''Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits'' is a compilation consisting of American

country pop Country pop (also known as pop country or urban cowboy) is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. Country pop music blends genres ...

music singer,

Patsy Cline Patsy is a given name often used as a diminutive of the feminine given name Patricia or sometimes the masculine name Patrick, or occasionally other names containing the syllable "Pat" (such as Cleopatra, Patience, Patrice, or Patricia). Among I ...

's greatest hits. The album consists of Cline's biggest hits between 1957 and 1963. It is one of the biggest-selling albums in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

by any female country music artist.

Background

''Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits'' was released four years after her death in 1967 by Decca Records, Cline's longtime record label and the one with whom she'd had the most hits. Among its twelve tracks, the album contains seven of Cline's Top 10 country hits between 1957 and 1963. In 1971, MCA consolidated the New York-based Decca and Kapp subsidiary labels, plus the California-based Uni label into MCA Records based in Universal City, California. The three labels maintained their identities for a short time but were retired in favor of the MCA label in 1973. Upon Cline's induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973, the album was reissued by

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 w ...

and went gold all over again. In 1988, the album was reissued again on a CD format with a different cover art and was retitled ''12 Greatest Hits.'' In 2003, the album was digitally remastered and was reissued under MCA records again with the original 1967 cover art. Bob Ludwig digitally remastered the album in 2003, making the album sound smoother in sound than it originally did before.

Chart performance & record sales

In 1967, the original album release peaked at #17 on the Billboard

Top Country Albums Top Country Albums is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The 50-position chart lists the most popular country music albums in the country, calculated weekly by Broadcast Data Systems based on physical sales ...

chart. After the album was digitally remastered and reissued under the title, ''12 Greatest Hits,'' the album charted again on the Top Country Albums chart at #27. No singles were spawned from the album. In 1989, ''Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits'' was certified double-platinum (two million copies) by the RIAA, making Cline the first female ever in country music to have a double-platinum album. The album is currently in ''

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

'' for staying the most weeks on the US Country Chart by a female artist. The album was still on the chart in 2001, 722 weeks after it originally entered the charts. . By 2005, the album had sold 10 million copies in the

, receiving a certification of 10× Multi-Platinum or Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America. Making it easily the single highest selling album never to chart on the ''Billboard'' 200. ''Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits'' was the largest-selling album by a female country artist up until

Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( , ; née Edwards; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-s ...

's '' The Woman in Me'' sold 12 million copies in the United States.

Individual tracks

The album contains Patsy Cline's signature hits but also includes several songs that were never hits on the American Country or Pop Top 100 Charts. "Walkin' After Midnight" was released in 1957 and reached #2 on the Country charts and #12 on the Billboard Top 100. It was released while Cline was still under her Four Star Records contract. The version on the Greatest Hits collection is a 1961 rerecording. "Sweet Dreams" was released in 1963 following Cline's death. It reached #5 on the Billboard Country chart, #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on Billboard Easy Listening. "Crazy", by songwriter and singer Willie Nelson, was released by Cline in 1961. It went to #2 on Billboard's Country chart, #2 Easy Listening, and #9 on the Hot 100. "I Fall To Pieces" was released in 1961; it was #1 on Billboard's Country chart, #12 on the Hot 100 and #6 Easy Listening. "So Wrong" was released in 1962. It was one of Cline's lesser hits, reaching #14 Country and #85 on the Hot 100. "Strange" was the B-side of "She Got You", released in 1962. "Back in Baby's Arms" was the B-side of "Sweet Dreams", released following Cline's death in 1963. It was a #1 hit in Australia briefly in 1963. "She's Got You" was released in 1962. It was #1 Country, #14 Hot 100, and #3 Easy Listening. "Faded Love", a cover of a Bob Wills song, was released after Cline's death in 1963. It reached #7 on the U.S. Country charts and #96 on the Hot 100. It was first released on album on the Greatest Hits collection. "Why Can't He Be You" was the B-side of Clines' 1962 single "Heartaches." It had minor chart success, reaching #7 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100. It also reached the #107 position on the U.S. pop charts. "You're Stronger Than Me" was the B-side to the 1962 single "So Wrong", which reached #103 Pop. This collection contains a faster version recorded earlier but never released. "Leavin' on Your Mind" was Cline's last single to be released before her death in 1963. It reached #8 Country and #83 on the Hot 100. Charted songs that did not make this collection include: *"A Poor Man's Roses" (1957 - #14 U.S. Country), *"Who Can I Count On?" (1961 - #99 U.S. Pop), *"When I Get Thru With You" (1962 - #10 U.S. Country / #52 U.S. Pop), *"Imagine That" (1962 - #21 U.S. Country / #90 U.S. Pop), *"You're Stronger Than Me" (b-side version) (1962 - #103 U.S. Pop), *"Heartaches" (1962 - #73 U.S. Pop), "When You Need a Laugh" (1963 - #47 U.S. Country), *"Someday" (1964 - #123 U.S. Pop), and "He Called Me Baby" (1964 - #23 U.S. Country).

Track listing

1967 and 1973 original LP version

Side 1 #"

Walkin' After Midnight "Walkin' After Midnight" is a song written by Alan Block and Don Hecht and recorded by American country music artist Patsy Cline. The song was originally given to pop singer Kay Starr; however, her label rejected it. The song was left unused until ...

" – 2:00 (Don Hecht, Alan Block) #" Sweet Dreams (of You)" – 2:33 (

Don Gibson Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson wrote such country standards as " Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoy ...

) #"

Crazy Insanity, madness, lunacy, and craziness are behaviors performed by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity can be manifest as violations of societal norms, including a person or persons becoming a danger to themselves or t ...

" – 2:41 (

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (1 ...

) #"

I Fall to Pieces "I Fall to Pieces" is a song written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard that was originally recorded by Patsy Cline. Released as a single in 1961 via Decca Records, it topped the country charts, crossed over onto the pop charts and became among C ...

" – 2:47 (

Hank Cochran Garland Perry "Hank" Cochran (August 2, 1935 – July 15, 2010) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, Ray Price, Eddy ...

Harlan Howard Harlan Perry Howard (September 8, 1927 – March 3, 2002) was an American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard wrote many popular and enduring songs, recorded by a variety of different artists. C ...

) #"

So Wrong "So Wrong" is a song written by Carl Perkins, Danny Dill and Mel Tillis and popularized by country music artist Patsy Cline. The song was released as a single on Decca Records in 1962 by Patsy Cline. Background Patsy Cline was best known for h ...

" – 2:58 ( Carl Perkins) #"Strange" – 2:10 (Fred Burch,

Mel Tillis Lonnie Melvin Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement, ...

) Side 2 #"Back in Baby's Arms" – 2:00 ( Bob Montgomery) #"

She's Got You "She's Got You" is a country song written by Hank Cochran and first recorded (in December 1961) and released (in 1962) as a single by Patsy Cline. Musically the song is an upbeat jazz-pop song with country overtones to support it. History Accord ...

" – 2:58 (Cochran) #"

Faded Love "Faded Love" is a Western swing song written by Bob Wills, his father John Wills, and his brother, Billy Jack Wills. The tune is considered to be an exemplar of the Western swing fiddle component of American fiddle. The melody came from an 185 ...

" – 3:43 (

Bob Wills James Robert Wills (March 6, 1905 – May 13, 1975) was an American Western swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader. Considered by music authorities as the founder of Western swing, he was known widely as the King of Western Swing (although ...

, John Wills) #"

Why Can't He Be You "Why Can't He Be You"' is a song written by Hank Cochran that was originally recorded by American country artist Patsy Cline. The song became a minor chart hit was later included on Cline's ''Greatest Hits'' album. It has since been notably covered ...

" – 3:21 (Cochran) #"You're Stronger Than Me" – 2:51 (Cochran, Jimmy Key) #"

Leavin' on Your Mind "Leavin' on Your Mind" is a country pop song written by Wayne Walker and Webb Pierce, first recorded by Canadian singer Joyce Smith in 1962. Patsy Cline was in Owen Bradley's office one day, heard the record Smith made, and immediately wanted th ...

" – 2:34 (Wayne Walker,

Webb Pierce Michael Webb Pierce (August 8, 1921 – February 24, 1991) was an American honky-tonk vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of the 1950s, one of the most popular of the genre, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the ...

)

1988 and 2003 CD version

The song lengths remain the same on the reissued releases. #"Walkin' After Midnight" #"Sweet Dreams (Of You)" #"Crazy" #"I Fall to Pieces" #"So Wrong" #"Strange" #"Back in Baby's Arms" #"She's Got You" #"Faded Love" #"Why Can't He Be You" #"You're Stronger Than Me" #"Leavin' on Your Mind"

Personnel

The album's tracks were recorded between November 16, 1960 and February 7, 1963 in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...

. *

Harold Bradley Harold Ray Bradley (January 2, 1926 – January 31, 2019) was an American guitarist and entrepreneur, who played on many country, rock and pop recordings and produced numerous TV variety shows and movie soundtracks. Having started as a session ...

– electric bass *

– vocals *

Floyd Cramer Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American pianist who became famous for his use of melodic "half step" attacks. He was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His signatu ...

– piano, organ *

Ray Edenton Ray Quarles Edenton (November 3, 1926 – September 21, 2022) was an American guitar player and country music session musician. Early life Ray Edenton was born into a musical family on November 3, 1926, and grew up near Mineral, Virginia. His f ...

– rhythm guitar *

Hank Garland Walter Louis Garland (11 November 1930 – 27 December 2004), professionally Hank Garland, was an American guitarist and songwriter. He started as a country musician, played rock and roll as it became popular in the 1950s, and released a jazz al ...

– electric guitar *

Buddy Harman Murrey Mizell "Buddy" Harman, Jr. (December 23, 1928 – August 21, 2008) was an American country music session musician. Career Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Harman played drums on over 18,000 sessions for artists such as Elvis Presley, Jerry ...

– drums *

Walter Haynes Walter Haynes (December 14, 1928 – January 1, 2009) was an American steel guitarist and music producer who worked with such artists as Patsy Cline Jimmy Dickens, Del Reeves, The Everly Brothers and Jeanne Pruett. He also co-wrote a number ...

– steel guitar * Randy Hughes – rhythm guitar * Joe Jenkins – acoustic bass *

The Jordanaires The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music for recording companies such as Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Vocal ...

– background vocals * Doug Kirkham – drums *

Millie Kirkham Millie Kirkham (born Mildred Eakes; June 24, 1923 – December 14, 2014) was an American singer who was featured on many classic hit recordings from the mid-1950s through the 1980s. Early life Kirkham was born Mildred Eakes in Hermitage, Tenne ...

– background vocals *

Grady Martin Thomas Grady Martin (January 17, 1929 – December 3, 2001) was an American session guitarist in country music and rockabilly. A member of The Nashville A-Team, he played guitar on hits such as Marty Robbins' " El Paso", Loretta Lynn's " Co ...

– electric guitar *

Bob Moore Bob Loyce Moore (November 30, 1932 – September 22, 2021) was an American session musician, orchestra leader, and double bassist who was a member of the Nashville A-Team during the 1950s and 1960s. He performed on over 17,000 documented recor ...

– acoustic bass *

Bill Pursell William Whitney Pursell (June 9, 1926 – September 3, 2020) was an American composer and onetime session pianist. He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player. Pursell is best known for the to ...

– organ,

vibraphone The vibraphone is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone is called a ''vibraphonist,'' ''vibraharpist ...

Hargus "Pig" Robbins Hargus Melvin Robbins (January 18, 1938 – January 30, 2022), known by his nickname "Pig," was an American session keyboard player. Having played on records for many artists, including John Stewart, Dolly Parton, Connie Smith, Patti Page, Lor ...

– piano * Rita Faye Wilson – autoharp

Charts

Album – '' Billboard'' (North America)

Year-end charts

References

External links

Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits Amazon.com profile
{{Authority control Patsy Cline albums Albums produced by Owen Bradley 1967 greatest hits albums MCA Records compilation albums Decca Records compilation albums

Background

Chart performance & record sales

Individual tracks

Track listing

1967 and 1973 original LP version

1988 and 2003 CD version

Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

See also

References

External links