12 Greatest Hits (CD - 1988)

Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocals); Randy Hughes, Ray Edenton, Grady Martin, Hank Garland (guitar); Walter Haynes, Ben Keith (steel guitar); Rita Faye Wilson (autoharp); Floyd Cramer (piano, organ); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Bill Pursell (organ); Bob Moore, Joe Jenkins (acoustic bass); Harold Bradley (bass); Buddy Harman, Doug Kirkham (drums); Millie Kirkham (background vocals).

The Jordanaires: Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Ray Walker, Neal Matthews, Jr. (background vocals).

Recorded between 1961 & 1963. Includes liner notes by Jay Orr and Don Roy.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocals); Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar); Grady Martin, Hank Garland (electric guitar); Ben Keith, Walter Haynes (steel guitar); Floyd Cramer (piano, organ); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Bill Pursell (organ, vibraphone); Bob Moore (acoustic bass); Harold Bradley (electric bass); Murrey "Buddy" Harman, Doug Kirkham (drums); The Jordanaires

(background vocals).

Recorded between 1960 & 1963. Originally released on Decca (DL7-4854). Includes liner notes by Jay Orr and Don Roy.

Digitally remastered using HDCD technology.

Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocals); Grady Martin, Hank Garland (electric guitar); Walter Haynes, Ben Keith (steel guitar); Rita Faye Wilson (autoharp); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Bill Pursell (organ, vibraphone); Floyd Cramer (organ); Harold Bradley (electric bass); Douglas Kirkham, Buddy Harman (drums); Ray C. Walker, The Jordanaires, Neal Matthews, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Millie Kirkham (background vocals).

Audio Remasterers: Glenn Meadows; James Loyd; Benny Quinn; Milan Bogdan.

Liner Note Authors: Jay Orr; Don Roy.

Photographer: Les Leverett.

It's not especially difficult to compile a satisfying and listenable album from Patsy Cline's chart hits, and this solid and serviceable set offers a dozen simply brilliant songs from Cline's catalog. The biggest and best-known hits are here -- "Walkin' After Midnight," "Crazy," "Sweet Dreams," "He's Got You" -- as well as a few equally beautiful lesser-knowns, such as "You're Stronger Than Me" and "Why Can't He Be You," all of which capture her superb voice and the gloriously lush "countrypolitan" production from Owen Bradley at its best. In short, if you're a casual listener looking for a good single-disc Patsy Cline set, this is a great way to go, except that this happens to be the third go-round for this set, which was first issued on LP in 1967, given a new cover and upgraded to CD in 1988, and now issued again on CD with the rather generic 1967 cover art restored. This is great collection from a great artist, but you may want to make sure that you haven't already bought this set already, and if you have, this edition doesn't offer any inducement to upgrade. ~ Mark Deming

12 Greatest Hits is exactly what it says it is -- 12 of Patsy Cline's biggest hits, including all of her classic singles: "Walkin' After Midnight," "I Fall to Pieces," "Sweet Dreams," "Crazy," "She's Got You," "Faded Love," and "Leavin' on Your Mind." There's also a number of lesser-known gems like "Why Can't He Be You," which are as good as the big hits. 12 Greatest Hits may be brief, but it contains absolutely no filler and leaves no gaps, making it the perfect introduction to one of the greatest singers in country music history. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

When Patsy Cline died in a plane cash in the early '60s she was at the top of her career, a star in both country and pop music. To this day, she is revered as the queen of country music.

Patsy's voice is the epitome of torch singing--emotional, yet distant enough from the flame not to get burned. Her superb voice, with its catches, chokes and soaring notes, changed the course of country and western music, and defined the new direction of female country artists.

Even non-coutry fans appreciate such legendary performances as the seamless, upbeat "Walking After Midnight"; the ultra-torchy "Sweet Dreams"; the swaying ballad "She's Got You"; Willie Nelson's bluesy "Crazy"; the bouncy "Back In Baby's Arms"; the definitive "I Fall To Pieces"...and the hits just go on and on and on.

Ironically, Cline, who considered herself a cowgirl, hated her successful pop tunes. She single-handedly removed the "western" from country & western, but that was her favorite music. She would rather be yodeling and singing mountain-style. Fortunately, she listened to her advisers and left us with a legacy of country-pop classics. minimize