Elemental Music has announced the release of “Imagine That: The Lost Recordings,” a compilation that encapsulates the career of legendary country singer Patsy Cline. This collection spans from the early 1950s, when she began her professional journey, to her peak popularity just before her untimely death in 1963.
The 48 song collection draws from live shows and radio and television performances. Most of these recordings were produced in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., and its neighboring state of Virginia. This goes to show just how much this region shaped Cline’s legendary career.
The earliest recordings featured in this collection were found as something of a miracle. They were discovered, in bulk form, in a laboratory basement after being kept there for more than 30 years. Fortunately, the original acetate disc survived to protect the recordings. They were produced at the now-defunct WARL community radio station in Arlington. That same disc quietly sat in a box of records at Bassin’s. This downtown restaurant once served as the unofficial City Hall during the late-night hours. Unusually, the disc had been left in place since 1954.
Zitelman, who helped produce the compilation, couldn’t overstate the importance of the finding. There’s an A side and a B side,” he said, pointing out the two-sided nature of the recordings. He shared his conviction about the recordings’ enduring effects. I believe that it has at long last made its way into perpetuity,” he said.
The set is packed with inventive rearrangements of Cline’s greatest classics. You’ll love hearing your favorites, such as “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces.” Julie Fudge, a friend of Cline’s who was closely tied to the legacy left by his project, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative. “It is really very personal. She shared her gratitude for the amazing work these folks did. In a quiet moment, she allowed herself to feel flush with pride at having entrusted them with this monumental responsibility. Fudge on the impact Cline’s early career had on her appointment. He remembered, “She’s young, early 20s, and she’s performing live on stage in front of thousands of people.”
Communities and music lovers alike should look for a double-disc set to be released on April 18. This colorful and fun release will be included with the digital version as well! This special release is a tribute to Patsy Cline’s amazing artistry. More importantly, it guarantees that her musical contributions will live on for generations to come.