"I Fall to Pieces" is a single released by American country singer, Patsy Cline, January 30, 1961. The song has been considered one of Country music's greatest standard recordings and one of Cline's best-known songs.

[edit] Recording the song

"I Fall to Pieces" was written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard. Decca Records producer, Owen Bradley originally offered the song to Roy Drusky, but he turned the song down, claiming it was a "girl's song." Patsy left word with Bradley she wouldn't record "I Fall to Pieces". She never told Cochran or Howard why, nor did she ask them to make revisions. ^[1] "I Fall to Pieces" became Cline's first major hit since 1957's "Walkin' After Midnight". In addition, towards the end of the year, "I Fall to Pieces" also became Cline's first single to chart on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, peaking in the Top 10 in 1961.

Before the song reached its peak postions, Cline was involved in a major automobile accident that nearly killed her. Cline suffered major injuries to her head and scalp. Because Cline spent over a month in the hospital, Cline didn't have much time for promotional scheduling for her single. However, the song did reach #1 in August.

[edit] Covers & in popular culture

"I Fall to Pieces" has been considered a standard to record in Country music, and was voted by RIAA's list of Songs of the Century at #107.

The song has been covered by countless artists of various genres (such as LeAnn Rimes and Madeleine Peyroux). In 1980, the song was released again as an overdubbed single with an electronically-produced duet between Patsy Cline and country singer Jim Reeves that reached 61 on the Country charts. The song was also rated 107 on RIAA's list of Songs of the Century and was also featured on an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In addition it was repeatedly used on the film Phantoms staring Peter O'Toole, Rose McGowan, and Ben Affleck. Dottie West (Patsy Cline's friend and Country singer) covered the song while under Starday Records in the early 60s, and released it as a single in 1961. Trisha Yearwood and Aaron Neville recorded the song for the 1994 album Rhythm, Country and Blues.

Rolling Stone ranked "I Fall to Pieces" at #238 for their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"I Fall to Pieces" was ranked seventeenth on the list of the greatest jukebox songs of all time. Cline's song "Crazy" came first.

In 2003, the song ranked seventh on CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music. The song was performed by LeAnn Rimes during the Top 12 show.

[edit] References

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