Emmylou Harris - Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems

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There are so many ways to describe Emmylou Harris. Pure, pleasant and meaningful are only three ways but they do her no justice. A leading lady in folk and country music for over thirty years, she has forgotten more than most artists will ever know. She has blended her voices with legends and new artists alike, proving she is here to stay. This boxed set includes four CD's and one DVD that you can enjoy for hours.

To create this boxed set, Emmylou looked back to the earliest parts of her career in music. Throughout this collection you will hear seventy-one songs that will take you all the way back to Emmylou's days with Gram Parsons. There is an awesome booklet that comes along with this set that everyone can enjoy. It is full of great pictures and stories that takes you on a trip down memory lane. Anyone who loves this style of music will be thoroughly touched and deeply moved by the interesting stories and breath taking pictures. It also shows some insight on the writers. Emmylou describes how Gram Parson introduced her to the songwriting skills of Country Music Hall of Fame members The Louvin Brothers. She has always displayed great respect for Gram, so that is why she decided to add numerous tunes that the two created and formed into classic songs that have stood the test of time.

With her recognizable voice, Emmylou has created duets with superstars from so many genres, fans do not even classify her at country or folk, but simply as Emmylou Harris.

She teamed up with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt on Trio and Trio II. She has also teamed up with other great artists like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Costello and Vince Gill. Being in a duet with Emmylou Harris is a good way to prove you have made it in music.

Her band has always been something to brag about as well. Known as "The Hot Band," there have been numerous members that have become very successful artist in their own right.

Ricky Skaggs and Rodney Crowell are prime examples of the talent she expects from her band. Fans around the world have come to expect a certain atmosphere when they see or hear Emmylou. So regardless of what you are looking for, this boxed set will deliver.

The set goes back to the beginning of her career. You hear songs recorded the way they should be, raw, acoustic with slight imperfections left in the recordings. By doing this proved that they are not perfect, but they are priceless. One thing that fans of all genres love about folk and country is the raw nature and sound. Recordings like "The Angels Rejoiced Last Night" and "The Old Country Baptizing" are awesome duets with Emmylou and Gram Parsons, that show the great harmonies and vocals the two of them shared together.

Emmylou has been no stranger to cover songs either. She records songs for their content and heartfelt meaning. "Coat Of Many Colors, "Satan's Jewel Crown" and "Ashes By Now" were all written by other stars, but she turned them into her own. The first disc contains so many great songs it is hard to imagine there are still three CD's left.

She teamed up with Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Vince Gill and Gail Davies on "Sweethearts Of The Rodeo." It is awesome to hear all five of them together on one tune. It's unfortunate more stars do not share the microphone with each other. Not only would it allow them to explore other musical genres, but to also to show off their unique voices.

There are also a few songs on the set with other artists and groups like The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Guy Clark, Anna & Kate McGarrigle, The Pretenders and Beck.

The DVD will give you chills as you watch Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band perform some of her biggest hits. It is actually funny to see Rodney Crowell and Ricky Skaggs perform at such a young age and not be the main star.

Check out the backup singers. They will look familiar. They are The Whites, Sharon and Cheryl and their father Buck playing the mandolin. If that does not ring a bell, they are now Grand Ole Opry members and the in-laws to Ricky Skaggs.

As a whole, this boxed set is by far the best to be released in years. Giving you countless hours of entertainment that anyone can enjoy. You can sit back and listen to legendary performances and even watch her grow as an artist. With an artist of this caliber and stature it is impossible to describe.

Country and folk fans alike should add this set to their collection, because it will not be complete until they do so.

Track List:

Disc 1:
  1. Clocks (Alternate Version)
  2. The Angels Rejoiced Last Night (with Gram Parsons)
  3. The Old Country Baptizing (with Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels)
  4. Coat Of Many Colors
  5. For No One
  6. Ooh Las Vegas
  7. Satan's Jewel Crown
  8. Tulsa Queen
  9. My Songbird
  10. Green Rolling Hills
  11. One Paper Kid (with Willie Nelson)
  12. Sorrow In The Wind
  13. Rough And Rocky
  14. Jordan
  15. Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn
  16. Ashes By Now
  17. How High The Moon
  18. Spanish Johnny (with Waylon Jennings)
  19. The Last Cheaters Waltz
  20. Racing In The Streets
  21. Like An Old Fashioned Waltz

Disc 2:
  1. The Sweetheart Of The Rodeo (with Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Vince Gill, & Gail Davies)
  2. When I Was Yours
  3. My Father's House
  4. Bright Morning Stars
  5. When He Calls
  6. Lonely Street
  7. Brand New Dance
  8. Get Up John
  9. If I Could Be There
  10. Ballad Of A Runaway Horse
  11. Going Back To Harlan
  12. Sweet Old World
  13. All My Tears (Live)
  14. Prayer In Open D (Live)
  15. Bang The Drum Slowly
  16. Boy From Tupelo
  17. Lost Unto This World
  18. Man Is An Island
  19. Cup Of Kindness

Disc 3:
  1. Falling In A Deep Hole
  2. 1917 (with Linda Ronstadt)
  3. Palms Of Victory (with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt)
  4. Softly And Tenderly (with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt)
  5. My Dear Companion (with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt)
  6. Mary Danced With Soldiers (with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
  7. I Don't Love You Much Do I (with Guy Clark)
  8. All I Left Behind
  9. I Remember You (with Steve Earle)
  10. Golden Ring (with Linda Ronstadt and Anna & Kate McGarrigle)
  11. Sonny (with Delores Keane and Mary Black)
  12. In The Garden
  13. Love Still Remains
  14. Snake Song
  15. Hobo's Lullaby
  16. Wondering
  17. Immigrant Eyes
  18. Juanita (with Sheryl Crow)
  19. She (with The Pretenders)
  20. Sin City (with Beck)
  21. Wheels (with Seldom Scene)

Disc 4:
  1. Beyond The Blue (with Patty Griffin)
  2. First In Line (with John Starling)
  3. Highway Of Heartache
  4. Alone And Forsaken (with Mark Knopfler)
  5. Child Of Mine
  6. Heaven Ain't Ready For You Yet
  7. Wish We Were Back In Missouri
  8. Mama's Hungry Eyes (with Rodney Crowell)
  9. Here We Are (with George Jones)
  10. Waltz Across Texas Tonight
  11. Snowin' On Raton
  12. Gone
  13. Don't Let Our Love Die
  14. The Pearl (Live)
  15. Wild Flower (with Randy Scruggs and Iris DeMent)
  16. Love And Happiness (with Mark Knopfler)
  17. When We're Gone, Long Gone (with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt)


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