Sorry, Patsy Cline does I Fall to Pieces 100 times better than Linda R.
It is hard to believe now, but when Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, and others, began to pioneer the “Nashville Sound” they were not considered classic country. Country music purists of the day resented their move away from fiddles in favor of full orchestration.
Cline's recording of “I Fall to Pieces” was part of the attempt by recording executives to reach into the pop audience. No matter, her recording was then and remains great story telling.
Cline's powerful voice hit every note - she was in total control of the music. Perhaps a little too much in control to convincingly sing “I Fall to Pieces.”
In Ronstadt's version her voice has an earnest authenticity that features vulnerability over competent craftsmanship. Add to that the crying steel guitar and crying fiddle playing call and response with the vocalist . . . Again, I don't think anyone has done it better.
The only things I remember our elementary music teacher saying was that there is only one kind of music - good music.
And she said the only way to determine what was good music was to give it the test of time.
Both Cline's and Ronstadt's music is now officially good music, as is the songsmithing of Harland Howard and Hank Cochran.