hand clapping. This is a fast paced song that would be great for dancing. Patsy sounds to be having a great time on this song. She has a growl in her voice at times. Life’s Railway to Heaven is such a beautiful song. Patsy sings it so softly. This was the last song that Patsy sang at the benefit concert she did before her fatal plane crash. This is a gospel song. ” Blessed Savior, Thou will guide us- Till we reach that blissful shore - Where the angels wait to join us - In that land forevermore”. How ironic that this was the last song she sang before her death. I can’t of one that would have been more fitting.
Hidin’ Out was recorded during the same session as “A Church, a Courtroom and Then Goodbye”. This song has a lot of piano and fiddle in it. Patsy has a roaring, booming voice in Hungry for Love. It’s about missing a love. Then You’ll Know is unusual because you can hear in the far background someone talking at the start of the song. It sounds like the producer telling Patsy something about the song. It is a song about telling someone they will know when they find their true love.
Tracks:(date recorded also included)
1. Walkin' After Midnight (11/8/56 & 8/25/61)
2. A Church, A Courtroom, And Then Goodbye (6/1/55)
3. Lovesick Blues (1/27/60)
4. Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray (4/25/57)
5. Walking Dream (12/13/57)
6. That Wonderful Someone (5/23/57)
7. Never No More (2/13/58)
8. Stop the World (And Let Me Off) (12/13/57)
9. Fingerprints (4/21/57)
10. Just a Closer Walk With Thee (7/3/59)
11. Love Me Honey Do (1/8/59)
12. I Can't Forget (5/23/57)
13. I Don't Wanta (1/5/56 & 5/23/57)
14. Yes I Understand (1/9/59)
15. How Can I Face Tomorrow (1/27/60)
16. Gotta Lot of Rhythm in my Soul (1/9/59)
17. Life’s Railway to Heaven (7/3/59)
18. Hidin’ Out (6/1/55)
19. Hungry For Love (5/23/57)
20. Then You’ll Know (4/25/57)
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