Nathalie Archangel is a singer and songwriter whose career was established decades ago in the pop realm, but who clearly was not going to be held within any perceived boundaries. With her band Nineteen Hand Horse, she moved into the country world. Her new album, Patsy On The Porch, contains songs that Patsy Cline made popular. This is her first album of covers, but it is not the first time Patsy Cline has been a part of her music. In her song “Just Another Honky Tonk Night,” included on the band’s 2020 album Revel, Nathalie Archangel sings, “Well, it’s gonna be a wonderful night/And if the band plays it tight/The ghost of Patsy might/Tap me on the shoulder and say/Don’t fall to pieces, forget/It’s crazy ‘cause there’s hope yet/You know the shoulders you stand on/When you’re back in baby’s arms.” “I Fall To Pieces” and “Crazy” are two of the songs she covers here, and she delivers wonderful renditions. (She does not, however, do “Back In Baby’s Arms.”) The musicians backing her on this album include Mark Montijo on guitar and backing vocals, Wes Theobold on guitar, Robert Clot on pedal steel and bass, Chris Wyatt Ferreira on keyboards and backing vocals, Michael Peterson on keyboards, Anthony Moraila on bass, Brian Vandemark on bass, Thomas Regan on bass and drums, Rod Hanna on drums, Mark Monroe on harmonica, Bruno Coon on backing vocals, and Steve Kinsella on backing vocals.
The album opens with “Shoes,” and that first line, “Everything you told me, I believed,” stands out in these perverse days of dishonesty and conmen. And so we immediately feel for her, before even the second line. I love the delivery of the song’s main line, “But them shoes don’t fit me anymore.” There is a hint of darkness to the delivery of that line. This track features some good work on pedal steel and harmonica, but it is Nathalie Archangel’s vocal performance that really makes this rendition something special. Sure, she takes inspiration from Patsy Cline, but also makes this her own. With her talent, how could she help but do so? “Shoes” is followed by “Walking After Midnight,” which was always one of my favorite Patsy Cline recordings. I know I’m not alone there. I remember being excited when Ellis Paul covered this one (he used to pair it with “Things Change”). Nathalie Archangel does a fantastic job here, and the track also includes some great stuff on guitar.
Nathalie Archangel delivers an excellent rendition of “You Belong To Me.” Honestly, I had forgotten that Patsy Cline had covered this song. It’s not a song I usually associate with her. This is a song that I love, but when it pops in my head, it’s usually the Jo Stafford rendition that plays there. And if not, then it’s the Bob Dylan rendition. Now it might be the Nathalie Archangel version. Nathalie Archangel has a voice that is just perfect for this song. There is something endearing about her voice, but it also can contain the right amount of ache and attitude. This version includes harmonica , and some wonderful work on pedal steel. That is followed by “I Fall To Pieces,” one that was originally recorded by Patsy Cline. She released it as a single in 1961. And so of course it is largely associated with her. Nathalie Archangel is completely committed to it, as she is to each of the songs she chose to include here. “I fall to pieces/Each time someone speaks your name/I fall to pieces/Time only adds to the flame.” She is supported on the title line by backing vocalists. Hey, wouldn’t each of us need some support as we admit to falling to pieces? She is far from alone, and we get a sense of that in her rendition here. It is a rendition that feels both personal and universal.
I love the ache in Nathalie Archangel’s voice from the beginning of “She’s Got You.” We can feel what she’s experiencing here. “I’ve got the records that we used to share/And they still sound the same as when you were here/The only thing different, the only thing new/I’ve got the records, she’s got you.” Ah, but I suspect the records will help her through. Music, like this very song, is what helps us through these experiences. This is one of my favorite tracks here, in large part because of Nathalie Archangel’s performance. Both “You Belong To Me” and “She’s Got You” were included on Patsy Cline’s 1962 LP Sentimentally Yours. So was “Strange,” a song written by Mel Tillis and Fred Burch. “Strange” was also included as the flip side to “She’s Got You” on the single. Nathalie Archangel delivers another captivating performance on this song. Just listen to the way she sings, “Strange, you’re still in all my dreams/Oh, what a funny thing/I still care for you.” She is so good at taking us along on each of the emotional journeys of these songs. Jim “Kimo” West plays acoustic guitar on this track, delivering some really good work.
“Seven Lonely Days” is a song that has been recorded by many artists. Patsy Cline was not the first. She included it on her 1961 album Showcase. This track has more of a lively and fun vibe, even if she is singing of loneliness. After all, with those wonderful backing vocals, she is not alone. “There’s no use in denying/I cried for you.” We get the sense she is going to be just fine, even before she tells us, “Last week was the last time/I cried for you.” And how adorable is she when she sings “boo hoo hoo hoo”? That’s followed by “Crazy,” which is the song we probably most strongly associate with Patsy Cline. It was a big hit for her, and continues to resonate with folks. It was written by the great Willie Nelson. I finally got to see him in concert this past summer, and he was absolutely wonderful. Nathalie Archangel delivers an outstanding vocal performance here. We all have notions of what this song should be, so it’s probably not the easiest song to cover, but Nathalie totally nails it.
“When I Get Through With You” is a song that Patsy Cline released as a single in 1962, with the common misspelling “thru.” I appreciate that Nathalie Archangel spells the word correctly on this album. Seriously, please, everyone, stop misspelling words, it’s not cute. Anyway, this track has a good energy. In this song, she promises to treat her man really well, in an effort to make him forget another woman, a chick named Sue. The whole thing is coming from a competitive perspective, as she lures him away from poor Sue. “When I get through, you’ll love me too/Not Sue.” It makes me wonder about this Sue person. What’s she like? The album concludes with “Sweet Dreams,” a song originally recorded by Don Gibson, who also wrote the song. Patsy Cline’s rendition was released in 1963, after her death. This track features yet another excellent vocal performance by Nathalie Archangel. “Why can’t I forget the past, start loving someone new/Instead of having sweet dreams about you.”
CD Track List
- Shoes
- Walking After Midnight
- You Belong To Me
- I Fall To Pieces
- She’s Got You
- Strange
- Seven Lonely Days
- Crazy
- When I Get Through With You
- Sweet Dreams
Patsy On The Porch was released on October 11, 2024.
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