Classics

Patty Loveless

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000ICMN
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,134 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Other country divas may be younger, sexier, and flashier, yet when it comes to sheer intensity, soulfulness, and powerful yet subtle vocal brilliance, Kentucky-born Patty Loveless towers above the rest. The proof is this gemlike 12-song collection that reprises the commercial highlights of what has thus far proven to be Loveless's vintage years: her four-album, seven-year stint with Epic under the direction of husband Emory Gordy Jr. Three newer tunes round out this "hits" collection, including "My Kind of Woman, My Kind of Man," a pleasant duet with Vince Gill originally found on Gill's The Key. However, these new tracks sound like mere outtakes when sandwiched between so many powerhouse No. 1 singles. Taken in the context of Nashville's current drift toward trivializing and even dumbing down mainstream country's traditional strengths and values, Loveless's performances on Classics sound more like some fiery brand of musical salvation than mere artistic brilliance. --Bob Allen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hits Covering Second Chapter Of Patty's Career, September 24, 2003

By	James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Patty Loveless left MCA Records in 1992 because she believed she was getting lost among a strong female roster which included Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, and Wynonna. She signed with Epic Records in 1993 and - with husband Emory Gordy as producer - subsequently made the most consistently pleasing country albums of any female artist in recent years.

Classics contains nine of the best recordings from Loveless' first four Epic albums. Toe tappers like "You Can Feel Bad" and "I Try To Think About Elvis" are complemented by heartbreaking, stone-country ballads such as "Nothin' But The Wheel" and "You Don't Even Know Who I Am."

Most noteworthy are the all too realistic sleepover saga "Lonely Too Long" and the award-winning tearjerker "How Can I Help You To Say Goodbye." In lesser hands, the latter tune would have been insufferably maudlin. Loveless, however, infuses it with so much deep-felt emotion that it instead became a true classic - the ultimate country song dealing with loss.

Since Loveless's string of hit singles at Epic has been hefty, fans will undoubtably be disappointed that not all of their favorites were chosen for inclusion on this collection. "You Will," "She Drew A Broken Heart," and "To Have You Back Again" are just some of the omitted gems which would have easily made it onto most other artists' hit sets.

Though we don't get all of the hits, we do get a troika of great new Loveless recordings. "Can't Get Enough" finds Patty rockin' as she looks to get more out of life, while she gets sassy and aroused on the mid-tempo "I Just Wanna Be Loved By You." Best of all is "My Kind Of Woman, My Kind Of Man," the long awaited duet with Vince Gill. This ode of devotion is a simple but marvelous showcase for their heavenly harmonies.

There was a lot wrong with country music in the '90s. Classics is a great example of what was right. Run don't walk to your local record store and get it today!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, December 28, 2003

By	Jake Z "holden84" (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This 1999 collection is a good place to start if you are curious about Patty Loveless. The new songs (Can't Get Enough, My Kind of Woman My Kind of Man, I Just Wanna Be Loved By You) are nice but feel out of place amongst these classic songs. Patty Loveless was a country artist who struggled in the early part of her career to find an audience, which ultimately led to her leaving MCA Records in 1992. Signed with Epic, she began to work with husband Emory Gordy Jr. and the result was something to be seen! This collection covers her career from her ONLY WHAT I FEEL album in 1993 to 1997's LONG STRETCH OF LONESOME. I think the highlights here are the ballads "You Don't Even Know Who I Am", "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" and "Here I Am". These songs really touch your heart and tug at your heartstrings, just beautiful emotional songs. She sings about longing so well in "Lonely Too Long", which is another landmark ballad for her. She shows her fun side on songs like "Blame It On Your Heart", or "I Try To Think About Elvis". "You Can Feel Bad" is a great Matraca Berg song, a fun uptempo number. Overall a really strong collection, this is the place to start your Patty Loveless collection!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Compilation, March 26, 2004

By	Craig "craibec" (Cypress, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

Patty Loveless is perhaps one of the last true country female singers. Before the pop-oriented divas such as Faith Hill and Martina McBride hit the scene and stole the thunder from real country music, Patty Loveless was on the verge of becoming the female country star. She is a star in her own right, by all means, and this collection does her catalog justice. It's an enjoyable compilation with touching ballads and catchy upbeat country songs both. The duets with Vince Gill and George Jones work perfectly. Well worth the money if you want some solid country music performed by a female with a true country voice.