Patty Loveless Can Do No Wrong
Nobody doesn't like Patty Loveless. At least, that's the impression you get from the New York Times' review of her show last week at the Allen Room. She sang songs off her Sleepless Nights album, mostly country classics from the ‘50s and ‘60s. And it sounds like her music was neither the mainstream country rock that traditionalists love to hate or the uber-traditional sound that radio has turned its back on. It sounds like she actually blended those two pretty effortlessly. Mandolin, pedal steel and plenty of guitar playing nicely together with her strong steady voice. Wish I'd been there to hear what the Times called Loveless' "well-made, honest, no-frills songs."
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Mike says:
Alison, the title of this entry is perhaps the truest thing ever written in the history of country music blogging. Patty is one of our greatest treasures, having produced several landmark albums and consistently excellent singles of commercial and artistic significance. “Sleepless Nights” is such a brilliant album and ranks as my favorite of 2008; I particularly enjoy her takes on the title track, “Crazy Arms,” and “Color of the Blues.” Patty’s work is the epitome of country music and she can truly “do no wrong” in that regard.
RedMaZ says:
Well, I suppose if one sits around listening to Pop radio, one wouldn’t know that traditional sounds still abound on radio too. The first example of this would be “Sleepless Nights” by Patty Loveless, which is currently #6 on the RMR Roots Country Chart, and has been on for 18 weeks(based on airplay spins). I have yet to find a Roots Country fan that doesn’t like Patty. She is a true Americana Music icon, and we as a fan based genre have welcomed her in with open arms. Unlike Pop Country radio, who doesn’t want anything to do with her.
On a side note…in the picture above, can anyone name what kind of guitar that is? The tailpiece is the real clue. What is the name of the tailpiece? Know the name of the tailpiece and you’ll know the name of the guitar, or vise-versa.
Chris D. says:
As a nice coincidence, I am listening to all of my Patty music on shuffle right now. I got her Sleepless Nights album last month, loved it, and then went on to buy all of her albums since Mountain Soul. xD
I love her so much, she’s already one of my favorite artists right now. What I want to know is do you like Patty, Alison?
solongsowrong says:
Even though this lady is a Country treasure, you still have to wonder how many who listen to Mainstream Country, actually go out of their way to seek out Patty’s music, and know just exactly what her music is all about.
I’ll guess we’ll know, by how few hits this blog gets.
CJ says:
Patty has been around for a while now. She is just as good now as when she first started. She has that twang that is what I love most about her. She is just herself and never had to sell out for anyone.
B.W. LaRoy says:
I’m not counting hits…I’m counting country…and she’s it. Go home young Karaoke champions. Go home. Get a real job. Let those fiddles and steels ring out like they used to do…go home geek guitar heroes…go home posers…go home starving fashion wannabes…let the big dog eat.
jjh says:
I listen to mainstream and have known about Patty for years and am glad she is back to making music and touring. I bought her latest the 1st day and love it. Hope she comes around where I live so I can see her. I do wish that there were more of the traditionalist / root music played on mainstream stations.
countryiscool says:
RedMaZ, wasn’t sure if you were still checking out the Simpson blog for my reply on Americana. A quick few names I can give you I heard;
Tom Russell, “The Pugilist”
The Waybacks, “City Boy”
The Duhk’s, “Heaven’s my Home”
Sara Cox, “Busted Sympathy”
Bill Chambers & Audrey Auld, “The Whiskey isn’t Working”
btw, I like the Strait songs “King of Broken Hearts,” and
“Where the Sidewalk Ends” both of which I believe are on the soundtrack of PURE COUNTRY.
PS, didn’t care much for The Waybacks (or that song??) and I liked Audrey Auld’s voice better than Bill Chambers.
Re: THIS blog, I love Patty Loveless.
CtJim says:
Patty Loveless can do no wrong because she does no wrong to herself. There are no public antics. There is no drama in her public life. There never has been. She is the anti-Diva. She is all about the music. When she performs, her focus is sharing her love for the music with the audience. I saw her in NYC on 1/15/09. It was the second best show I have ever seen. The best was the first time I saw her three months earlier in New Jersey. And I have seen a lot of acts. There are a lot of talented vocalists, but none so true to her music. Her gift is that she feels it, then makes you feel it like she feels it.
I am a recent fan. There are a growing number of us. Including Chris D. I truly believe that with all of her hit making in the 80s and 90s that her most meaningful material has been recorded in the last eight years. She has had two masterpieces in that period with Mountain Soul and Sleepless Nights. On Your Way Home is also one of my favorites. I thought by seeing her my interest would wan, but it has grown stronger. I am backtracking now to her hit albums and finding gems that I didn’t know about.
You may be able to get to experience this first hand in Chicago. I believe there are still seats left for her March shows. Please go and enjoy yourself. I promise you can do no wrong.
Alison Bonaguro says:
Yes, Chris D. Love her. Ever since “Blame it on Your Heart,” which came out just as was starting to dig country. And CtJim, I am already going to her Chicago show.
RichR says:
I attended the show in the Allen room that the Times reviewed. It was an extraordinary show.
I’ve seen Patty several times over the past 15 years and she has never sounded better. Her set included hits from her early days like “If My Heart Had Windows” and “Nothing But the Wheel” that I’ve never seen her perform live. She sang the big #1’s from the 90’s, but it was the classics from the “Sleepless Nights” record where she really soared. Her closing version of “Cold, Cold Heart” was give-you-goosebumps good. If you get a chance to see her live show over the next few months, take it. You won’t be sorry.
brandon says:
patty loveless is a good singer dont care what anyone say she is the best no one got no right to talk about she a great singer and the best
Vicki Burns says:
I just wanted to say that I have always loved ( Patty Loveless’s ) songs. There is not one that I didn’t like or love…She has a voice like a beautiful song bird.Come on Patty give us some more of that beautiful voice of yours…Thanks again,by the way I would love to hear some gospel songs by you too.Thanks again…
Mattias says:
I like Patty Loveless because she one of the last true traditional country female singer.Patty got an amazing voice of course and with her latest album she prove that shes number one.At least for me.Rhonda Vincent is another woman to keep the trad. country alive.On the male side its Alan Jackson and Dale Watson i like most, they give me what i want:COUNTRY! Its to much pop and rock in todays country i dont like.
Country music in my heart and soul forever!