It is always a delight to watch someone's first reaction to Emmylou. There are a lot of cookie-cutter country singers around, but Emmylou is in a class by herself. Willie Nelson was quoted as saying, "There are two kinds of men in the world, those who are in love with Emmylou Harris, and those who have not met Emmylou Harris." Her albums and concerts are always varied, so everything all doesn't sound the same. She will do a slow ballad, a fast rocker, a waltz, a Cajun song, then toss in something from the disco queen Donna Summer, or The Boxer from Simon and Garfunkel, and Bruce Springsteen's Racing In The Street for good measure. Her musicians are the best, and she respects them. Usually, each one is allowed to shine with a solo of his own, and she will introduce them one by one. She often dances a bit and sings with her eyes closed. Her live performances are always a joy to watch. She has won every honor in the business. Someone here suggested a song from The Old Grey Whistle Test concert. There is also one from the Netherlands with six songs. Any one of them would make for a great reaction. Luxury Liner is very upbeat: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0Vn0Dz7InjI.html
Emmylou Harris is a beautiful person with a beautiful voice. Voices, however, change with age and her early work is truly astonishing. Her first solo album is titled "Pieces of the Sky" and is exquisite. Her voice is pitch perfect, crystal clear, an occasional hint of a cry. I particularly like "Sleepless Nights" written by Gram Parson who is mentioned in another comment.
Emmylou has such a pure quality to her voice! Two of her most beautiful recordings are duets: Love Hurts with Gram Parsons, and Gulf Coast Highway with Willie Nelson.
Thanks for reacting to Emmylou. I was lucky enough to see her when she played in London in 1976. Would love for you to react to her song Boulder to Birmingham, written after the death of Gram Parsons.
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard were hanging out at Willie's house one night. Merle went to sleep for the night on his bus outside. I guess then Willie put on this Emmylou Harris record, and when he heard this song, he knew that it was the next song he and Merle would do together, so he woke up Merle and made him come into his home studio to record it. Merle recorded his take, went back to bed, then woke up the next morning and asked if he could try it again. Willie said it was too late, as he'd already sent the song off to Nashville. It became a number one country hit for Willie and Merle.
It was written and first performed by Townes Van Zandt in 1972 who, like Willie, was from the Austin area. And it was Willie’s daughter who suggested the Willie/Merle cover and video. It’s highly likely Willie knew Townes.
Emmylou is a fantastic solo performer with an amazing voice. She has also collaborated with so many incredible artists - her start with Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton -- she adds brilliance to every performance no matter who else is on stage.
She has done back-up harmony for so many artists in addition to making her own albums. Even as a famous star, she still will appear occasionally backing up another artist. We have seen her several times. She was a surprise guest star when Bruce Springsteen came to our city, Birmingham, AL. She and he sang his song My Hometown. Birmingham was like a second home for her. Her grandparents lived here.
Thanks for picking up Emmylou. And this song....one of my all time favorites from the first time I heard it. Emmylou's been so prolific since her start in the 1960s. From early days with Gram Parsons to her Trio with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt...and so much more. Her work crosses over all kinds of music....country, folk, rock, old time, american standards...Hard to pick from! She excels at re-imagining other people's songs---but she's also a great songwriter. Oh, and she *always* has great musicians :) Really worth checking out: * If this is Goodbye From her duets album with *Mark Knopfler* of *Dire Straits* . It shows how beautiful her voice still is in 2006 Check out the official live video from the tour. Some other favorites of mine: * Tulsa Queen, written by Emmylou and Rodney Crowell (who has worked with her for decades) * Easy from now on * Boulder to Birmingham, written by Bill Danoff / Emmylou Harris---written after Gram Parsons died of an overdose
I want to say thank you. I suggested this song and maybe others did too, but I want to say thank you Wilburn Reactions and to the Wilburn Reactions RU-vid fans who reached out with a kind word after our family lost a loved one to Covid. This brought joy to our day!
Thanks for your kind words, Chod. LOVE Emmylou Harris! The voice of an angel. She is an amazing musician and person. Please do her duet with Gram Parsons (RIP) "Love Hurts." Also see her in Trio with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. My favorite of theirs: " The Sweetest Gift."
This is a song by Townes Van-Zandt and is his most enduring and well known song. There are many famous covers by Willie Nelson and by Merle Haggard as a duo
You should listen to EmmyLou with Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt from the Trio album. Anything from that but 'To Know Him is To Love Him' with Ry Cooder on guitar is exquisite.
My brother anyone can see you have a good hart . I just beat throat cancer while watching you. I'm 77 and still on this side of the dirt and you helped . Thank you and God bless you .
The old Chuck Berry song, C'est la Vie from the same show is also outstanding. Here's the link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zv6fdib3GBI.html
Emmylou has one of the world's greatest voices - the sound of an angel who's fallen to earth and knows she can never go home. And she's had a long and excellent career. Her early song "Boulder to Birmingham" is one of the most beautiful ever recorded, and her more recent work with Daniel Lanois (e.g., "Deeper Well") is also excellent.
Oh my gosh! Love Emmylou's voice! Just like an angel singing! Boulder to Birmingham... & Tulsa Queen are Emmylou originals...both really great songs! Boulder to Birmingham was written about Gram Parsons...her close friend & mentor when he died..while she was grieving...I also like Easy From Now On...but it was written by Carlene Carter(June Carter Cash's daughter...June Carter was married to Johnny Cash)...a beautiful song...love that line from the song..."it's a quarter moon in a ten cent town"....the album it's on is called "Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town" I believe.
My dad used to love Emmylou. Willie Nelson & Meryl Haggard did the most well known version, Emmylou often sang with them. Townes was an amazing songwriter & character.
When they were stuck for songs to record a family member played this version to Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. The went to the recording studio immediately and cut there own version, it was a big hit for them.
About 20 years I was at a concert at the Ryman in Nashville and I stepped out to the smoking area during intermission. I was standing by myself and I suddenly realized that the woman standing next to me enjoying her cigarette was Emmylou Harris. That kind of thing happened all the time in Nashville: Seeing John Prine enjoying a reuben at the local Jewish deli, seeing Lucinda Williams at the book store, seeing Alison Krauss at P.F. Chang's, etc. Most of the time I never bothered them, but it always tickled me when those encounters happened. I was genuinely starstruck to see Emmylou though. And she was as lovely as you'd imagine.
There is a live version, 1977, of Emmylou Harris, singing Boulder To Birmingham. She co wrote it. It was written after the death of her mentor, ( not sure if he was her lover ?)Gram Parsons. Later live versions not so good. Amazing sound.
GOD I love her!!! when country was good and fresh. you should check out some of her work with Graham Parsons....Love Hurts.. also....her song 'Boulder to Birmngham' which she wrote as a tribute to Graham after his passing. you WILL cry . also....Mark Knopfler and Emmylou doing ;our shangri-la'. gorgeous. oh oh oh....also, Emmylou with the Band from the last waltz doing 'evengeline'. hell...i could go on forever. great great artist
Like Stevie Nicks, I have had a major crush on E.L.H. since I was a kid. She and her voice are so beautiful and haunting. It's a very rare quality for a singer to get this easily, their message across, and feel the emotion in every word.
Boulder to Birmingham. It's her signature tune. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard were looking for a song to headline their album and then Haggard's daughter, I think it was, heard Emmylou's version of this song and thus Willie and Merle did their the Pancho and Lefty album.
If you haven’t listened to Alison Krauss yet you should. She has one of the most beautiful voices in music period. The songs “When you say nothing at all” and “Down to the River” are amazing.
Townes Van Zandt wrote this. Emmylou and Willie have both done wonderful covers but I suggest you also listen to Townes original version. Just him standing in a kitchen with his guitar. Worth a minute for sure
Ahh I’m so excited to see people listening to Emmylou. I feel like it’s mostly older people who listen or see all her talent. So happy to know maybe some others will see her !
You're doing a great job, man. Would love to hear some Sly Stone, Lou Rawls, and some Motown ... These were also a big part of the 70's and 80's adored by all... Imagine your dad, the musician, was playing these a lot when you were growing up.
If you listen to “Gulf Coast Highway”, then please listen to Nanci Griffith singing it. She is one of the writers. You should also listen to her doing “It’s a Hard Life Wherever You Go”and “From a Distance”. I find Nanci’s voice to be as angelic as Emmylou’s and she is a terrific songwriter.
Lyrics: Livin on the road my friend is gonna keep you free and clean Now you wear your skin like iron Your breath as hard as kerosene You weren't your momma's only boy, but her favorite one it seemed She began to cry when you said goodbye And sank into your dreams Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel He wore his gun outside his pants For all the honest world to feel Pancho met his match, you know, on the deserts down in Mexico Nobody heard his dyin words, ah but that's the way it goes All the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him slip away, out of kindness, I suppose Lefty, he can't sing the blues all night long like he used to The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio Where he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows All the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him slip away, out of kindness I suppose The poets tell how old Pancho fell, and Lefty's livin in cheap hotels The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold And so the story ends, we're told Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too He only did what he had to do, and now he's growing old ll the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose few gray Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
Emmylou's 'go-to' lead guitarist, the legendary Albert Lee, used to front a UK Country/rock band in the early 70's, called Heads Hands and Feet. They weren't a particularly great success commercially, but critically, their work was always well received, & their fanbase was world-wide! Check out their appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test, on BBC2, singing 'Warming up the band', or their country hit 'Country Boy', or slow things down with their gorgeous 'Song for Susie'.
More Emmylou! Anything, seriously. Red Dirt Girl, Two More Bottles of Wine, Amarillo, Leaving Louisiana! She is as fine of a singer-songwriter as has ever been.
A couple of other great listens of Emmylou are Feeling Single Seeing Double and Ain't Livin' Long Like This. Speaking of reacting to female artists, I'm surprised I haven't seen any Bonnie Raitt reactions by you. You might try Love Me Like A Man, Give It Up Or Let Me Go, and Woman Be Wise. Bonnie is one of the absolute best female slide guitar players around.
one of my favorite EmmLou performances is the Bob Dylan album 'Desire'. She does harmony vocals on the whole album. "One More Cup of Coffee", "Sara", "Oh, Sister", "Mozambique" . . . There is something so copacetic about that beautiful female voice together with that gruff male voice. Also see Neil Young's 'Comes A Time' album with Nicolette Larson providing the harmony vocals on the whole album. Truly unforgettable stuff.
Whoever needs this, my positive thoughts are with you. Enjoy the wonderful music and escape for a moment. Perfect song for escape. Her voice...so good.
Other females to check out: Nanci Griffith, Kate Wolf, Mary Black, Shawn Colvin, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman, Francine Reed.
Actually, back in the day this was not really considered country music. Artists like Emmylou Harris and Joan Baez sang what was called "folk music" back then as did many others, both male and female. Neil Young, Judy Collins, Phil Ochs, and early Linda Ronstadt songs would also fit in that category.
As beautiful as Emmylou's voice and face are, they pale next to that of her soul. She has been generous with her time and talent to give aid to many worthy causes.
She also covered If I Needed You with Don Williams, another Townes Van Zandt masterpiece. Her collaborations with other artists are legendary. The top of the mountain might be her take on Golden Ring with the McGarrigle sister. Breathtakingly beautiful.
Thank you for your beautiful words at the start. I have been suffering from pain and ill health for years and your opening brought tears to my eyes. Here is the original version. Townes Van Zandt was the best country songwriter since Hank Sr. and I had the bittersweet experience of hanging out with him a couple years before he died. He wrote this song and this is the original (and best, in my opinion): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HeeodgJkVzA.html
I think this is the greatest three chord country song ever written. Hell, despite however many chords it has, it's a contender for the best song ever written, period, in my somewhat less than humble opinion: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ChSn6wDhNL8.html
She is famous for duets. Check out “Wild Montana Skies” (duet with John Denver) and “If I Needed You” (duet with Don Williams). Duets don’t get any better.
This is a cover of a Townes Van Zandt song; a true songwriting heavyweight. I highly recommend anything off his "Rear View Mirror" album, especially "To Live Is To Fly" (I believe EmmyLou covers this as well); "Flying Shoes"; "Lover's Lullaby"; "Rex's Blues"; Waiting Around to Die" & "Tower Song". Hell, just listen to the whole album - it's a classic!
Hi Chod! I don’t usually request a song but I would live you to hear an amazing voice that never hit it big and she should have; Ananda Marshall from Canada. Song I Believe In You. A gorgeous and powerful voice
I think you would love this duet Emmylou did with Mark Knopfler (formerly of Dire Straits) in 2016: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3DLR7dviLVE.html
Oh, yes indeed. Go to Rusty Shackelford's YT channel and choose anything from his playlist. You can't go wrong. People usually suggest her black & white video from when she was 9, Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put A Spell On You, for shock value & to get them hooked on Angelina. She is addicting, in a good way.
