Classic Pop Icons

Patsy Cline’s country pop masterpiece, “Crazy,” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “Crazy” was released on single in October 1961, backed with “Who Can I Count On?” The song also appeared on Cline’s 1961 album “Patsy Cline Showcase.”

Patsy Cline’s star was on the rise when she recorded “Crazy” in the summer of 1961. After a creatively unsatisfying period with Four Star Records and several years absence from the charts, she signed with Decca in 1960 and hit number one on the country chart with her first single “I Fall To Pieces.” The success of the single demanded a follow up, but this very nearly didn’t occur as Cline was in a serious car accident in Nashville in June that left her with a broken wrist, broken ribs, a dislocated hip and a serious cut across her forehead. Cline was still recovering from these injuries at the recording session that produced “Crazy” and reportedly struggled to sing the song on the first day due to painful ribs. The next day (or perhaps several days later), Cline returned to overdub one of the great vocals in the history of popular music.

“Crazy” is an excellent example of the “Nashville Sound” of the 1960s, featuring a gifted team of session musicians and a very tasteful arrangement by producer Owen Bradley, whose talents also elevated recordings by Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly, Conway Twitty and many others.

As accomplished as the musicans on “Crazy” are (and special mention should be given to Floyd Cramer’s memorable piano lines), it is Patsy Cline’s silky smooth voice and the yearning quality of her delivery that make this one of the finest country pop-crossover songs of the 1960s.

Patsy Cline – “Crazy”

Patsy Cline did not have long to enjoy her star status as she was sadly killed in a plane crash on March 5, 1963.

Authorship

“Crazy” was penned by future country superstar Willie Nelson. The song had been intended for country singer Billy Walker, but he turned it down. Walker would later turn down a seat on the plane that crashed and killed Patsy Cline.

Nelson’s own recording of “Crazy” appeared on his 1962 debut album “And Then I Wrote.”

Recording date/location

“Crazy” was recorded on August 21, 1961 at the Bradley Film and Recording Studios In Nashville.

Musicians

The following musicians appeared on “Crazy”:

These guys were the elite Nashville players that were heard on classic pop and country recordings of the period from artists such as Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison.

Chart performance

“Crazy” peaked at number nine on Billboard’s Hot 100 on November 21, 1961 and reached number two on the country charts.

A reissue of the song in 1990 reached number 14 on the UK charts.

Covers

Willie Nelson, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello – “Crazy”

Husband and wife, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello, sang “Crazy” with the song’s author, Willie Nelson, as part of his “Willie Nelson and Friends” 70th birthday special. It’s a pleasant rendition, with Krall delivering the strongest vocal.

LeAnn Rimes – “Crazy”

The influence of Patsy Cline on LeAnn Rimes’ vocal style was very evident before she covered “Crazy” on her self-titled covers album in 1999 – just listen to the title track of her 1996 album “Blue.” Rimes draws so strongly from Cline on “Crazy” that the recording deviates very little from the original, either in arrangement or phrasing. So yes, it’s very derivative, but it’s also an excellent vocal and so worthy of a mention and a listen.

Here’s Leann’s live performance of the song at the 1999 Billboard Awards.

The “LeAnn Rimes” album also featured a cover of the Patsy Cline hit “I Fall To Pieces.”

There will be a new Song of the Week on October 10.

Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” is available on a number of CD compilations, including “Sweet Dreams: Her Complete Decca Masters (1960-1963).”

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