Crazy by Patsy Cline

Album: Patsy Cline Showcase (1961)

Charted: 14 9

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Songfacts®:

This was written by Willie Nelson. He was a struggling country singer at the time and got a big break when Cline recorded this and made it a hit. It has become one of Nelson's most enduring songs. He covered the song for his own debut album, ...And Then I Wrote, in 1962.
A classic torch song, "Crazy" finds Cline despondent after losing her love, who has run off with someone else. She always knew it would never work between them, but she still can't get over it, which seems crazy, but happens to the best of us.
On an episode of VH1's Storytellers, Willie Nelson revealed that this was originally titled "Stupid." >>
Suggestion credit:
Scott - Richmond, VA
Cline was thrown through a windshield in a car accident two months before she recorded this (they didn't have seat belts back then). At the first session, she couldn't hit the high notes because of a broken rib, so the studio musicians recorded their parts without her. Two weeks later, she did her vocals while standing on crutches.
This was Cline's biggest hit. She died in a plane crash two years later at age 30.
In the UK, this was not a hit when it was first released, but went to #14 when it was re-released there in 1990.
Some of the many artists to cover this song include Dottie West, Vic Damone, Ray Price, Wanda Jackson, Linda Ronstadt, Julie Andrews, B.J. Thomas, Kidneythieves and Crystal Gayle. In 2003, Diana Krall covered it for the tribute album Remembering Patsy Cline.

Cline's version is the only one to chart in the US, but LeAnn Rimes took it to #36 in the UK in 1999 when she released it as a single from her self-titled album. Rimes' voice was often compared to the country legend's when she burst onto the country music scene in 1996 with her debut album, Blue, at age 13.
According to the Amusement And Music Operators Association, this was the most-played song on jukeboxes in the United States. Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock And Roll" was second and Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" was third.
According to Mojo magazine, Willie Nelson originally tried to sell this along with several other of his songs to country music singer Larry Butler for $10 a piece. Butler refused to take advantage, fortunately for Patsy Cline who, despite initially disliking "Crazy," made it into a huge hit. Both Cline's husband Charlie Dick and her producer Owen Bradley loved the song, and they that persuaded Cline to record it.
This has been featured on numerous TV shows, including Moonlighting, Quantum Leap, Cybill, Cold Case, and Fringe. It's also been used in the movies Desert Hearts (1985), Murder One (1988), The Handmaid's Tale (1990), Doc Hollywood (1991), Nell (1994), Tommy Boy (1995), Some Mother's Son (1996) and In & Out (1997).
Actress Beverly D'Angelo performed this when she played Patsy Cline in the 1980 Loretta Lynn biopic, Coal Miner's Daughter.
The first-ever official video for "Crazy" was released on February 12, 2021. Director Natalie O'Moore filmed the clip at Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge outside of Nashville.

Comments: 11

Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenRegarding the above note, seatbelts existed long before 1961, though at that time, most automakers didn’t install them unless the customer ordered them. Nash first offered them as an option in 1949.
Robert from 45036Love Patsy Cline songs
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1962 {January 14th} Patsy Cline's "Crazy"* peaked at #2 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, for the two weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for both those weeks was "Walk On By" by Leroy Van Dyke...
"Crazy" reached #9 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
Between 1957 and 1962 the Winchester, Virginia native had nine records on the Hot Country Singles chart, six made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "I Fall To Pieces" for two weeks in August of 1961 and "She's Got You" for four weeks in March of 1962...
Sadly, Patsy Cline, born Virginia Patterson Hensley, passed away at the young age of 30 on March 5th, 1963 {In the same plane crash that claimed the lives of Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins}...
May all three R.I.P.
* "Crazy" was Patsy Cline's second of two of her records to peak at #2, her other #2 record was "Walkin' After Midnight" for two weeks in April of 1957...
And from the "For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles' Top 10 on January 14th, 1962:
At #3. "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean
#4. "Soft Rain" by Ray Price
#5. "Lonesome Number One" by Don Gibson
#6. "In the Middle of A Heartache" by Wanda Jackson
#7. "Losing Your Love" by Jim Reeves
#8. "You're The Reason" by Bobby Edwards
#9. "What I Feel In My Heart" by Jim Reeves
#10. "The Comancheros" by Claude King
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 25th 1963, "Faded Love" by Patsy Cline entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 for a three week stay, peaking at #96...
It was the 13th and last record to make the Top 100 chart; her biggest hit was "Crazy", which peaked at #9 in 1961...
She also had two records peak at #12 on the Top 100 chart; "Walkin' After Midnight" {1957} and "I Fall to Pieces" {1961}...
Jackie DeShannon also released her covered version of "Faded Love" in 1963; it remained on the Top 100 for 2 weeks, peaking at #97.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 19th 1988, the 'jukebox' celebrated its 100th anniversary; and the Juke Industry of America revealed that "Crazy" by Patsy Cline and "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley were the most played recording in the first hundred years of the jukebox's existence...
R.I.P. Ms. Cline, born Virginia Patterson Hensley, 1932 - 1963 and to The King, born Elvis Aaron Presley, 1935 - 1977.
Budoshi from Sandnessjøen, NorwayEver heard the live-version with Willie Nelson, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello? Definately worth a listen:D Even surpasses Patsy Clines version..
Alma from Laredo, TxTruly one of the her best. What a magnificent voice.
Lalah from Wasilla, AkWhat a magnificent voice Patsy Cline had. Too bad she covered songs like this. I love hearing anything she sang, though.
Ken from Louisville, KyThis was reportedly the "theme song" to Ross Perot's 1992, third-party Presidential campaign. Bill Clinton's was Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow".
Steph from Menomonee Falls, WiPatsy Cline HATED this song and did NOT want to record it. Her husband would play Willie's demo over and over til it drove her nuts!! (For the record, before they became hits, she also hated "Walkin after Midnight" and "I Fall to Pieces" as well)
Kathy from Jasper, Al When Patsy was first asked to record this song, she at first said, "I can't sing this man's song!"

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