Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette - Honky Tonk Angels

Nearly 30 years after an unknown singer made the album Dolly Parton Sings Country Oldies, which for all practical purposes was a Kitty Wells record, Parton joined with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette to revive the old-time, traditional female country sound, even hauling Miss Kitty along for a sparkling reprise of "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," the song that made Wells a star. This particular trio feels more at home with campy recitations than with hip, new songs, and doesn't dare get as harmonically ambitious as the one Parton enjoys with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt on Trio and Trio II. But as the queens of third-generation country, after Wells and Patsy Cline, they create a presence all their own, Lynn's plaintive urgency meeting Wynette's relaxed sensuality in the middle, and Parton mediating it all. No wonder Cline "drops by" for another round of "Lovesick Blues." Too much fun! --Alanna Nash Amazon.com

5 Stars for Honky Tonk Angels!

I really love this CD. I combines the talents of three legends of country music and is an absolute stand-out. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone to likes any or all of the singers featured (Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, and Loretta Lynn)or to anybody who likes classic country music. I had this on cassette when it first came out in the early 90's and didn't get around to getting the CD until recently. I'd really missed this great music. Hope you enjoy it too! September 2, 2007

Three best voices in country ( plus Patsy Cline)

The three top female singers in country just happen to have started in the 60's, although today, remain the three most influential careers of the genre. The late Tammy Wynette soars here with her vocal talents still intact, especially with "Silver Threads And Golden Needles". Loretta Lynn is classic country and outshines everyone on "Please Help Me I'm Falling". Kitty Wells joins the trio for her trademark, "It Wasn't God Who Made Hony Tonk Angels", and the great Patsy Cline joins the ladies for "Lovesick Blues". Dolly's incredible vocals as well as writing talents are displayed on "Sitting On The Front Porch Swing" and "Let Her Fly". There's not a bad cut on the whole disc. With all due repect to the late Davis Sisters, the three performing "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" is pure country magic. I only wish CBS records would release a follow up, I have read many more songs were recorded. Fans of the late Tammy Wynette would be "in heaven" to hear more from 'The First Lady Of Country Music'. If you enjoy original, classic country, this is a must ! December 16, 2004

The Voices of Angels!

Put this cd on and close your eyes, and you're in Pure Country Land. Beautiful, tuneful soulful sounds that country fans can't get enough of....Play this when you're glad, when you're sad, when you're up, when you're down, when you're in love with life and when you think life has dealt you a cruel blow. Just get it and play it! November 19, 2004

THE TRUE COUNTRY TREAT!.

This is one of the best CDs. Having 3 Legends team up. WOW! January 6, 2004

Brilliant rivals team up for classic album

When this album was released, I wondered if the title should have been titled Custer's last stand. After all, none of these wonderful ladies were getting much airplay on American country radio and it seemed that their careers were finished. This album sold surprisingly well considering the lack of airplay. As things turned out, this album was the last major success in Tammy's career - she only recorded one more album (appropriately, a set of duets with George Jones) before her death. Loretta eventually had another major success with her 2004 album, Van Lear Rose. Following a quiet period in the mid nineties during which time her albums sold poorly, Dolly has been consistently successful with several successful albums. So my pessimism was (thankfully) unjustified.

This album is firmly rooted in traditional country, with all three having their share of lead vocals. Most of the songs are country classics. It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels was the song that made Kitty Wells a major country star of the fifties. Kitty joins Dolly, Tammy and Loretta on this rendition.

Put it off until tomorrow was written by Dolly in the sixties. It was a big country hit for Bill Phillips back then and was again a big hit when the Kendalls revived it in the early eighties. Dolly has recorded it several times, solo and with others.

Silver threads and golden needles was first recorded by Wanda Jackson but was a top twenty pop hit in America for the Springfields (with Dusty as lead singer) and was later revived by Linda Ronstadt.

Please help me I'm falling is a cover of the Hank Locklin classic, though Janie Fricke's version of this song is even better. Wings of a dove was a huge American hit for Ferlin Husky. I forgot more than you'll ever know launched the career of Skeeter Davis, although she was then part of the Davis sisters.

Wouldn't it be great is a Loretta Lynn song that she had previously recorded on her own. That's the way it could have been was recorded in the seventies by Tammy - it was also recorded as a duet by Kenny Rogers and Dottie West.

Lovesick blues is the old classic first popularised by Hank Williams (though his version was a cover). Patsy Cline also covered it and she makes a posthumous guest appearance on this track thanks to the wonders of technology.

I dreamed of a hillbilly heaven is an old Tex Ritter song, adapted for the time it was recorded. There are just two songs that were new to me when I bought this - Sitting on a front porch swing and Let her fly and they are both brilliant.

Any fans of traditional country in general or any of the three singers in particular will love this album. October 2, 2003

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