Reviewed by Dave Brassington

Last year the Magnum Group gave country fans a treat by re-issuing in a box set all of Patsy Cline's Four Star recordings, in chronological order, with an accompanying booklet. Well, due to the wonders of modern technology they have put these recordings onto two compact discs, and the retail price is now considerably cheaper. For a singer who has been dead for 27 years, interest in this country songstylist is at an all time high. No doubt encouraged by the 'Sweet Dreams' film of a few years ago which starred that fine actress Jessica Lange who in the opinion of many ought to have received an Oscar for her fine portrayal of Patsy. These recordings are from 1955-1960, and are a potted history of American music, when country music was having to come to terms with the advent of Rock'n'Roll. It is astonishing to realise that only one big hit resulted from this wealth of fine recordings, this being the bluesy "Walkin' After Midnight" dating from 1957, and popular as she had become as a touring artist and as a member of the 'Grand Ole Opry' she felt trapped by some of the quality of the songs she was being offered as her Four Star contract came to an end. Subsequently she was to become one of country music's hottest stars with string of country and pop hits until her tragic death in an air crash in 1963, which also claimed the lives of fellow country artists, Cowboy Copas and Hankshaw Hawkins. Little has been said about Patsy's religious beliefs but when she was recovering from a bad car crash in 1961 shortly after "Fall To Pieces' was a big Worldwide hit, she claimed to have been visited in her hospital by Jesus Christ. All Patsy's four gospel songs are here, "Dear God" and "He Will Do For You (What He's Done For Me)" from April 1956, plus "Life's Railway To Heaven" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" from January 1960 in their very last Four Star session. Four Star even issued these as an EP. Thanks to the benefit of modern technology we can hear again that distinctive vocalising that was years agead of its time. It has taken the intervening years to really appreciate what a tremendous talent we lost in 1963. An indispensable release for the serious country music fan.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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