Patty Loveless photo courtesy of Saguaro Road Records.

"We" includes Emory Gordy Jr. As has been the case with almost all of Patty’s records, he is her full partner. Her record producer since 1985 and her husband since 1989, Emory has been by Patty’s side throughout her career. He plays bass, guitar, accordion, mandolin, piano, percussion and organ. Emory has been a member of Elvis Presley’s TCB band. He has also toured with Emmylou Harris, Neil Diamond and Rodney Crowell. He has produced successful records for dozens of stars, including Vince Gill, Alabama, Bill Monroe, Steve Earle, George Jones, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Roy Orbison. In addition, Emory is the co-writer of the pop standard "Traces." Initially a hit for the Classics IV in 1969, it has since been recorded by more than 50 artists. Emory is also the co-writer of such notable songs as Martina McBride’s "Cheap Whiskey"
and Wynonna’s "When I Reach the Place I’m Going."

For Sleepless Nights, Emory came up with a highly original casting idea. He decided to mix classic "old school," Nashville Sound instrumentalists such as Harold Bradley, Pig Robbins and Billy Linneman with former Patty Loveless bandmembers like Jedd Hughes, Guthrie Trapp, Pete Finney, Deanie Richardson and Carmella Ramsey. Then he "sweetened" the sound with such contemporary studio pros as Biff Watson, Steve Gibson, John Hobbs and Al Perkins.

Background vocalists include everyone from superstar Vince Gill to newcomers like neighbor Jim Iler and 15-year-old Sydni Perry. The result is a sound perfectly captured in the record’s subtitle, "traditional country soul."

This is, indeed, music to enrich the spirit.. It draws from the deep well of its singer’s experience. The original inspiration for the project was to pay homage to Patty’s older sister, Dottie. "My sister Dottie has been gone 12 years now. She died in ’96 when she was only 48 years old. She was a great singer. I recall going to hear her sing when I was about 7 years old. I went to Fort Knox with my brother. She got up and sang and had that whole audience just mesmerized. She did some Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee and Connie Smith songs. When I experienced her doing that, I thought, ‘Wow. I want to do that.’"

Dottie and Patty’s older brother Roger formed a duet. They moved to Louisville to pursue a career. But whenever they returned to Pikeville, they brought records with them. Little Patty eagerly absorbed them all. When Dottie married at 19 and retired, Roger chose Patty as his new partner.

Grand Ole Opry stars The Wilburn Brothers heard the duo and invited Patty and Roger to visit them in Nashville. Patty was 14 when she and Roger took them up on the offer. But the Wilburns were out of town when the siblings arrived. Patty sang for Porter Wagoner, who took them under his wing. She has fond memories of singing with him and his duet partner, Dolly Parton.