Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits

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Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits
Patsy Cline - Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits.jpg
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedMarch 13, 1967
1988
September 9, 2003
RecordedNovember 16, 1960 February 7, 1963
Genre Country, traditional pop
Length32:36
Label Decca
Producer Owen Bradley
Patsy Cline chronology
Here's Patsy Cline
(1965)
Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits
(1967)
Country Great!
(1969)
1988 12 Greatest Hits cover
Patsy Cline - The 12 Greatest Hits.jpg
When this album was digitally remastered in a CD format in 1988, the cover was changed, as well as the title, 12 Greatest Hits.
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Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits is a compilation consisting of American country pop music singer, Patsy Cline's greatest hits. The album consists of Cline's biggest hits between 1957 and 1963. It is one of the biggest-selling albums in the United States by any female country music artist.

Contents

Background

Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits was released four years after her death in 1967 by Decca Records, Cline's longtime record label and the one with whom she'd had the most hits. Among its twelve tracks, the album contains seven of Cline's Top 10 country hits between 1957 and 1963. [3]

In 1971, MCA consolidated the New York-based Decca and Kapp subsidiary labels, plus the California-based Uni label into MCA Records based in Universal City, California. The three labels maintained their identities for a short time but were retired in favor of the MCA label in 1973.[ citation needed ]

Upon Cline's induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973, the album was reissued by MCA Records and went gold all over again. In 1988, the album was reissued again on a CD format with a different cover art and was retitled 12 Greatest Hits. In 2003, the album was digitally remastered and was reissued under MCA records again with the original 1967 cover art. [4] Bob Ludwig digitally remastered the album in 2003, making the album sound smoother in sound than it originally did before. [5]

Chart performance & record sales

In 1967, the original album release peaked at #17 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. After the album was digitally remastered and reissued under the title, 12 Greatest Hits, the album charted again on the Top Country Albums chart at #27. No singles were spawned from the album.

In 1989, Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits was certified double-platinum (two million copies) by the RIAA, making Cline the first female ever in country music to have a double-platinum album.

The album is currently in Guinness World Records for staying the most weeks on the US Country Chart by a female artist. The album was still on the chart in 2001, 722 weeks after it originally entered the charts. [6] According to Billboard chart records, under its original title, the album was on the Top Country Albums chart for 24 weeks. After its reissue under the title of 12 Greatest Hits, the album will spend 191 cumulative weeks on the same chart while spending 290 cumulative weeks on the Catalog Albums chart.

By 2005, the album had sold 10 million copies in the United States, receiving a certification of 10× Multi-Platinum or Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America. [5] Making it easily the single highest selling album never to chart on the Billboard 200. Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits was the largest-selling album by a female country artist up until Shania Twain's The Woman in Me sold 12 million copies in the United States. [7]

Individual tracks

The album contains Patsy Cline's signature hits but also includes several songs that were never hits on the American Country or Pop Top 100 Charts.

"Walkin' After Midnight" was released in 1957 and reached #2 on the Country charts and #12 on the Billboard Top 100. It was released while Cline was still under her Four Star Records contract. The version on the Greatest Hits collection is a 1961 rerecording.

"Sweet Dreams" was released in 1963 following Cline's death. It reached #5 on the Billboard Country chart, #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on Billboard Easy Listening.

"Crazy", by songwriter and singer Willie Nelson, was released by Cline in 1961. It went to #2 on Billboard's Country chart, #2 Easy Listening, and #9 on the Hot 100.

"I Fall To Pieces" was released in 1961; it was #1 on Billboard's Country chart, #12 on the Hot 100 and #6 Easy Listening.

"So Wrong" was released in 1962. It was one of Cline's lesser hits, reaching #14 Country and #85 on the Hot 100.

"Strange" was the B-side of "She Got You", released in 1962.

"Back in Baby's Arms" was the B-side of "Sweet Dreams", released following Cline's death in 1963. It was a #1 hit in Australia briefly in 1963.

"She's Got You" was released in 1962. It was #1 Country, #14 Hot 100, and #3 Easy Listening.

"Faded Love", a cover of a Bob Wills song, was released after Cline's death in 1963. It reached #7 on the U.S. Country charts and #96 on the Hot 100. It was first released on album on the Greatest Hits collection.

"Why Can't He Be You" was the B-side of Clines' 1962 single "Heartaches." It had minor chart success, reaching #7 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100. It also reached the #107 position on the U.S. pop charts.

"You're Stronger Than Me" was the B-side to the 1962 single "So Wrong", which reached #103 Pop. This collection contains a faster version recorded earlier but never released.

"Leavin' on Your Mind" was Cline's last single to be released before her death in 1963. It reached #8 Country and #83 on the Hot 100.

Charted songs that did not make this collection include:

Track listing

1967 and 1973 original LP version

Side 1

  1. "Walkin' After Midnight" 2:00 (Don Hecht, Alan Block)
  2. "Sweet Dreams (of You)" 2:33 (Don Gibson)
  3. "Crazy" 2:41 (Willie Nelson)
  4. "I Fall to Pieces" 2:47 (Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard)
  5. "So Wrong" 2:58 (Carl Perkins)
  6. "Strange" 2:10 (Fred Burch, Mel Tillis)

Side 2

  1. "Back in Baby's Arms" 2:00 (Bob Montgomery)
  2. "She's Got You" 2:58 (Cochran)
  3. "Faded Love" 3:43 (Bob Wills, John Wills)
  4. "Why Can't He Be You" 3:21 (Cochran)
  5. "You're Stronger Than Me" 2:51 (Cochran, Jimmy Key)
  6. "Leavin' on Your Mind" 2:34 (Wayne Walker, Webb Pierce)

1988 and 2003 CD version

The song lengths remain the same on the reissued releases.

  1. "Walkin' After Midnight"
  2. "Sweet Dreams (Of You)"
  3. "Crazy"
  4. "I Fall to Pieces"
  5. "So Wrong"
  6. "Strange"
  7. "Back in Baby's Arms"
  8. "She's Got You"
  9. "Faded Love"
  10. "Why Can't He Be You"
  11. "You're Stronger Than Me"
  12. "Leavin' on Your Mind"

Personnel

The album's tracks were recorded between November 16, 1960, and February 7, 1963, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Charts

Album Billboard (North America)

YearChartPosition
1967Top Country Albums17
1988Top Country Albums27

Year-end charts

2001 year-end chart performance for Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits
Chart (2001)Position
Canadian Country Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [8] 31
2002 year-end chart performance for Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits
Chart (2002)Position
Canadian Country Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [9] 46

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patsy Cline</span> American country music singer (1932–1963)

Patsy Cline was an American singer. She is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and was one of the first country music artists to cross over into pop music. Cline had several major hits during her eight-year recording career, including two number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy (Willie Nelson song)</span> Willie Nelson song popularized by Patsy Cline

"Crazy" is a song written by Willie Nelson and popularized by country singer Patsy Cline in 1961. Nelson wrote the song while living in Houston, working for Pappy Daily's label D Records. He was also a radio DJ and performed in clubs. Nelson then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, working as a writer for Pamper Music. Through Hank Cochran, the song reached Patsy Cline. After her original recording and release, Cline's version reached number two on Billboard's Hot Country Singles, also crossing to the pop chart as a top 10 single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hank Cochran</span> American country musician (1935–2010)

Garland Perry "Hank" Cochran was an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold, and others. Cochran was also a recording artist between 1962 and 1980, scoring seven times on the Billboard country music charts, with his greatest solo success being the No. 20 "Sally Was a Good Old Girl." In 2014, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walkin' After Midnight</span> 1957 single by Patsy Cline

"Walkin' After Midnight" is a song written by Alan Block and Don Hecht and recorded by American country music artist Patsy Cline. The song was originally given to pop singer Kay Starr; however, her label rejected it. The song was left unused until Hecht rediscovered it when writing for Four Star Records. Originally Cline was not fond of "Walkin' After Midnight", but after making a compromise with her label she recorded it. However, the first released recording was by Lynn Howard with The Accents, released in August 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Fall to Pieces</span> 1961 single by Patsy Cline

"I Fall to Pieces" is a song written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard that was originally recorded by Patsy Cline. Released as a single in 1961 via Decca Records, it topped the country charts, crossed over onto the pop charts and became among Cline's biggest hits. Cline was initially reluctant to record "I Fall to Pieces" and believed its production lacked enough country instrumentation for her liking. Eventually, Cline recorded the song upon the encouragement of her producer.

"Sweet Dreams" or "Sweet Dreams (of You)" is a country ballad, which was written by Don Gibson. Gibson originally recorded the song in 1955; his version hit the top ten of Billboard's country chart, but was eclipsed by the success of a competing recording by Faron Young. In 1960, after Gibson had established himself as a country music superstar, he released a new take as a single. This version also charted in the top ten on the country chart and also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No.93. The song has become a country standard, with other notable versions by Patsy Cline and Emmylou Harris.

<i>Showcase</i> (Patsy Cline album) 1961 studio album by Patsy Cline

Showcase is a studio album by American country music singer Patsy Cline, recorded with The Jordanaires and released November 27, 1961. It was Cline's second studio album and her first since Patsy Cline in 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Got You</span> 1962 country song

"She's Got You" is a country song written by Hank Cochran and first recorded and released as a single by Patsy Cline. Musically the song is an upbeat jazz-pop song with country overtones to support it.

<i>Sentimentally Yours</i> 1962 studio album by Patsy Cline

Sentimentally Yours is the third studio album by American country music singer Patsy Cline, released August 6, 1962. The album was the final studio album Cline would release before her death in a plane crash less than a year later.

<i>The Patsy Cline Story</i> 1963 compilation album by Patsy Cline

The Patsy Cline Story is a double compilation album consisting of American country music singer Patsy Cline's best-known songs between 1961 and 1963. The album was released on June 10, 1963, three months following Cline's death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Wrong</span> 1962 single by Patsy Cline

"So Wrong" is a song written by Carl Perkins, Danny Dill and Mel Tillis and popularized by country music artist Patsy Cline. The song was released as a single on Decca Records in 1962 by Patsy Cline.

"Leavin' on Your Mind" is a country pop song written by Wayne Walker and Webb Pierce, first recorded by Canadian singer Joyce Smith in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patsy Cline discography</span>

The discography of American music artist Patsy Cline consist of three studio albums, 24 singles, six extended plays, one compilation album, six other charted songs and one album appearance. Cline's discography contains material released during her lifetime. Her first recordings took place under the direction of Four Star Records. Cline's first single, "A Church, a Courtroom, Then Goodbye," was released in July 1955. Four Star issued 17 singles during Cline's four years recording with them. However, only "Walkin' After Midnight" (1957) became a major hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard country songs chart and number 12 on the Billboard pop music chart.

<i>A Portrait of Patsy Cline</i> 1964 studio album by Patsy Cline

A Portrait of Patsy Cline is a 1964 compilation album containing lesser-known recordings by American country music singer Patsy Cline. It was released on June 15, 1964, on Decca Records, and would later be reissued twice by Decca's successor, MCA Records.

<i>The Definitive Collection</i> (Patsy Cline album) 2004 compilation album by Patsy Cline

The Definitive Collection is an album released by MCA records and is a compilation of country singer Patsy Cline's work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patsy Cline posthumous discography</span>

The posthumous discography of American singer Patsy Cline consists of recordings released after March 5, 1963. Since her death, Cline's record label and other labels have released numerous studio albums, compilation albums and singles. Decca Records planned to release Cline's fourth studio album at the time of her death. Instead, a compilation was released in June 1963 titled The Patsy Cline Story. The album reached number 9 on the Billboard country albums list and number 74 on the pop albums chart. Two singles posthumously released in 1963 became top 10 hits on the Billboard country songs chart: "Sweet Dreams " and "Faded Love". Following the release of two posthumous studio albums, Decca issued Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits in 1967. It was the highest-selling female country album for 28 years until Shania Twain surpassed her record in 1995. Greatest Hits was reissued multiple times and eventually was certified diamond in sales in the United States.

<i>The Country Hall of Fame – Patsy Cline</i> 1979 greatest hits album by Patsy Cline

The Country Hall of Fame is a 1979 compilation album consisting of the popular hit singles by country music singer and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Patsy Cline. It was released on MCA Records.

<i>Heartaches</i> (Patsy Cline album) 1985 compilation album by Patsy Cline

Heartaches is a compilation album, first released in 1985, containing some of the hit singles by country music singer, Patsy Cline. It was released by the MCA Special Products division of MCA Records. A simultaneous release titled "The Best of Patsy Cline" featured the same programming.

<i>Sweet Dreams</i> (soundtrack) 1985 soundtrack album by Patsy Cline (vinyl edition cover)

Sweet Dreams is the 1985 soundtrack album to the movie of the same name, starring Jessica Lange and Ed Harris about the life of country music star, Patsy Cline. The soundtrack's music contained all original songs by Patsy Cline.

"Why Can't He Be You"' is a song written by Hank Cochran that was originally recorded by American country artist Patsy Cline. The song became a minor chart hit was later included on Cline's Greatest Hits album. It has since been notably covered by Loretta Lynn and Norah Jones.

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. CD Universe review
  3. Ruhlmann, William. "Album review for Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits". allmusic . Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  4. "Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits album profile". Patsy Cline.info. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  5. 1 2 Taylor, Joseph. "Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits". SoundStage!.com. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  6. (2002). In Guinness Book of World Records 2002. Antonia Cunnginham, Managing editor. Barcelona, Spain: Guinness World Records Ltd. p. 149.
  7. Fabian, Shelly. "Shania Twain biography". about.com . Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  8. "Top 100 country albums of 2001 in Canada". Jam! . Archived from the original on July 1, 2002. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  9. "Top 100 country albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam! . Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2022.