Customer Reviews

The Patti Page Collection: The Mercury Years, Volume 1

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That's right, Patti Page had at least 20 hits in the TOP 30 songs within a 5 year period between 1948-1952.....to top it off most of them were TOP 10, 4 were number 1......and they accounted for more than 20 million in sales. Nothing but a bunch of statistics you may say but when you listen to the many types of songs Patti brought to the hit parade you'll know why she ruled the airwaves. This CD was originally the first volume of a 2 volume series(2nd cd has been deleted)...the 2nd CD contained 20 more hits from 1953-1962(the remainder of the Mercury years the first time around).....The only way you can get more of THE RAGE's hit recordings at this date is to buy the GOLDEN CELEBRATION 4 CD box which contains most of the songs on this cd.....or you can get ALL of Patti's TOP 40 hits on the Readers Digest 3 CD box GREATEST HITS -FINEST PERFORMANCES. If you are a Patti fan you will appreciate hearing these songs once again. If you are unfamiliar with Patti Page you may want to try this CD to see what radio sounded like in the late 40s-early 50s.

In 1947 Patti Page was an obscure singer from Oklahoma with ten recordings behind her that nobody listened to. Her manager, Jack Rael, suggested that she be assigned a song that Mercury Records had planned to give to Vic Damone, "Confess," a song that was composed with parts for a duet. With a low budget that would not allow Mercury to hire a second singer, Rael persuaded the company to record Patti in both parts, the first example of "overdubbing." The unusual effect turned Patti Page into a big success. Her #12 charting "Confess" was followed by her first four-part recording, "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming," her first #1 charting song, "All My Love," and her biggest hit (and one of the biggest selling records of all time), "The Tennessee Waltz." This CD features all four of these and 16 other Patti Page hits, representing the best part of her large list of hits for Mercury: songs she did up to 1953. A second volume has been produced containing songs of the next few years, but the biggest milestones of her career, the four songs mentioned in this paragraph, are in this collection. It is clearly the most important collection of this great artist's work.

There is a similar CD issued by ASV called "All My Love," named after her first #1 song, which duplicates much of the material on here. If you have one, you don't need the other, All the biggest hits on that one are on this one and vice versa; the reason I prefer this collection is that the songs on this one are arranged chronologically. But the bottom line is, if there is one particular song you want that is not on one of the two, or if the price makes a difference, let that guide your decision; the two are about equivalent.

I'm happy I got this CD.

Patti's vocals are truly fantastic in this collection of hits. I personally liked Patti Page's voice better than that of her contemparary Doris Day. Especially pleasing (perhaps because they aren't commonly heard) are "Would I Love You, Love You, Love You" and "All My Love". Time hasn't dimmed the impact of these great recordings done by a beautiful lady with a sensational voice - the true hallmark of a great artist!

Many people don't realize that Ms. Page was one of the first popular artists to incorporate the technique of overdubbing. By singing more than one music part, she was thus able to create a unique kind of harmony that is wonderfully preserved in these two CDs. Due to modern remastering technologies, the sound quality of these two CDs is very high. And the songs chosen for these two CDs provide a great represenation of her hits. I especially liked the extensive liner notes, pictures and discography. And then of course there's Patti's wonderfully crisp, powerful, and emotionally stirring singing to top it off. I never get tired of listening to her sing.

She sold more albums than any other female artist. She ruled the '50's. This album includes her earlier hits and Vol. 2 has 'Allegheny Moon', 'Old Cape Cod' etc. Her voice speaks for itself. The newer 'Carnegie Hall' and 'New Tennesse Waltz' albums will show you how little her voice has changed over the years.

The Patti Page Collection: The Mercury Years, Vol. 1 has many hits from Patti Page's earlier years when she recorded on the Mercury Records label. This CD is indispensable for any Patti Page fan; it proves Patti Page had a very sweet voice--and of course she still does. She can handle just about any type of tune with panache and I could never tire of hearing her voice cooing the lyrics to any melody. The quality of the sound on this CD is nothing short is superb; and the artwork is pretty nice as well.

"Confess" has Patti singing very well; she does her own backup vocals and this makes a great effect. "Confess" is beautiful when Patti sings it and I love this number. "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine" is a fine love song that stands out even amongst the other hits on this album. Patti sings this classic love song with lots of positive energy and she never falters--I like that a lot. "Back In Your Own Backyard" shines brightly when Patti sings it; the somewhat jazzy arrangement gets just a touch of big band sound to enhance it even more but the musicians never steal the spotlight away from Patti. The spotlight's right where she belonged.

"Tennessee Waltz" is one of the first ballads I ever heard Patti sing; and it still makes an incredible impression on me. "Tennessee Waltz" is truly one of Patti Page's signature songs and just one listen will tell you why--it's outstanding. "Mockin' Bird Hill" is another big tune that practically belongs to Patti Page; she sings this with grace and her own background vocals make this a terrific number. The arrangement for the woodwind instruments works very well, too. "Mister And Mississippi" is a somewhat playful tune that Patti sings well. She handles those sharp contrasts between a slow tempo and a fast tempo very well; she quickly changes between the two tempos faultlessly.

"Detour" showcases Patti's excellent diction; and listen for "Come What May." "Come What May" has a very sweet melody and I really like "Come What May." Those backup vocalists harmonize to perfection--and that organ really helps the music along! "Once In A While" is nothing short of heavenly; "Once In A While" is perfect for slow dancing all alone in your living room late at night with your sweetheart. Of course, the torch song entitled "I Went To Your Wedding" is very poignant and Patti delivers this very well. It's sad; but wow, how Patti makes it shine anyway!

"You Belong To Me" is a very famous, romantic tune that could never go out of style; and Patti outdoes even herself on "Why Don't You Believe Me?" "Why Don't You Believe Me?" moves me with its beauty; it's like listening to pure silk when Patti Page sings this ballad. The CD also ends very well with Patti Page performing "Conquest." "Conquest" is actually a number I don't recall hearing from Patti; perhaps my memory fails me but at any rate it's quite a good ending for this CD.

Patti Page fans will consider this a "must-have" for their collections; and people just discovering Patti Page would do well to get this album. This is also a fine CD for people who enjoy classic pop vocals with an occasional country twist thrown in for good effect.