Customer Reviews

Always

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If the success of her "12 Greatest Hits", which is up to 9 million in sells, hasn't proved that Pasty Cline's music is timeless, this one will. This CD, created in 1980 by Patsy Cline's producer and hall of fame member Owen Bradly, explores the idea that Patsy Cline's voice is acceptable in any time period. In "Always", the orignal background instrumentation has been replaced with new arrangements which, remenisent of the 1980's, had a new life to her marvolous recordings. With these new gems in the treasured box of Patsy Cline's legacy, her name and songs will surley remain popular as long as thier is music.

When producers or artists choose to re-engineer, re-record or re-produce a record, as Owen Bradley, the original producer of Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee has done here, and they do a wonderful job...well, that's just icing on the cake for fans.
Like Eros Ramazzotti's "e2" and Israel Kamakawiwole's "Wonderful World", this record gives an added dimension to the artists' work. Granted, most attempts at the genre are miserable failures. In general, artists re-recording their hits almost never improve on them, or add anything. Patsy Cline's "Always" is an exception. These are not 80s redos in the sense that she's forced into the Madonna mold. These are lush arrangements in the vein of those of the day for Linda Rondstadt's series of albums with Nelson Riddle. "Always" is a lovely album.

The producers took original material and "souped it up" to fit the eighties. In the process they ruined the originals. Results: overblown, multi-slick, surupy sounds. All of the songs are available on other Patsy Cline cds. Buy them-do not buy this recording. Not good!

To some listeners, Patsy Cline--as great as her voice is--sounds dated. I own both her original recordings and this cd, and love both of them. Remember, her producer, the legendary Owen Bradley, was attempting to market Patsy to a contemporary market. This cd uses Patsy's extraordinary voice with, in my opnion, a better sound quality, including smooth female background singers. I bought this album in the '80's and then bought this cd as soon as it was available. I've never regretted it. I just wish Bradley had re-mixed more of her songs!

Unfortunately, the producer of this CD added strings and background singers to the original vocals. According to the information included with the disc, this was to make the songs more suited to the music tastes of the 80's. The result is ornate and syrupy. The wonderful characteristics of Ms. Cline's voice get lost in this recording. What a shame!