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I believe Patty did this project to reinvigorate her work, to get back to basics. I am one; I've always been a fan of Patty's music but I'm not even close to steeped in country tradition the way she is. She's just interpreted them with her own style, making them "her's." I appreciate the sadder songs the most, like the title track, "There Stands the Glass," and "I've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know." They draw me back to Patty's music again and again. After some personal disappointment surrounding her last CD, "Dreamin'" she felt the need to rediscover why she got into the business in the first place. They've proven their credibility many times. Patty Loveless is the most genuine, true-to-her roots artist in country music today, and this CD displays her credentials beautifully.
For the uninitiated, Patty Loveless is pure country; this is not some genre-bending "updating" of these classics. So this is an education as well. These songs are timeless classics which hearken back to a simpler era, the inspiration for her both at the beginning of her career in her teenage years and today. I'm so happy that Patty and producer/husband Emory have made these classics available for a new audience. So, whether these songs bring back memories for you or you're new to all of them, this collection is a classic country lover's dream come true. Patty is true to the original artists.
The blend of the instrumental masters with members of Patty's band on this record adds authenticity to this project, though Patty and Emory don't really need it.
Patty's voice is as strong as ever with a range and clarity that have deepened and mellowed with age. My only disappointment was a failure to acknowledge the accompanying artists for each track. I worried that an aging voice or a surrender to pop country would make this purchase a disappointment. The cuts combine carefully selected country classics with new material that builds on a "back to country roots" focus started with her "Mountain Soul" CD. Buy this CD, you won't be disappointed. Boy, was I wrong. What a wonderful album.
The original performers sang these with a lot more passion than this album. This is a great selection of classic country standards.
You will listen to this material over and overagain. There is really nothing to be said for this material and theperformance of this artist except that if you love country music and want to hear it as it is meant to be, run, don't walk tothe nearest retailor of quality music and listen to your heartscontent to the finest performance of quality country music thatyou are likely to hear.
It's nice to hear someone still making tradional country music. I think this is one of Patty's best albums ever done.
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