JDaniel
08-23-2005, 07:42 PM
Artist: Cowboy Copas, Patsy Cline, and Hawkshaw Hawkins
Title: Gone, But Not Forgotten
Release Date: 1965
Label: Starday Records
Genre: Country
Not your typical album review I know. This isn't a review of a new cutting edge album, but one of an album that is now 40 years old. I ran across this album by accident at the Birmingham Record Show this past weekend. And what a thrill it was to bring this LP home, clean it, and listen for the first time. The LP is in pristine shape (vinyl, not cover), and plays whisper quiet.
This album took me back in time to what I consider real roots country music. Listening to it now is mesmerizing, and I feel as if I own a piece of history with this LP. The album features three artists that were tragically killed in the same plane crash in 1963 (story included below). The music includes cowboy songs, Hank Williams style country music songs, and classic gospel songs. Listening to Patsy Cline's voice today reminds me that most female artists today can't even come close to her timeless voice.
I've included the write-up of the back cover of the album below, and a copy of the album cover that I found on-line (I couldn't scan the LP on my scanner - too small).
If you run across this album in a thrift store sometime, by all means buy it. And give it one spin. Even if it isn't your normal style of music, you'll appreciate the talent and song-writing.
JDaniel
Starday Presents “Gone, But Not Forgotten: Cowboy Copas, Patsy Cline, and Hawkshaw Hawkins.”
It's only about eighty air miles from the Municipal Airport at Nashville to the rugged, wooded hills of the Kentucky Lake area near Camden, Tennessee. On the evening of March 5, 1963 that distance became an eternity to three of the brightest stars in our Country Music World. In a blinding thunderstorm the plane carrying Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Patsy Cline and piloted by Copas' son-in-law and Patsy's personal manager, Randy Hughes, crashed! ... There were no survivors!
They were returning from Kansas City where, ironically, they had just played a benefit performance for the family of a country music disc jockey who had lost his life in an automobile accident. Their last public appearance was an example of the comradeship among Country Music people. Each of them had wanted to make the trip to help the family of a friend. The feelings of those in the country music business toward one another are very strong ... and unselfish. STARDAY is proud to be able to present, in one album, all three of these great artists in unforgettable performances of some of their finest recordings. Performances, that we feel will live forever.
Patsy's career had just begun reaching its peak when she was taken from us. This young lady who was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, did not have what could be called an easy career. Times were hard and it was necessary for Patsy to leave school at 16 and help with the family living. She worked in a drugstore during the day and sang just about anyplace she could get paid at night around Winchester, Virginia. Her ambition was to become a star on WSM's Grand Ole Opry. She got a chance for an Opry audition in 1948 but still the time just wasn't right. That was the beginning of ten years of real ups and downs. I first met Patsy in 1955 when she was a guest on the Grand Ole Opry. She was rehearsing backstage with the band. After, rehearsal one of the musicians said, "Patsy, you really sing a great song." That musician was Chet Atkins and Patsy felt like she had just been paid one of the finest compliments of her life! In 1960 her star really began to shine. Her recording of "I Fall To Pieces" hit the top of the charts everywhere, then tragedy - which seemed to dog her all the time' - struck.. She was seriously injured in cm automobile accident and hospitalized for many months finally going back to work on crutches. Then the sun really began to shine! There were hit after hit recordings right on up to that tragic March night in 1963,. In this album @Patsy sings the all-time favorite "Lovesick, Blues" made famous by the immortal Hank Williams . . . her own hit recording of Carl Belew's "Stop The World" . . . Ron Robertson's beautiful "There He Goes" and one of the great gospel songs of our time, "Just A Closer Walk With Thee".
Cowboy Copas, or 'Cope' as he was called by those who knew him, must still be ranked as one of the all-time greats in the world of Country Music. For 18 years he was one of the all-time greats in the world of Country Music. For 18 years he was on of the top stars of the Grand Ole Opry. He came there in 1945 after his beginnings in the music business on radio stations out Oklahoma way. It was almost normal for 'Cope, to put in 200,000 miles a year traveling to make his personal appearances! His fans never forgot his great hit recordings just after World War 11 and his smash hit of 1960 - "Alabam". Cope was truly one of the great troopers and remained true to his country music image to the end. In this album you'll hear him sing his own version of "The Hillbilly Deck of Cards" "He Stands Real Tall", a song that Jimmy Dickens is currently enjoying much success with ... Bob Ferguson's great song, "Wings of A Dove" ….. and that ever-.beautiful "Beyond the Sunset".
The man with the winning smile and a personality as big as he was tall from Wheeling, West Virginia ... that's Hawkshaw Hawkins. Hawk had been entertaining since the day he traded five rabbits for a guitar and entered an amateur contest at a local radio station back in 1937. Needless to say, he won it ... and was on his way. He loved his family... singing ... and horses ... in that order. He was married to lovely Jean Shepard and lived on a beautiful ranch near Music City U.S.A. with his boys and some fine Tennessee Walking horses. His fans called him 'eleven and a half yards of personality, and his fellow entertainers called him the 'best guy who ever wore a pair of cow- boy boots'. Hawk's performances here are among his greatest. Big Slim Gregory's "Sunny Side Of The Mountain" was probably Hawk's most famous recording. It became his theme song and established him as a great country artist. "I Suppose" and "Little White Washed Chimney" are two more great songs to add to your collection and Hawk's recording of "The Life Story Of Hank Williams" is also very appropriate for this Country Music Memorial album
The best thing one can do for a real friend is to try and remember them just as they saw them last. The many fans of Patsy, Cope and Hawkshaw probably remember them best on a stage somewhere across this land of ours, singing their favorite songs. STARDAY is happy to be able to perpetuate those fond memories with these unforgettable performances. It is sometimes hard to completely realize that they are GONE … but we shall always know that "THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN".
Ed Hamilton, WENO Radio, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Title: Gone, But Not Forgotten
Release Date: 1965
Label: Starday Records
Genre: Country
Not your typical album review I know. This isn't a review of a new cutting edge album, but one of an album that is now 40 years old. I ran across this album by accident at the Birmingham Record Show this past weekend. And what a thrill it was to bring this LP home, clean it, and listen for the first time. The LP is in pristine shape (vinyl, not cover), and plays whisper quiet.
This album took me back in time to what I consider real roots country music. Listening to it now is mesmerizing, and I feel as if I own a piece of history with this LP. The album features three artists that were tragically killed in the same plane crash in 1963 (story included below). The music includes cowboy songs, Hank Williams style country music songs, and classic gospel songs. Listening to Patsy Cline's voice today reminds me that most female artists today can't even come close to her timeless voice.
I've included the write-up of the back cover of the album below, and a copy of the album cover that I found on-line (I couldn't scan the LP on my scanner - too small).
If you run across this album in a thrift store sometime, by all means buy it. And give it one spin. Even if it isn't your normal style of music, you'll appreciate the talent and song-writing.
JDaniel
Starday Presents “Gone, But Not Forgotten: Cowboy Copas, Patsy Cline, and Hawkshaw Hawkins.”
It's only about eighty air miles from the Municipal Airport at Nashville to the rugged, wooded hills of the Kentucky Lake area near Camden, Tennessee. On the evening of March 5, 1963 that distance became an eternity to three of the brightest stars in our Country Music World. In a blinding thunderstorm the plane carrying Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Patsy Cline and piloted by Copas' son-in-law and Patsy's personal manager, Randy Hughes, crashed! ... There were no survivors!
They were returning from Kansas City where, ironically, they had just played a benefit performance for the family of a country music disc jockey who had lost his life in an automobile accident. Their last public appearance was an example of the comradeship among Country Music people. Each of them had wanted to make the trip to help the family of a friend. The feelings of those in the country music business toward one another are very strong ... and unselfish. STARDAY is proud to be able to present, in one album, all three of these great artists in unforgettable performances of some of their finest recordings. Performances, that we feel will live forever.
Patsy's career had just begun reaching its peak when she was taken from us. This young lady who was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, did not have what could be called an easy career. Times were hard and it was necessary for Patsy to leave school at 16 and help with the family living. She worked in a drugstore during the day and sang just about anyplace she could get paid at night around Winchester, Virginia. Her ambition was to become a star on WSM's Grand Ole Opry. She got a chance for an Opry audition in 1948 but still the time just wasn't right. That was the beginning of ten years of real ups and downs. I first met Patsy in 1955 when she was a guest on the Grand Ole Opry. She was rehearsing backstage with the band. After, rehearsal one of the musicians said, "Patsy, you really sing a great song." That musician was Chet Atkins and Patsy felt like she had just been paid one of the finest compliments of her life! In 1960 her star really began to shine. Her recording of "I Fall To Pieces" hit the top of the charts everywhere, then tragedy - which seemed to dog her all the time' - struck.. She was seriously injured in cm automobile accident and hospitalized for many months finally going back to work on crutches. Then the sun really began to shine! There were hit after hit recordings right on up to that tragic March night in 1963,. In this album @Patsy sings the all-time favorite "Lovesick, Blues" made famous by the immortal Hank Williams . . . her own hit recording of Carl Belew's "Stop The World" . . . Ron Robertson's beautiful "There He Goes" and one of the great gospel songs of our time, "Just A Closer Walk With Thee".
Cowboy Copas, or 'Cope' as he was called by those who knew him, must still be ranked as one of the all-time greats in the world of Country Music. For 18 years he was one of the all-time greats in the world of Country Music. For 18 years he was on of the top stars of the Grand Ole Opry. He came there in 1945 after his beginnings in the music business on radio stations out Oklahoma way. It was almost normal for 'Cope, to put in 200,000 miles a year traveling to make his personal appearances! His fans never forgot his great hit recordings just after World War 11 and his smash hit of 1960 - "Alabam". Cope was truly one of the great troopers and remained true to his country music image to the end. In this album you'll hear him sing his own version of "The Hillbilly Deck of Cards" "He Stands Real Tall", a song that Jimmy Dickens is currently enjoying much success with ... Bob Ferguson's great song, "Wings of A Dove" ….. and that ever-.beautiful "Beyond the Sunset".
The man with the winning smile and a personality as big as he was tall from Wheeling, West Virginia ... that's Hawkshaw Hawkins. Hawk had been entertaining since the day he traded five rabbits for a guitar and entered an amateur contest at a local radio station back in 1937. Needless to say, he won it ... and was on his way. He loved his family... singing ... and horses ... in that order. He was married to lovely Jean Shepard and lived on a beautiful ranch near Music City U.S.A. with his boys and some fine Tennessee Walking horses. His fans called him 'eleven and a half yards of personality, and his fellow entertainers called him the 'best guy who ever wore a pair of cow- boy boots'. Hawk's performances here are among his greatest. Big Slim Gregory's "Sunny Side Of The Mountain" was probably Hawk's most famous recording. It became his theme song and established him as a great country artist. "I Suppose" and "Little White Washed Chimney" are two more great songs to add to your collection and Hawk's recording of "The Life Story Of Hank Williams" is also very appropriate for this Country Music Memorial album
The best thing one can do for a real friend is to try and remember them just as they saw them last. The many fans of Patsy, Cope and Hawkshaw probably remember them best on a stage somewhere across this land of ours, singing their favorite songs. STARDAY is happy to be able to perpetuate those fond memories with these unforgettable performances. It is sometimes hard to completely realize that they are GONE … but we shall always know that "THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN".
Ed Hamilton, WENO Radio, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.