Tracy Chapman & Patsy Cline

Like most cats, Tracy Chapman was raised by her mother, but unlike most cats, she began playing music very early, when her mother bought her a ukelele. This just confirms my belief that many more cats would be in the music business if cat moms had better access to music stores and credit cards. Tracy has been writing and performing for over 25 years, and she's won many awards for her songs such as "Fast Car," which is something cats need to watch out for (fast cars, not music awards).

New Beginning is her fourth album, and the best-known song on it is "Give Me One Reason," a slow, rhythmical plea to an unnamed lover who's about to be abandoned. This song won the Best Rock Song Grammy Award in 1997. Chapman's guitar is straight-forward and her voice evocative, and I particularly like her purry sound on "Heaven's Here on Earth." "Cold Feet" was another of my favorites, even though I don't get cold feet, because I'm part Maine Coon cat, and I have lots of fur between my toes. 

Here's an oldie-but-a-goodie! Patsy Cline's been gone a long time, but go into any country-western bar that has a jukebox or a karaoke machine, and you'll find all her greatest hits. This album contains 12 of those hits, from "Walking After Midnight" (a thing that cats love to do) to "You're Stronger Than Me," something that most male cats have to admit eventually. In fact, just to be on the safe side, I'd better dedicate this review to my bro Sparky, the Top Cat in my neighborhood.

There's a little throb in Patsy's voice that made the parakeets in our house chirp in response whenever they heard it. I finally had to go tell them to shut up, so I could enjoy the rest of this terrific album. Oh, if it weren't for that cage, I'd have had a little snack to go along with my Patsy Cline.
Listen to her sing "Crazy" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzq5X-p2C0Y
Peace out!