Mountain Soul

Patty Loveless | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005KG65
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (118 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Country CD, July 14, 2001

By 

Brian Mumpower - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mountain Soul (Audio CD)

Patty Loveless has chosen to ignore what is radio friendly and return to the music she does best. The result is the spectacular "Mountain Music." It is one of the truest country music releases of the year and a very personal one, dedicated to both her mother and father. Recent releases from Dolly Parton "Little Sparrow", and Loretta Lynn "Still Country", attest to the fact that there is an audience that is hungry for Appalachian mountain music. It would be a real feat if any of these tunes were to become top ten hits in today's country atmosphere. That is not to say that they do not deserve the status. Loveless has crafted a nearly perfect collection of songs that give the listener a sense of what it must have been like to enjoy mountain music in a simpler time. Beginning with the rousing number "The Boys are Back in Town" and the two stand out gospel songs "Daniel Prayed" and "Rise Up Lazarus", this set is simply a joy to experience. Patty's voice has never sounded better, and her haunting rendition of "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" (also recorded this year by Brad Paisley), is one you will not forget. Notable duets with Travis Tritt, "I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still)," and "Out of Control Raging Fire" are the year's best collaborative efforts. If you are a fan of one of the best voices in real country music, you better not miss this outstanding effort.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Country Soul..., July 6, 2001

By 

Patrice Webb (Georgetown, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountain Soul (Audio CD)

Modern day Country Divas with their emphasis on style over substance could stand to learn a thing or two from Patty Loveless who's simple demeanor and honest strait forward singing have made her one of the last true Country Singers. On past CD's Loveless's true rootsy soul has often been hidden under a slick veneer of Nashville Country Programming. On this CD, her traditional Country leanings have been given free rein and unlike many of her contemporaries, who's cookie cutter voices sound like cotton candy, Loveless sings with a broken heart that pumps real blood.

Although billed as an album of "Mountain Music", Mountain Soul also emerges as a truly genuine country album mining both the gospel and bluegrass influences that made so much of the early Country Music so soulful. Many of the songs on this CD have the feel and sound of old standards. "Rise Up Lazarus", a song co-written by Loveless and Emory Gordy Jr. is just such an example as is Loveless's rendition of Ralph Stanley's "Daniel Prayed" - both of these songs have the feeling of an afternoon in a Sunday morning gospel tent revival meeting.

On other songs such as Leslie Satcher and Tommy Conner's gracefully sad "Sorrowful Angels" and Darrell Scott's "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" Loveless pushes the traditional Country envelope wider bringing in elements of folk music into an otherwise traditional country mix. "The Richest Fool Alive" is a song that could have been written back in the days when Country Music had names like Hank Williams or Buck Owens and cowboy hats still had sweat on the hatband. "Out of Control Raging Fire" with its line, "Pain has no memory when you burn with desire" represents the kind of songwriting you just don't find on today's saccharine infused Country/Pop charts - and on this track Loveless's barn burning duet with Travis Tritt shows what real Country Music could be like if Nashville wasn't so afraid of getting its hands dirty.

The effort that went into this disk is clearly a work of the heart - the CD's packaging contains numerous family pictures with notes lovingly written by Loveless. If true Country music brings us closer to who we are Loveless's CD will surely stand out as one of the more genuine Country Music releases of the year and for lovers of Country Music a welcome respite from all of the glitter and hype Nashville passes off as Country Music in this day and age.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning achievement !, September 14, 2001

By 

Christopher (Alabama United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountain Soul (Audio CD)

Ms. Loveless doesn't offer us this CD as an hommage to old school country or traditional bluegrass and gospel, rather, she presents us with this wonderful album as if it's the only music known to mankind, and she sings it from the bottom of her soul ! A superb mix of the above mentioned genres, without a misstep on the entire CD. It has been a long, long while since I have enjoyed every single song on a country album, but this one cured that problem. The more I listen to it, the better it gets. Like I stated, every song is great, but, beginning with song ten and ending with song 14, Patty offers us a suite of music that is truly some of the most beautiful and haunting songs ever captured. Her remake of her own song, Sounds of Loneliness, will give you goosebumps, as will, You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. Where is all the promotion for this stunning collection of songs ? I happened to see a review in Spin Magazine (of all places !) and they gave it 9 out of 10, which is an impressive feat. If this glorious album doesn't win best country album of the year, then I will lose what little faith I have left in this dreadful countrypolitan scene. This is THE album Patty has hinted at on her previous ten albums and it's truly the jewel in her crown. My hat is off and I take a deep bow to Ms. Loveless for a job extremely well done. If this album isn't in your country collection, then it should be !