Patsy Cline's Recording Sessions - The Four Star Years

In The Studio: 1957
Patsy Records A Four Star Classic
(Elmer Williams Photo)

The Four Star Years

On September 30, 1954, Patsy Cline Signed Her First Recording Contract With Four Star Music Sales of Pasadena, CA. In Turn, Four Star Arranged A Leasing and Distribution Deal With Decca Records. The Deal Gave Decca Control of the Recording Sessions and Choice of Producer.

While the Stipulations of the Contract Remain A Point of Controversy To This Day, No One Can Deny the Impact It Had On Patsy's Career. Both Positively and Negatively. It Did Lead To Patsy's Association With Owen Bradley. The Rest, As They Say, Is History.

Except Where Noted, All Sessions Were Produced By Owen Bradley and Held At the Bradley Film and Recording Studios In Nashville.

June 1, 1955:

Hidin' Out
(Eddie Miller, W.S. Stevenson)

Turn The Cards Slowly
(Sammy Masters)

A Church, A Courtroom and Then Goodbye
(Eddie Miller, W.S. Stevenson)

Honky Tonk Merry Go Round
(Frank Simon, Stan Gardner)

Session Personnel:
Harold Bradley (Acoustic Guitar); Owen Bradley (Piano); Farris Coursey (Drums); Don Helms (Steel Guitar); Tommy Jackson (Fiddle); Grady Martin (Electric Guitar); Bob Moore (Acoustic Bass)

January 5, 1956:

I Love You, Honey
(Eddie Miller)

Come On In
(and Make Yourself At Home)
(V.F. Stewart)

I Cried All The Way To The Altar
(Bobbie Flournoy)

I Don't Wanta
(Eddie Miller, W.S. Stevenson,
Durwood Haddock)

April 22, 1956:

Stop, Look and Listen
(George London, W.S. Stevenson)

I've Loved and Lost Again
(Eddie Miller)

Dear God
(V.F. Stewart)

He Will Do For You
(V.F. Stewart)

November 8, 1956:

Walking After Midnight
(Donn Hecht, Alan Block)

The Heart You Break May Be Your Own
(Tiny Colbert, Bob Geesling)

Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
(Burton Levy, Glenn Reeves,
Mae Boren Axton)

A Poor Man's Roses
(or A Rich Man's Gold)
(Bob Hilliard, Milton DeLugg)

In The Studio: 1957
Patsy and Owen Bradley Work Up An Arrangement
(Elmer Williams Photo)

April 24, 1957:

Today, Tomorrow and Forever
(Don Reid)

Fingerprints
(Donn Hecht, W.O. Fleener,
W.S. Stevenson)

A Stranger In My Arms
(Charlotte White, Virginia Hensley,
Mary Lu Jeans)

Don't Ever Leave Me Again
(Lillian Claiborne, Virginia Hensley,
James Crawford)

Produced By Paul Cohen

Recorded At Decca's Pythian Temple Studio - New York, NY

Although The Studio Musicians Are Not Known For Certain, Reference Material For Other Decca Artists Indicate The Jack Pleis Orchestra Was The House Band For Decca's New York Recording Sessions During This Period.

April 25, 1957:

Try Again
(Bob Summers, Jerry Le Fors)

Too Many Secrets
(Bobby Lile)

Then You'll Know
(Bobby Lile)

Three Cigarettes (In An Ashtray)
(Eddie Miller, W.S. Stevenson)

Produced By Paul Cohen

Recorded At Decca's Pythian Temple Studio - New York, NY

Session Personnel:
Anita Kerr Singers (Vocals)

Although The Studio Musicians Are Not Known For Certain, Reference Material For Other Decca Artists Indicate The Jack Pleis Orchestra Was The House Band For Decca's New York Recording Sessions During This Period.

May 23, 1957:

That Wonderful Someone
(Gertrude Burg)

(Write Me) In Care of the Blues
(Eddie Miller, W.S. Stevenson)

Hungry For Love
(Eddie Miller, W.S. Stevenson)

I Can't Forget You
(Carl Belew, W.S. Stevenson)

I Don't Wanta
(Eddie Miller, W.S. Stevenson,
Durwood Haddock)

Ain't No Wheels On This Ship
(W.D. Chandler, W.S. Stevenson)

Session Personnel:
Harold Bradley (Electric Bass); Owen Bradley (Piano); Farris Coursey (Drums); Hank Garland (Electric Guitar); Anita Kerr Singers (Vocals); Grady Martin (Electric Guitar); Bob Moore (Acoustic Bass); Jack Shook (Acoustic Guitar)

December 13, 1957:

Stop the World (and Let Me Off)
(Carl Belew, W.S. Stevenson)

Walking Dream
(Hal Willis, Ginger Willis)

Cry Not For Me
(Donn Hecht, Jack Moon)

If I Could See The World
(Through The Eyes of A Child)
(Sammy Masters, Richard Pope,
Tex Satterwhite)

Session Personnel:
Anita Kerr Singers (Vocals)

Remainder of Personnel Unknown

In The Studio: 1957
L-R: Owen Bradley, Patsy and Paul Cohen
(Elmer Williams Photo)

February 13, 1958:

Just Out of Reach
(V.F. Stewart)

I Can See An Angel
(Kay Adelman)

Come On In
(and Make Yourself At Home)
(V.F. Stewart)

Let The Teardrops Fall
(C.C. Beam, C.L. Jiles,
W.S. Stevenson)

Never No More
(Rita Ross, Alan Block)

If I Could Only Stay Asleep
(Ethel Bassey, Wayland Chandler)

Session Personnel:
Anita Kerr Singers (Vocals)

Remainder of Personnel Unknown

January 8, 1959:

I'm Moving Along
(Johnny Starr)

I'm Blue Again
(C.C. Beam, C.L. Jiles,
W.S. Stevenson)

Love, Love, Love Me Honey Do
(C.C. Beam, C.L. Jiles,
W.S. Stevenson)

Session Personnel:
Harold Bradley (6-String Electric Bass); Floyd Cramer (Piano); Hank Garland (Electric Guitar); Murrey "Buddy" Harman (Drums); The Jordanaires (Vocals); Grady Martin (Electric Guitar); Bob Moore (Acoustic Bass)

January 9, 1959:

Yes, I Understand
(C.C. Beam, C.L. Jiles,
W.S. Stevenson)

Gotta Lot of Rhythm In My Soul
(Barbara Vaughan, W.S. Stevenson)

Session Personnel:
Harold Bradley (6-String Electric Bass); Farris Coursey (Drums); Floyd Cramer (Piano); Hank Garland (Electric Guitar); The Jordanaires (Vocals); Grady Martin (Electric Guitar); Bob Moore (Acoustic Bass)

July 3, 1959:

Life's Railway To Heaven
(Charlie Tillman, M.E. Abbey;
Arr. By W.S. Stevenson)

Just A Closer Walk With Thee
(Traditional; Arr. By W.S. Stevenson)

Session Personnel:
Floyd Cramer (Piano); Hank Garland (Electric Guitar); Murrey "Buddy" Harman (Drums); The Jordanaires (Vocals); Grady Martin (Electric Guitar); Bob Moore (Acoustic Bass)

January 27, 1960:

Lovesick Blues
(Irving Mills, Cliff Friend)

How Can I Face Tomorrow
(C.C. Beam, C.L. Jiles,
W.S. Stevenson)

There He Goes
(Eddie Miller, Durwood Haddock,
W.S. Stevenson)

Crazy Dreams
(C.C. Beam, C.L. Jiles,
W.S. Stevenson)

Session Personnel:
Harold Bradley (6-String Electric Bass); Floyd Cramer (Piano); Jimmy Day (Steel Guitar); Hank Garland (Electric Guitar); Murrey "Buddy" Harman (Drums); Grady Martin (Electric Guitar and Fiddle); Bob Moore (Acoustic Bass)

In The Studio: 1959
Patsy and The Jordanaires
(Courtesy of www.jordanaires.net)

Due To the Unavailability of Records, the Exact Session Personnel Through 1958 Is Not Certain. Performers Listed Are Based On Interviews, Conducted By Don Roy, With Harold Bradley, Ray Edenton, Buddy Harman, Don Helms and Bob Moore.

NOTE: The Information For the Above Session Dates Comes From A Discography By Don Roy, As Printed In the Companion Booklet To The Patsy Cline Collection. In His Book, Honky Tonk Angel, Author Ellis Nassour Gives Differing Dates and Order For the First Two Sessions. After Weighing This Information, I Find the Dates Given By Don Roy To Be More Accurate As They More Closely Match the Information Found In the Decca Archives. Mr. Nassour Also Used the Decca Archives In His Research.