About The Song
“Hungry for Love” is a classic country ballad recorded by Patsy Cline and released as the B-side to her single “I Love You So Much It Hurts” on September 5, 1960, by Decca Records (catalog number 9-31107). Written by Eddie Miller (with some sources crediting additional co-writing or arrangement notes), the track was produced by Owen Bradley at Bradley Film and Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The song was recorded on August 25, 1960, during a transitional session as Cline moved fully into the Decca fold after her 4 Star Records contract. Clocking in at approximately 2:29, “Hungry for Love” features Cline’s rich, yearning vocals backed by The Jordanaires’ harmonies, Floyd Cramer’s piano, Grady Martin’s guitar, and a gentle Nashville Sound arrangement with subtle strings and rhythm—bridging her earlier honky-tonk style with the polished countrypolitan sound that would define her biggest hits.
By mid-1960, Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Gore, Virginia) had signed with Decca Records and was working closely with producer Owen Bradley to refine her material. She had scored her first major success with “Walkin’ After Midnight” in 1957 (No. 2 country, No. 12 Hot 100), but follow-ups had been modest. “I Love You So Much It Hurts” (A-side) was a cover of the 1948 Jimmy Wakely/Floyd Tillman hit and reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in late 1960. “Hungry for Love” (B-side) did not chart independently but gained exposure through the single and later compilations. The lyrics express deep longing and emotional hunger for a lover’s affection, with Cline delivering the plea with raw vulnerability and restrained power.
The song appeared on various posthumous releases, including the compilation album A Portrait of Patsy Cline (Decca, 1964), The Patsy Cline Story (1963 double LP), Patsy Cline’s Greatest Hits (1967, one of the best-selling country albums ever), and modern collections like Sweet Dreams: Her Complete Decca Masters 1960-1963 (2010) and Bear Family reissues. It has been praised for showcasing Cline’s interpretive depth during her early Decca period, just before her string of massive hits in 1961 (“I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” “She’s Got You”). The August 1960 session captured her vocal maturity and emotional range, with Bradley’s production emphasizing intimacy over heavy instrumentation.
Behind the scenes, Eddie Miller—a prolific country songwriter known for standards like “Release Me”—provided a straightforward yet emotionally resonant tune that suited Cline perfectly. Though not a chart-topper, “Hungry for Love” remains a beloved deep cut among fans, often anthologized and appreciated for its sincere heartache. It stands as an important bridge in her discography, reflecting the refinement of her style under Bradley before her tragic death in a plane crash on March 5, 1963, at age 30. The song continues to appear in classic country playlists and compilations as a testament to Cline’s unmatched ability to convey longing and vulnerability.
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Lyric
I’m hungry for love
And I’m starving for affection
I’m hungry for love
And I’m dying for your kissI’ve been lonesome so long
My heart’s been aching for you
Come on home, darling
And fill this empty spaceI’m hungry for love
And I’m starving for affection
I’m hungry for love
And I’m dying for your kiss(bridge/instrumental)
I’m hungry for love
And I’m starving for affection
I’m hungry for love
And I’m dying for your kiss