25 All-Time Greatest Recordings: The 4-Star Sessions 1955-1960

1	A Church, a Courtroom, and Then Goodbye 3:05
2	Hidin' Out 2:29
3	I Don't Wanta Alternate Version 2:25
4	I Cried All the Way to the Altar 2:27
5	Dear God 2:32
6	Walkin' After Midnight 2:35
7	A Poor Man's Roses (Or a Rich Man's Gold) 2:47
8	Pick Me Up (On Your Way Down) 2:18
9	A Stranger in My Arms 2:28
10	Then You'll Know 3:13
11	Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray 2:15
12	I Don't Wanta 2:22
13	Hungry for Love 2:30
14	That Wonderful Someone 2:31
15	I Can't Forget 2:27
16	Stop the World (And Let Me Off) 2:28
17	Walking Dream 2:17
18	If I Could See the World (Through the Eyes of a Child) 2:53
19	Cry Not for Me 2:31
20	Yes, I Understand 2:50
21	Life's Railway to Heaven 2:53
22	Just a Closer Walk With Thee 2:49
23	Lovesick Blues 2:20
24	How Can I Face Tomorrow 2:18
25	Crazy Dreams 2:31
26	There He Goes 2:25

Barnes & Noble

The title is a tad deceptive, since Cline's best and most influential work was several years ahead of her when she cut these early tracks. But this generous collection (which actually includes a 26th track, an alternate take of "I Don't Wanta") offers a good sampling of the work Cline did for the 4-Star label, prior to her history-making association with Decca and producer Owen Bradley, the architect of the lush, string-laden sound that made her country's top female vocalist in the early 1960s. Here, she's still figuring out her strengths as a performer, dipping into a diverse array of styles ranging from weepy balladry to flat-out rockabilly. The only major hit here is Cline's breakthrough single "Walkin' After Midnight," along with such notable numbers as "There He Goes," "Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray," and the torchy "A Church, a Courtroom, and Then Goodbye." Despite the absence of most of the artist's best known hits, fans will find much to enjoy in this package. Scott Schinder

All Music Guide

Varese's 2000 collection is billed as 25 All-Time Greatest Recordings but pay attention to the subtitle -- it makes clear that this is "The 4-Star Sessions 1955-1960," recordings made before Patsy Cline signed to Decca and started to have big hits. So, this does not live up to its billing as her "greatest recordings," but that doesn't mean it doesn't serve a purpose. As a matter of fact, it's very useful in collecting the best moments of her early 4-Star recordings, when Cline not only cut pure country but also sides that bordered on rockabilly. This has been released in many different forms before, including complete sets that will appeal to the serious collectors, but those who just want a well-produced sampling of this era won't go wrong with this. Stephen Thomas Erlewine