Customer Reviews

Long Stretch of Lonesome

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first listened to this CD, I thought it was Patty's best and certainly very strong. The more I listen to it, the better it gets. I would place it in the top 10 CD's in Country over the last 30 years. Somewhere along the line, Patty has turned into the best interpretive country singer out there. And, her voice is now reaching Patsy Cline levels of power, depth and range. Compared to the vast amount of "bubble gum" out there on Country radio today, this is truly filet mignon-type music.

Country is supposed to be blues and soul, something Patty does here with tremendous style and talent. If you love real, solid country with depth of music, verse and performance, this is the CD to buy.

If there is one album that should be part of every country music listeners collection, this one is it. The old power that I heard on her earlier albums is back in this one, and no one can make you feel a song the way Patty Loveless does. From the first song to the last, every song is a keeper. My personal favorites are Too Many Memories, Long Stretch of Lonesome, I Don't Wanna Feel Like That and Where I'm Bound. This album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. 20 yrs from now, people will still be listening to this album. It is by far her best work ever.

Since leaving MCA Patty has made albums that amaze, while making it seem easy. While Patty doesn't write any of her material, her choice of songs and songwriters is outstanding. And her pure country voice cuts deep. Among the many outstanding cuts here are "To Have You Back Again," "Too Many Memories," "Like Water Into Wine," and "You Don't Seem to Miss Me." If this were a perfect world, Patty would enjoy the popularity reserved for the likes of Mariah and Celine. You owe it to yourself to give this one a few spins.

Looking back at this cd eight years on, it really does live up to the (mostly) rave reviews printed here. I think it's a combination of Patty's naturally mature, sometimes mournful voice, the beautifully understated, always sensitive instrumentation (listen to "I Don't Want To Feel Like That" in particular), and a number of good quality, reflective songs that do in the end seem to add up to a theme, with mortality being the most repeated concept. She has, to my mind, never seemed completely at ease with up-tempo "happy" songs, even though she has recorded a fair number, and her natural relaxed facial expression is not a smile. This cd can stand comparison with "adult" contemporary music from any other popular music field.

This is my favorite Patty Loveless album. She has yet to make a disapointing one but this album truly resonated with me and had me reaching for the repeat button over and over. This album came at the height of her success in Nashville, but ultimately it would be her last truly successful album in terms of having lots of hit singles. In a brave move, she released the excellent collaboration with country legend George Jones "You Don't Seem To Miss Me", as the first single. A beautiful song and great harmonies. "To Have You Back Again" and "High On Love" were well charted singles. The album has so much more though. The album has some really introspective songs such as the ballad "Like Water Into Wine" (the final single from the album), or the reflective songs "I Don't Want To Feel Like That", "Where I'm Bound", "Too Many Memories" and the title track. She does a great cover of Kim Richey's "That's Exactly What I Mean". This is her best album in my opinion and definately worth checking out if you haven't already!

Though I didn't think so the first time that I heard it, LONG STRETCH OF LONESOME is quite possibly Patty Loveless' crowning achievement. Though nearly devoid of her usual spat of uptempo rockers-here, but in short supply-she nonetheless delivers a stunning set of soul-searching ballads. Though every track is a solid classic-literally-I must point out a few that rank to this day among her greatest recordings, chiefly the sobering 'Too Many Memories' and the revelatory loneliness of the title track. The real injustice here is that her misfortunes at country radio began with this album, something from which she has yet to fully recover(last year's slightly half-baked STRONG HEART didn't seem to help her cause). Highly recommended--easily one of the top ten country albums to come out in the last decade.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Patty Loveless is that, together with producer/husband Emory Gordy Jr., she is able to record music that is "radio-friendly" without homogenizing away its emotion or artistry. Their latest collaboration is a textbook of beautifully picked songs, inventive arrangements, and, of course, Loveless' flawless vocal interpretations.

Gordy's production uses most of the same elements and instruments as the imitative hacks that populate Nashville, but his results are wholly his own. From rave ups like "High on Love" to comtemplative pieces like "I Don't Want to Feel Like That" and the title track, the musical surrounding is a fascinating and brilliant bed for Loveless' singing.

And what singing it is! I can't think of another current country hitmaker that has Loveless' abilities for interpretation. She inhabits the emotions and characters of a song along with the greatest singers the genre has ever offered. Her duet with George Jones, "You Don't Seem to Miss Me," is a textbook of country singing, with a blue anguish in her tone that transcends the lyrics themselves.

Given the trajectory Loveless & Gordy have ridden, it's possible they'll top this LP with future productions, but it will hardly dim the brilliant shine of this one.

I've always liked Patty, but her music always seemed to leave something to be desired, but this album is excellent. Her vocals, the songs, everything is perfect, there's not a throwaway on this CD. I thought it was so good that it was my CD of choice to give as Christmas gifts this past holiday. When I find one that I like so much I share it as gifts for holidays and birthdays. This one was it for 1998.

I've liked Loveless' singing style for quite some time, but with this album, she has reached new vocal heights. I heard one cut, "To Have You Back Again," on the radio but didn't quite recognize the voice. It sounded like Patty Loveless, only better. The voice was more powerful, more mature, more confident and in control. Then I heard "You Don't Seem to Miss Me," and I had to buy the CD right away. This is the best singing she's ever done. She's no longer a good singer--she's a great one

If an artist's music is a reflection of their soul, Patty loveless has more soul than any artist today. I didn't think it would be possible to top "When Fallen Angels Fly" but not only has she topped it, she has taken this album to new heights. From "High On Love" to "Too Many Memories", Patty scales the gamut of gut busting blues to upbeat and bouncy. If the rating system were higher I would rate it at least 10 stars.