Emmylou Harris

Recorded in 1975, Harris' third album is considered to be her masterpiece. Flawless performances and sad, soulful country songs birth a pastoral ambience. Her gorgeous, self-penned "Boulder to Birmingham" pulls heavy on the heartstrings as she sings a protege's ode to Gram Parsons, who died two years before.

When the Byrds recorded Sweetheart of the Rodeo in 1968, the romance between
country music and pop was still secret. Seven years later, both country and
country-influenced pop are all but mainstream. In order to seduce the mass audience,
country producers and musicians smoothed down the music's rough edges, removing many
of the music's distinctive qualities. Meanwhile, in order to build connections to... More >

Abetted by Brian Ahern, who would have been wise to add some Anne Murray schlock, Harris shows off a pristine earnestness that has nothing to do with what is most likable about country music and everything to do with what is most suspect in "folk." Presumably, Gram Parsons was tough enough to discourage this tendency or play against it, but as a solo mannerism it doesn't even ensure clear enunciation: I swear the chorus of the best song here sounds like it begins: "I will rub my *ssh*l*/In the bosom of Abraham." (Grade - C+)