Honky Tonk Angel

 (9 customer reviews)

I became a fan of Patty's from her very first album, but it was this (third) album that established her as a serious contender in country music. The album is filled with excellent songs, demonstrating Patty's ability to sing ballads and up-tempo songs equally effectively. Already revered in the music business on the strength of her first two albums, Patty was able to secure the services of Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell and bluegrass singer Claire Lynch as backing vocalists on this album, with Vince appearing on five tracks. The overall style is typical of the late eighties - more country sounding that Patty's recordings of the mid-nineties but more pop sounding than Mountain soul.The album yielded several country hits including Chains, Don't toss us away and Timber I'm fall falling in love. Blue side of town opens the album in great style. Although the title may suggest a sad ballad, it is in fact an up-tempo song about solving problems by have a few drinks. Next comes another upbeat...Read more

Probably the most complete country music package of her day, combining shy, Kentucky innocence with a stinging tenor, Patty Loveless' third MCA effort finally wrangled the immense commercial success predicted for her, and the hits here, Kostas' Buddy Holly-flavored "Timber, I'm Falling In Love," "Don't Toss Us Away," and "Chains" established her as a bona fide country music star. There are also several gems which weren't released as singles: "Blue Side of Town" (performed on the David Letterman show,) and Kevin Welch's masterful "I Won't Gamble With Your Love." Loveless sticks to her guns and delivered 2 Top Ten hits, her first #1, and a garnered a boatload of fans eager to hear more.

At times throughout the years, I have had brief flirtations with modern-day country music, and on these infrequent occasions I have been drawn to those singers who have a discernible trace of old-school country in them. Patty Loveless is one such artist, a female vocalist with the twang and the bluegrass type of sound my nascent country tastes require. Sure, you've got your electric guitar and drums here too, but the good old fiddle and mandolin make their presence known quite strongly in a number of tracks. I have another connection of sorts with Patty Loveless; while I have never met her, she was at one time a waitress in my home town. I think I discovered her when she performed Timber I'm Falling in Love on Hee Haw, and that song is one of those catchy, upbeat songs that stay in your head for quite awhile. Chains was another hit song of the same ilk, and I Won't Gamble With Your Love makes a strong play for best song on the album. Of course, any country singer has to do a few...Read more