Monday, December 27, 2010

With Bob Dylan: Oh Sister



No one ever accused Bob Dylan of not recognizing talent. He recruited Emmylou to sing backing vocals on Desire, his 1976 followup to Blood on the Tracks. The 29-year old singer's response to Dylan's request is lost to history, but it mut have been along the lines of "Yes."

Sunday, December 26, 2010

I'm very influenced by landscapes, not so much the way places look as the way the names sound. In this country we've got so many cultures, and the place names - the Spanish names and the Indian names, which are so incredibly musical.
-Emmylou Harris 

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Light of the Stable (1979)





Light of the Stable has been released and rereleased with four different covers. Click here for a track list and review.

Friday, December 24, 2010

With Linda Ronstadt: I Can't Help It



A little unusual in that Linda plays the guitar on this track. Emmylou is a bit of an ethereal presence until the very end when we finally get to see all of her. The song, of course, is one written by Hank Williams.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Coat of Many Colors


Emmy with the Dolly Parton song.

Naturally, we have Dolly's version too. It always amazes me how she manages to fret her guitar with those fingernails.




Monday, December 20, 2010

Get Up John



An old Bill Monroe song.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Stumble Into Grace (2003)



Click here for track list and review.

"Strong Hand (Just One Miracle)," from Stumble Into Grace, begins at 4:15, preceded by "If I Could Only Win Your Love."

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien



I hadn't heard Emmylou sing this song before I discovered this clip. Here she sings the song made famous by the great French chanteuse Edith Piaf. This is just a slide show, but it's worth it just to listen to the song.
Here is Edith's version.



Je ne regrette rien means "I regret nothing," which is another way of saying No Regrets. That's a song written and performed by Tom Rush. Here it is.

Monday, December 13, 2010

I like to think about stringing songs together like a string of pearls, or a string of beads, but ultimately it has to be stuff that really works with the band, and gives a spin to the older material.
-Emmylou Harris

Sunday, December 12, 2010

With Charlie Louvin and Vern Gosdin: Love and Wealth


An interesting trio, Emmylou with Charlie Louvin and Vern Gosdin. This is really Charlie's song with the others singing harmony. Bit of a shame really, as Vern has one of the finest voices in country music (and I won't even mention Emmylou. Oops, too late). To illustrate this point here's Vern and Emmylou singing Love Me Right to the End: