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Here we have another superb (50 song) country compilation from Humphead records, this time the subject is vibrant vocalist Kentucky-born Patty Loveless and her MCA years (1985-1991). Loveless’ catalogue of work is littered with compositions, top-class they are too from Kostas Lazarides supplemented by those from the likes of Karen Staley, Paul Kennerley plus dips into the song catalogues of Hank Williams, Steve Earle, Guy Clark (w/ Keith Sykes), Dallas Frazier and Jimbeau Hinson – Harry Stinson co-write “Afterall”. To hear Loveless let her mountain country soul pipes rip is something to behold. Some ways on occasional tracks her vocal approach is of the Patsy Cline mould on a number of her early recordings. Loveless’ rise through the ranks wasn’t one of your over-night success stories, but in serving her dues it ensured she had what it took when the time came. Prior to becoming a solo recording act she had appeared regularly on the Wilburn Brothers TV Show, and later toured with them, and was the other half of a duet act with her brother, Roger Ramey.
As already noted, Patty’s career took a little while to take off. Her cover of Earle’s “A Little Bit In Love” was an early success, and with little known Hank Williams’ “I Can’t Get You Off My Mind” and the Clark – Sykes song “You Are Everything” she veers over to western swing, an area not too many associate with a girl brought up on old fashioned country music and bluegrass (of which she recorded two scintillating albums long after the hits had dried up). As for those said hits, Kostas’ “Timber, I’m Falling” set the benchmark, followed by “The Lonely Side Of Love” and there were others too, both from him and more than a fair share from Loveless’ own hand.
Her albums late 1980s and 1990s albums Honky Tonk Angel, On Down The Line and Up Against My Heart were full of treasures, some of which weren’t even released as singles but could just as easily been and become major hits. “Chains” (Hal Byrum – Bud Reneau) and her smooth, fiddle lined version of Kostas’ “Nobody Loves You Like I Do” plus plaintive country ballad “Working Man’s Hands” (Joanne, Johnny Pierce) likewise deserve a place among the choice picks.
Quality runs throughout, and with her supported on the musician front by Stuart Duncan, Paul Franklin, Jerry Douglas, Steuart Smith, Larrie Londin, Mark O’Connor, Albert Lee , John Jarvis and Steve Gibson plus vocalists Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, and Harry Stinson Honky Tonk Angels is a compilation no discerning country follower can afford to be without unless they already have the individual albums!
Maurice Hope