Customer Reviews

Patti Page - Greatest Hits [Columbia]

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

 

 

No, these are not the original hit 78s/45s of these songs from her Mercury days, these were recorded for the original Columbia album in 1965 or 1966. This is what these late 40s/early 50s songs would have sounded like had they originally been recorded in the 60s with lush orchestration and great stereo sound.
Patti's performance on these songs is absolutely flawless. Her voice is at it's best, silky smooth and resonant.
I'm a long time Patti fan and comparing these to the original hits is unfair. These recordings were definitely made to take advantage of song name value and Patti name value but Columbia was smart enough not to make mere copies of the originals. In many cases the arrangements are probably better than the originals: With My Eyes Wide Open, Old Cape Cod, Detour, Cross Over the Bridge. My only disappointment was the bluesy feel of Tennessee Waltz but then again Patti has sung Tennessee Waltz thousands of times and I've heard it that many times too. I'm always happy to pull out this CD to hear a different arrangement.

If you buy this CD expecting it to be the original Mercury million sellers you will be disappointed. But if you buy it to hear Patti at her peak performance, you will be very satsified.

What no-one is mentioning here is that all the Patti hits here have been given dynamite, extremely stylish new arrangements by Marty Paitch.


They are very slick, high-energy horn and string arrangements which give Patti a whole new verve and energy. I have come to love this album, and now find the original 1950's arrangements somewhat stodgy by comparison.

You can feel Patti really working to match Paitch's energy here--- and she does, with great aplomb and wit. "Detour", for example, will leave you breathless.

This album is highly recommended for Patti lovers and for lovers of fine jazz orchestra arranging.

Some of the songs were better in their original hit versions but the sound was bad. Here Patti is given the opportunity to recreate her hits in a stereo setting. Old Cape Cod is exceptionally well done as is Mister & Mississippi. Detour & Allegheny Moon are also on par with the originals.

Songs are the originals but Patti must have recorded these last year. Somewhat dissappointing.

This is a stay-away recording if you're a Patti Page fan, which I am. When she left Mercury, they decided at Columbia to redo all her greatest hits when disastrous results. Go for the Mercury recordings of 'The Mercury Years Vo. 1 and 2.

I recently bought this CD. The beautiful TENNESSEE WALTZ is no more. What a disappointment. Can someone explain to me why it is that when a song is a multi-million seller and works well in the original, some executive somewhere decides to re-arrange it? This is a fiasco. However, the re-arrangement of CHANGING PARTNERS works well. So all is not lost. To be avoided.

These are re-recordings of Patti's hits but not necessarily bad. In fact I like the versions of "Detour" and "Mister and Mississippi" better than the originals. The arrangements on the originals weren't very good. These are much better and Patti still sounds great. I'm usually an advocate of always having the original recordings (and still am) but sometimes the re-recordings are just as good or, as in this case, better. Kay Starr and Jo Stafford re-recorded their hits and they were wonderful. So is this one.

First, do NOT be fooled by those reviews that are less than favorable. I LOVE this album!
I orginally purchused it in the 70's on LP and later on CD. And now I'm getting ready to buy it on cassette!
I believe it is FAR superior to the old Mercury recordings. If they want want the old, tinny recordings from Mercury, then they should go out and purchase her Patti Page's Golden Hits on the Mercury label!!
Even though Patti's voice may not be as strong, she does a GREAT job!! Also, it sure is nice to hear those LUSH orchestrations!

Quite a letdown after looking forward to receiving this CD for weeks (not the best job of shipping Amazon has ever done for me). Patti Page's voice sounded great, but the arrangements were nothing like the ones I listened to growing up.

Lovely music, great artist, but the CD sounds very "tinny." Should have been enhanced. Sounds like the old "Victrola" days.