FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5, 2001

DEAR JERRY: From the Internet, I recently downloaded Patsy Cline's “Loose Talk,” which I now rate to be one of her best songs ever. However, the version I have is obviously from a live performance (applause at the end, etc.).

Do you know if a studio recording of “Loose Talk” exists? Was this a hit record, either for Patsy or anyone?
—Brooke Shumann, Hanover, Pa.

DEAR BROOKE: No studio recording of “Loose Talk” is known, thereby making us grateful that this live recording did get saved.

The “Loose Talk” you have is actually from a radio transcription disc, made during an on-the-air broadcast of Patsy in concert.

In early 1955, Carl Smith put “Loose Talk” at No. 1 on the C&W charts (Columbia 21317). Six years later, Buck Owens and Rose Maddox dueted their way into the Top 5 with a spirited remake (Capitol 4550).

The co-writers of “Loose Talk,” which, by the way, I think is a pretty nifty song title, are Ann Lucas, and C&W star Freddie “Easy Loving” Hart.

I can't recall the title or anything about the artist, but it was definitely a female singing. In it, she, being the fiancée from “Ebony Eyes,” didn't go down with the ill-fated flight 1203. Fortunately, she was late to the airport, or something, and missed the plane.

Any chance you know of this tune, and can fill in the blanks in my memory?
—Stephen Austin, Waynesboro, Va.

DEAR STEPHEN: As one always intrigued with answer songs, I am definitely aware of this one. Not surprisingly, this one, like most of its breed, did not become a hit.

Titled, appropriately enough, “Flight 1203,” this is a 1961 release by the Beverly Sisters.

Also, Andrew P. Smith, a dee jay in 1961 at WDON (Wheaton, Maryland), writes to say that they played “Flight 1203” when it came out. He now asks about the label and number.

For Andrew, and answer song collectors everywhere, “Flight 1203” is on Roulette 4350.

DEAR JERRY: I have a question that has long bothered me, about Crosby, Stills and Nash's recording of “Woodstock.”

In the chorus, what is the line that follows: “We are Stardust, we are golden? The mystery lyrics are then followed by: “and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden.”

Please decipher these words for me.
—Tony Adamowicz, Safety Harbor, Fla. (bert48@ozline.net)

DEAR TONY: Someone with the sheet music may come forth and enlighten us both, but I believe those muddled words to be: “We are billion year old carbon.”

Interestingly, the hit remake by Matthews' Southern Comfort does not contain the “carbon” line. It skips right to getting back to the garden.

IZ ZAT SO? The daughter of Carl Smith, from his mid-'50s marriage to June Carter, is the very popular '90s country music star, Carlene Carter.

Carlene kept the name of her mother, and their legendary Carter Family.