Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits (Remastered)

iTunes Review

Considering her legendary status, it’s amazing that Patsy Cline only recorded 104 tracks over a span of eight years. Her ability to convey romantic torment without ever losing her grace or dignity remains unmatched, and for those looking for the essence of Cline’s music, Greatest Hits is definitely the place to start. Most of her country chart singles are featured here, from 1957’s ever-haunting “Walkin’ After Midnight” through 1963’s subtly-swinging “Faded Love.” Even among her other signature tunes, “Crazy” and “Sweet Dreams” stand out as exalted statements of longing, transcending their pain to achieve something sublime. Also included are songs less familiar to later generations of fans, including “Strange” (highlighting her affinity for pop/rock) and “Leavin’ on Your Mind” (silky and sensual, with a bluesy finish). These tracks attest to producer Owen Bradley’s skill at framing Cline’s vocals with elegant arrangements that pushed against country’s boundaries. More than anything, Greatest Hits shows how much the singer achieved before her untimely death in a 1963 plane crash. Aching yet defiant, fatalistic but never broken, Cline took country music to new levels of refinement without losing its underlying soul.