Emmylou Harris

Hi All,

Always liked a bit of quality country music and watched a rather excellent documentary last Friday on Emmylou Harris - really was impressed. Next day the record fair was in town and for a couple of quid picked up a greatest hits compilation from 1978. Absolutely astonishing voice. A real bargain there for a couple of quid.

Anyone here have any recommendations?

From the documentary there was mention of a bluegrass album she did with Ricky Scaggs in the late 70s (Warners thought she'd gone insane), but I don't remember what it was called - anyone know?

 

Gene Clark and Carla Olson's So rebellious a lover seems to be finally re-issued. It's a fantastic country album and they've got it in selectadisc (at least they had the other week). Get down there and have a spin of Gypsy Rider or Fair and Tender Ladies.

 

You've got to buy lots of Hank Williams. Proper Records have a cheap box set:

http://www.propermusic.com/products.asp?recnumber=72

Hank is the real deal.

-- Ian

 

I'll have to check it out. I've got a copy of the album he did with the Gosdin Brothers, which is rather good, but a proper country album would be even better perhaps.

Sideshow, agree re Hank. I've got a cheapy greatest hits I picked up for a quid from a bargain box, love it and will look out for more.

As to recommendations, I guess I was asking specifically after Emmylou recommendations rather than country generally, but of course all recommendations are welcome

 

There is a nice Carla Olson/Mick Taylor live album [more R&B than country tho].

Emm Harris and R. Scaggs are both on

'Will the circle be unbroken? [II]'

[credited to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - just like the 1st one in the 60s..]

This is a gorgeous roots album with lots of other talented artists.

 

I recently bought Emmylou's latest album "Stumble Into Grace". I can recommend it strongly - it really touches me. Don't know her earlier stuff, I must admit.

Thom

 

Emmylou:

I've always felt she was gobsmackingly beautiful! Still do. Anyway, for recommendations for newer stuff try 'Spyboy' Live and in the early stuff try 'Quarter Moon in a Ten cent Town'. But her catalogue is mostly consistent, except I could never get along with the 'Ballad of Sally Rose'.

 

Buy the two Gram Parson's solo albums 'GP' and 'Grievous Angel' on which EmmyLou shared almost equal billing.
Then go and buy the Gram Parsons back catalogue! (1st two Flying Burrito Brothers' LPs and the International Submarine Band's LP).

You will not be disappointed. :MILD:

 

I've got most of Emmylou's 70's output on the original vinyl. If it's the purity of her voice that struck you then "Quarter Moon etc." is a good starting point.
Having been a fan for thirty years, it was a pleasure to see that excellent documentary on Friday.

 

Also buy The Byrd's Sweetheart Of The Rodeo album, Gram was on that one and it's well worth owning. Emmylou's contributions to GP and Grevious Angel are superb... I really need to check out more of her stuff. Nearly went to see her a year or so back, should of...

 

Ian,

Gram Parsons was a member of the Byrds during the recording and writing of 'Sweetheart...' but his contributions were cut and mixed out of the final LP (which is still indeed a very worthwhile buy!). The reasons for this have been quoted as jealousy from McGuinn and record company contracts.

However, if you can get a hold of the album 'Byrds: Sanctuary IV' this has the original Gram dominated tracks from 'Sweetheart of The Rodeo' and compares very favourably to the original release.

The International Submarine Band 'Safe at Home' LP (their first and last) was the first country rock LP and Sweetheart was the second. Sweetheart has the honour of having one of my favourite ever sleeves too! For further Gram influenced stuff check out the Rolling Stones 'Sticky Fingers' and 'Exile on Main Street'.

As a final addendum (and back to the EmmyLou point of this thread!) the Flying Burrito Bros. LP 'Sleepless Nights' has three Gram/EmmyLou tracks from the Grievous Angel sessions as well as other 'lost' gems from the Burritos.

My work here is done!

 

Agree with the Gram Parsons/Emmylou album recomendation - great stuff. If you want another take on an Emmylou compilation album try the 'Duets' album. It is a collection of songs she's recorded with other people and groups over the years, with tracks recorded with:
* Desert Rose Band
* Gram Parsons
* Roy Orbison
* Earl Thomas Conley
* Southern Pacific
* Neil Young
* George Jones
* John Denver
* Ricky Skaggs
* Willie Nelson
* Don Williams
* The Band