At Her Very Best (CD - 2002)

Not strictly a hits collection, At Her Best is an excellent but brief, nine-track album that features several of Patsy's most familiar songs ("Walkin' After Midnight," "Just Out of Reach"), plus many wonderful lesser-known gems, like "Stop the World," "Too Many Secrets," and "Life's Railway to Heaven." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The music and vocal style of Patsy Cline is almost uniquely American. She synthesized influences from the popular music of her era (the 1950s): blues, jazz and torch/lounge singers, and the mainstream pop of the Hit Parade and country music. Cline was one of the first singers to crossover from the country music audience to widespread pop appeal. She continues to be an influence: Loretta Lynn, Shelby Lynne, Reba McEntire and k.d. lang all learned from her. "Walking Dream" has a throaty, sassy quality, and "In Care of the Blues" and "Just Out of Reach" (the latter also covered by classic soul/R&B singer Solomon Burke) shows where the paths of blues and country and pop coincide. AT HER BEST gives a taste of Cline--a brief taste, but at its budget price, it's worth it for the curious (i.e., those not yet "converted" to fandom). minimize