Honky Tonk Angels

Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2008)
• Original Release Date: November 2, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GMVDU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #54,254 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Nearly 30 years after an unknown singer made the album Dolly Parton Sings Country Oldies, which for all practical purposes was a Kitty Wells record, Parton joined with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette to revive the old-time, traditional female country sound, even hauling Miss Kitty along for a sparkling reprise of "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," the song that made Wells a star. This particular trio feels more at home with campy recitations than with hip, new songs, and doesn't dare get as harmonically ambitious as the one Parton enjoys with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt on Trio and Trio II. But as the queens of third-generation country, after Wells and Patsy Cline, they create a presence all their own, Lynn's plaintive urgency meeting Wynette's relaxed sensuality in the middle, and Parton mediating it all. No wonder Cline "drops by" for another round of "Lovesick Blues." Too much fun! --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant rivals team up for classic album, October 2, 2003

By	Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Honky Tonk Angels (Audio CD)

When this album was released, I wondered if the title should have been titled Custer's last stand. After all, none of these wonderful ladies were getting much airplay on American country radio and it seemed that their careers were finished. This album sold surprisingly well considering the lack of airplay. As things turned out, this album was the last major success in Tammy's career - she only recorded one more album (appropriately, a set of duets with George Jones) before her death. Loretta eventually had another major success with her 2004 album, Van Lear Rose. Following a quiet period in the mid nineties during which time her albums sold poorly, Dolly has been consistently successful with several successful albums. So my pessimism was (thankfully) unjustified.

This album is firmly rooted in traditional country, with all three having their share of lead vocals. Most of the songs are country classics. It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels was the song that made Kitty Wells a major country star of the fifties. Kitty joins Dolly, Tammy and Loretta on this rendition.

Put it off until tomorrow was written by Dolly in the sixties. It was a big country hit for Bill Phillips back then and was again a big hit when the Kendalls revived it in the early eighties. Dolly has recorded it several times, solo and with others.

Silver threads and golden needles was first recorded by Wanda Jackson but was a top twenty pop hit in America for the Springfields (with Dusty as lead singer) and was later revived by Linda Ronstadt.

Please help me I'm falling is a cover of the Hank Locklin classic, though Janie Fricke's version of this song is even better. Wings of a dove was a huge American hit for Ferlin Husky. I forgot more than you'll ever know launched the career of Skeeter Davis, although she was then part of the Davis sisters.

Wouldn't it be great is a Loretta Lynn song that she had previously recorded on her own. That's the way it could have been was recorded in the seventies by Tammy - it was also recorded as a duet by Kenny Rogers and Dottie West.

Lovesick blues is the old classic first popularised by Hank Williams (though his version was a cover). Patsy Cline also covered it and she makes a posthumous guest appearance on this track thanks to the wonders of technology.

I dreamed of a hillbilly heaven is an old Tex Ritter song, adapted for the time it was recorded. There are just two songs that were new to me when I bought this - Sitting on a front porch swing and Let her fly and they are both brilliant.

Any fans of traditional country in general or any of the three singers in particular will love this album.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classy Country All the Way, October 7, 1999

By	Steven Fantina (Phillipsburg, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Honky Tonk Angels (Audio CD)

In a day and age when so-called country radio is overpopulated by twenty-something clones whose songs, personalities, and names are as interchangeable as they are forgettable, it's good to hear from three ladies who have a combined nearly 100 years of recording history behind them. Add in Kiity Wells guest appearance on the title performance of her signature song, and the country music experience acquires an additional half-century.

Taking turns as lead vocalist, Nashville's three divas bring out the best in each other. Country's late first lady takes center stage on the energetic remake of Linda Ronstadt's "Silver Threads and Golden Needles," which was the disk's premier single. Unfortunately, it was all but ignored by most radio stations because the singers had passed their fortieth birthdays. Another powerful remake is Ferlin Hisky's gospel classic "Wings of a Dove" which provides the perfect vehicle for the trio's voices to blend in inspirational harmony.

Each of the women penned an included song. Loretta Lynn's contribution, "Wouldn't it be Great?" is slightly rewritten from the version featured on her 80's release Just A Woman.

Honky Tonk Angels lack of airplay is all the more reason to add it to your collection. It's a shame, but Nashville doesn't give us much music like this anymore. The final track, "Hillbilly Heaven"-with updated lyrics from Tex Ritter's original standard-takes on an eerie quality due to Tammy Wynette's untimely death just a few years after its release. This collection is a proud piece of her musical legacy, and one of the few truly great country efforts of the nineties in a genre that has become dominated by Shania-Garth pop.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three best voices in country ( plus Patsy Cline), December 16, 2004

By	Jeffery D. Lefleur - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Honky Tonk Angels (Audio CD)

The three top female singers in country just happen to have started in the 60's, although today, remain the three most influential careers of the genre. The late Tammy Wynette soars here with her vocal talents still intact, especially with "Silver Threads And Golden Needles". Loretta Lynn is classic country and outshines everyone on "Please Help Me I'm Falling". Kitty Wells joins the trio for her trademark, "It Wasn't God Who Made Hony Tonk Angels", and the great Patsy Cline joins the ladies for "Lovesick Blues". Dolly's incredible vocals as well as writing talents are displayed on "Sitting On The Front Porch Swing" and "Let Her Fly". There's not a bad cut on the whole disc. With all due repect to the late Davis Sisters, the three performing "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" is pure country magic. I only wish CBS records would release a follow up, I have read many more songs were recorded. Fans of the late Tammy Wynette would be "in heaven" to hear more from 'The First Lady Of Country Music'. If you enjoy original, classic country, this is a must !