Patty Loveless Album: “Long Stretch Of Lonesome”

If there is one album that should be part of every country music listeners collection, this one is it. The old power that I heard on her earlier albums is back in this one, and no one can make you feel a song the way Patty Loveless does. From the first song to the last, every song is a keeper. My personal favorites are Too Many Memories, Long Stretch of Lonesome, I Don't Wanna Feel Like That and Where I'm Bound. This album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. 20 yrs from now, people will still be listening to this album. It is by far her best work ever.

This is my favorite Patty Loveless album. She has yet to make a disapointing one but this album truly resonated with me and had me reaching for the repeat button over and over. This album came at the height of her success in Nashville, but ultimately it would be her last truly successful album in terms of having lots of hit singles. In a brave move, she released the excellent collaboration with country legend George Jones "You Don't Seem To Miss Me", as the first single. A beautiful song and great harmonies. "To Have You Back Again" and "High On Love" were well charted singles. The album has so much more though. The album has some really introspective songs such as the ballad "Like Water Into Wine" (the final single from the album), or the reflective songs "I Don't Want To Feel Like That", "Where I'm Bound", "Too Many Memories" and the title track. She does a great cover of Kim Richey's "That's Exactly What I Mean". This is her best album in my opinion and definately worth checking out if you haven't already!

Though I didn't think so the first time that I heard it, LONG STRETCH OF LONESOME is quite possibly Patty Loveless' crowning achievement. Though nearly devoid of her usual spat of uptempo rockers-here, but in short supply-she nonetheless delivers a stunning set of soul-searching ballads. Though every track is a solid classic-literally-I must point out a few that rank to this day among her greatest recordings, chiefly the sobering 'Too Many Memories' and the revelatory loneliness of the title track. The real injustice here is that her misfortunes at country radio began with this album, something from which she has yet to fully recover(last year's slightly half-baked STRONG HEART didn't seem to help her cause). Highly recommended--easily one of the top ten country albums to come out in the last decade.

I've always liked Patty, but her music always seemed to leave something to be desired, but this album is excellent. Her vocals, the songs, everything is perfect, there's not a throwaway on this CD. I thought it was so good that it was my CD of choice to give as Christmas gifts this past holiday. When I find one that I like so much I share it as gifts for holidays and birthdays. This one was it for 1998.

If an artist's music is a reflection of their soul, Patty loveless has more soul than any artist today. I didn't think it would be possible to top "When Fallen Angels Fly" but not only has she topped it, she has taken this album to new heights. From "High On Love" to "Too Many Memories", Patty scales the gamut of gut busting blues to upbeat and bouncy. If the rating system were higher I would rate it at least 10 stars.