Emmylou Harris - Pieces Of The Sky 1975

01. Bluebird Wine (Rodney Crowell) – 3:16
02. Too Far Gone (Billy Sherill) – 4:03
03. If I Could Only Win Your Love (Charlie Louvin, Ira Louvin) – 2:36		play
04. Boulder To Birmingham (Emmylou Harris, Bill Danoff) – 3:32
05. Before Believing (Danny Flowers) – 4:41
06. Bottle Let Me Down (Merle Haggard) – 3:16
07. Sleepless Nights (Boudleaux Bryant, Felix Bryant) – 3:25
08. Coat Of Many Colors (Dolly Parton) – 3:41
09. For No One (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:40
10. Queen Of The Silver Dollar (Shel Silverstein) – 4:59
+
11. Hank And Lefty (previously unissued) (Dallas Frazier, Doodle Owens) – 2:48
12. California Cottonfields (previously unissued) (Dallas Frazier, Earl Montgomery) – 2:44	play

Personnel:
- Emmylou Harris - vocals, acoustic guitar (03-05,08,10,12)
- Brian Ahern - acoustic guitar (01,03), high-strung guitar (04,08), Super 400 acoustic guitar (06,11), bass (09), producer, arranger
- Bruce Archer - acoustic guitar (05,10), electric guitar (11), backing vocals (11)
- Duke Bardwell - bass (06)
- Byron Berline - mandolin (03,09), fiddle (08)
- James Burton - electric guitar (01-04,06,07), gut-string guitar (07,08), dobro (08,10)
- Mark Cuff - drums (10,11)
- Rick Cunha - acoustic guitar (01,02,04,08), high-strung guitar (06,07)
- Nick DeCaro - string arrangements (04,09)
- Amos Garrett - electric guitar (09)
- Richard Greene - fiddle (01)
- Tom Guidera - bass (05,10,11), backing vocals (11)
- Glen D.Hardin - piano (01,03,06,07,10,12), electric piano (04,08), string arrangements (02)
- Ben Keith - pedal steel (02-04,07,08)
- Bernie Leadon - banjo (01), acoustic guitar (06,07), dobro (06), bass (07), backing vocals (06,12)
- Bill Payne - piano (02,04,05,09)
- Herb Pedersen - acoustic guitar (09), 12-string guitar (04), banjo (03,12), backing vocals (01,02,04,06,09,10,12)
- Danny Pendleton - pedal steel (05,10,11)
- Ray Pohlman - bass (01-04,08,12)
- Linda Ronstadt - backing vocals (10)
- Ricky Skaggs - fiddle (05,10,11), Viola (05), backing vocals (11)
- Fayssoux Starling - backing vocals (01,02,08,09)
- Ron Tutt - drums (01-04,06-08,12)

Emmylou Harris's 1975 major-label debut unveiled the formula that she would revisit numerous times throughout the decade: a melding of traditional country's honesty, folk music's heart, and country-rock's punch. Her choice of material followed a similar curve--everything from Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, and the Louvin Brothers to the Beatles and Shel Silverstein. Former Elvis sidemen James Burton, Glen D. Hardin, and Ron Tutt along with guests like Ricky Skaggs, fiddler Richard Greene, and pianist Bill Payne of Little Feat form a formidable supporting cast. What's most impressive is Harris's versatility--she moves from delicate acoustic ballads to buoyant two-steppers to lavish string arrangements without ever sounding overmatched. She even takes a very personal tale like Dolly Parton's wonderful "Coat of Many Colors" and makes it her story. She may have inherited the band and the vision from her late mentor Gram Parsons, but the shimmering soprano voice is all her own. ---Marc Greilsamer, Editorial Editon

December 7, 1974 my friend Early and I went to see Leo Kottke at Minnesota Orchestra Hall. The opening act that night was an unknown girl singer named Emmylou Harris. We had no idea what to expect and little interest - we'd come to see Kottke. As soon as we saw Emmylou, we began to get interested and when she opened her mouth and started singing, we were completely and totally mesmerized. A voice like nothing we'd ever heard before. And, a voice that is still instantly identifiable.

Pieces Of The Sky came out early in 1975 and I was almost afraid to play it, afraid that it could never match what I remembered from that cold December night. But as soon as the needle hit the record, I knew that it was everything I remembered and more. "Bluebird Wine", "The Bottle Let Me Down", songs that really show that she can make a song move. "If I Could Only Win Your Love", the first of many Louvin Brothers songs that she exposed to a whole new audience. And my favorite, "Too Far Gone." Everything about the way "Too Far" is produced says that it should be a disaster. I mean, heavy strings, for Pete's sake? Instead, Emmylou makes both the song and the arrangement a masterpiece.

Since "Pieces", I've bought nearly all of Emmylou's works and have rarely been disappointed. I would urge anyone who doesn't own this disc, to get it immediately. It's a timeless piece of work that stands as well today as it did when it was released 30 years ago.

Thanks for all you've done for country music, Emmylou. I just wish that today's Nashville suits would go back and listen to this CD and and understand how beautiful three chords and the truth can sound. They - and we - need you more than ever. --- J. Kelly "Jim Kelly" (Salem, OR United States)

download

back