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    Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems

    09/18/2007 | Rhino / Wea 

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      SONGBIRD: RARE TRACKS & FORGOTTEN GEMS (W/DVD)

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    Songs from Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems

  • Songbird: Rare Tracks and Forgotten Gems - 12-track Listening Party

    • All Music Guide Review

    It's difficult to write about Emmylou Harris without lapsing into a long train of superlatives -- she really does have one of the most beautiful voices of her generation, and her taste in material and skill in using her instrument is nearly faultless. However, as good as Harris is and as consistently strong as her body of work has been, one could make a convincing argument that she's been frequently underrated through much of her career -- more than just a lovely woman with a pure, clear voice and a fine ear, she's championed a number of gifted songwriters before they went on to have distinguished careers of their own (from Rodney Crowell to Gillian Welch), matured into a first-rate tunesmith herself, collaborated with a remarkable array of artists, and has never been afraid to take her talents into unexpected directions, from purist bluegrass to the experimental atmospherics of her work with Daniel Lanois. Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems is a hefty four-CD box set (with a bonus DVD) compiled by Harris in collaboration with James Austin that does justice to the scope of a career that's spanned five decades thus far, and unlike most multi-disc collections it isn't merely a super-sized "greatest-hits" collection. Harris and Austin have purposefully avoided her most recognizable work on Songbird, instead charting an alternate path through her back catalog. The first two discs of Songbird represent a roughly chronological overview of Harris' discography, beginning with an outtake from her little heard 1970 debut album, Gliding Bird (an album she's all but disowned in the past), rolling up to speed with two examples of her work with Gram Parsons, and then diving into her solo work from 1975's Pieces of the Sky to 2003's Stumble Into Grace, focusing on Harris' personal favorites rather than radio hits (which were in short supply from the 1990s on anyway). Discs three and four are devoted to collaborations and unreleased material, including several demos that have never before seen the light of day, highlights from her Trio albums with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt, several tracks from the Gram Parsons tribute Return of the Grievous Angel, appearances on tribute collections and discs by other artists, and a handful of live tracks. It's telling that a private recording of Guy Clark's "Immigrant Eyes," recorded as a birthday present for Clark, is as carefully considered and beautifully rendered as anything on these four discs -- one thing that becomes clear is that Harris takes no shortcuts as an artist, and for the broad eclecticism of this set, she's uniformly intelligent, emotionally true, and thrillingly accomplished whenever she decides to sing a song. The set's packaging is handsome, and the accompanying hardbound book contains a brief but eloquent introduction from Harris, a fine biographical essay by Sylvie Simmons, and track-by-track notes by Peter Cooper (with plenty of input from Harris herself). The accompanying DVD, featuring nine television appearances by Harris, seems a bit slight by comparison, though it does contain a few prize moments, particularly a duet with Elvis Costello on "Love Hurts" and some raging guitar work from Buddy Miller on a performance of "I Ain't Living Long Like This." Songbird isn't the most concise celebration of Emmylou Harris' talents you can buy, but it's been assembled with a grace and sense of purpose worthy of its subject; it offers nearly five hours of superb music from a singular talent, and anyone who loves Harris' music will revel in it. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide

    Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • time
  • 1
  • Clocks (Alternate Version)(#)
  • 2:48

  • 2
  • The Angels Rejoiced Last Night
  • 2:23

  • 3
  • The Old Country Baptizing
  • 4:02

  • 4
  • Coat of Many Colors
  • 3:42

  • 5
  • For No One
  • 3:42

  • 6
  • Ooh Las Vegas
  • 3:43

  • 7
  • Satan's Jewel Crown
  • 3:13

  • 8
  • Tulsa Queen
  • 4:47

  • 9
  • My Songbird
  • 3:09

  • 10
  • Green Rolling Hills
  • 3:38

  • 11
  • One Paper Kid
  • 2:57

  • 12
  • Sorrow in the Wind
  • 3:30

  • 13
  • Rough and Rocky
  • 3:52

  • 14
  • Jordan
  • 2:10

  • 15
  • Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn
  • 3:24

  • 16
  • Ashes by Now
  • 4:31

  • 17
  • How High the Moon
  • 3:23

  • 18
  • Spanish Johnny
  • 3:50

  • 19
  • The Last Cheaters Waltz
  • 5:35

  • 20
  • Racing in the Streets
  • 5:32

  • 21
  • Like an Old Fashioned Waltz
  • 3:20

  • 22 (2)
  • The Sweetheart of the Rodeo
  • 3:40

  • 23 (2)
  • When I Was Yours
  • 2:45

  • 24 (2)
  • My Father's House
  • 4:48

  • 25 (2)
  • Bright Morning Stars
  • 2:33

  • 26 (2)
  • When He Calls
  • 2:44

  • 27 (2)
  • Lonely Street
  • 3:12

  • 28 (2)
  • Brand New Dance
  • 3:27

  • 29 (2)
  • Get Up John
  • 3:14

  • 30 (2)
  • If I Could Be There
  • 3:46

  • 31 (2)
  • Ballad of a Runaway Horse
  • 5:39

  • 32 (2)
  • Going Back to Harlan
  • 4:55

  • 33 (2)
  • Sweet Old World
  • 5:06

  • 34 (2)
  • All My Tears (Live)
  • 5:08

  • 35 (2)
  • Prayer in Open D (Live)
  • 3:59

  • 36 (2)
  • Bang the Drum Slowly
  • 4:53

  • 37 (2)
  • Boy from Tupelo
  • 3:49

  • 38 (2)
  • Lost Unto This World
  • 4:35

  • 39 (2)
  • Man Is an Island
  • 4:45

  • 40 (2)
  • Cup of Kindness
  • 3:54

  • 41 (3)
  • Falling in a Deep Hole (#)
  • 2:38

  • 42 (3)
  • 1917
  • 5:22

  • 43 (3)
  • Palms of Victory (#)
  • 3:07

  • 44 (3)
  • Softly and Tenderly (#)
  • 5:29

  • 45 (3)
  • My Dear Companion
  • 2:56

  • 46 (3)
  • Mary Danced with Soldiers
  • 3:06

  • 47 (3)
  • I Don't Love You Much Do I
  • 2:37

  • 48 (3)
  • All I Left Behind (#)
  • 3:17

  • 49 (3)
  • I Remember You
  • 2:51

  • 50 (3)
  • Golden Ring
  • 3:59

  • 51 (3)
  • Sonny
  • 4:18

  • 52 (3)
  • In the Garden (#)
  • 2:49

  • 53 (3)
  • Love Still Remains
  • 4:35

  • 54 (3)
  • Snake Song
  • 2:32

  • 55 (3)
  • Hobo's Lullaby
  • 2:43

  • 56 (3)
  • Wondering
  • 3:03

  • 57 (3)
  • Immigrant Eyes (#)
  • 3:40

  • 58 (3)
  • Juanita
  • 2:40

  • 59 (3)
  • She
  • 4:49

  • 60 (3)
  • Sin City
  • 4:00

  • 61 (3)
  • Wheels
  • 3:27

  • 62 (4)
  • Beyond the Blue
  • 4:33

  • 63 (4)
  • First in Line (#)
  • 3:34

  • 64 (4)
  • Highway of Heartache (#)
  • 3:04

  • 65 (4)
  • Alone and Forsaken
  • 3:31

  • 66 (4)
  • Child of Mine
  • 3:27

  • 67 (4)
  • Heaven Ain't Ready for You Yet
  • 3:56

  • 68 (4)
  • Wish We Were Back in Missouri
  • 4:03

  • 69 (4)
  • Mama's Hungry Eyes
  • 3:41

  • 70 (4)
  • Here We Are
  • 2:53

  • 71 (4)
  • Waltz Across Texas Tonight (#)
  • 3:43

  • 72 (4)
  • Snowin' on Raton (#)
  • 3:42

  • 73 (4)
  • Gone (#)
  • 3:37

  • 74 (4)
  • Don't Let Our Love Die (#)
  • 3:18

  • 75 (4)
  • The Pearl (Live)
  • 5:19

  • 76 (4)
  • Wildwood Flower
  • 3:47

  • 77 (4)
  • Love and Happiness
  • 4:21

  • 78 (4)
  • When We're Gone, Long Gone
  • 4:01

  • 79 (5)
  • Together Again (DVD)(Live)
  • 80 (5)
  • Making Believe (DVD)
  • 81 (5)
  • Blue Kentucky Girl (DVD)
  • 82 (5)
  • Satan's Jewel Crown (DVD)
  • 83 (5)
  • Mr. Sandman (DVD)
  • 84 (5)
  • I Don't Have to Crawl (DVD)
  • 85 (5)
  • I Ain't Living Long Like This (DVD)
  • 86 (5)
  • Love Hurts (DVD)(Live)
  • 87 (5)
  • Imagine (DVD)
  • 88 (5)
  • Emmylou Harris on Animal Rescue (DVD)

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    Credits

    • Anna McGarrigle
    • Accordion, Vocals (Background), Harmony Vocals, Keyboards
    • Buddy Miller
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String), Vocals, Producer, Mando-Guitar
    • Al Perkins
    • Banjo, Harmony Vocals, Dobro, Pedal Steel
    • Pamela Rose
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Harmony Vocals
    • Randy Scruggs
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Autoharp, Producer, Arranger, Dobro
    • Kate McGarrigle
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Piano, Harmony Vocals, Vocals (Background), Banjo
    • Wix
    • Accordion
    • James Burton
    • Dobro, Gut String Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar (Electric)
    • Sheryl Crow
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Producer, Guest Appearance
    • Beck
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Guest Appearance, Vocals
    • Brian Ahern
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Archguitar, Guitar (Electric Baritone), Hi String Guitar, Project Assistant, 6-String Bass, Mastering, Bass (Acoustic), Producer, Tambourine, Arranger, Percussion, Guitar, Bass, Banjo
    • Malcolm Burn
    • Bass, Piano, Drums, Percussion, Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background), Producer, Organ (Hammond), Synthesizer Bass, Fender Rhodes
    • Emory Gordy
    • Bass, Bass (Acoustic), Double Bass, Producer, Vocals (Background), Vocals
    • Levon Helm
    • Drums, Vocals (Background), Harmony Vocals
    • Carl Jackson
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Duet, Harmony Vocals, Vocals, Producer, Baritone (Vocal)
    • Ethan Johns
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Baritone), E-Bow, Spanish Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Guitar
    • Darryl Johnson
    • Organ, Percussion, Bass, Guitar (Bass), Tom-Tom, Bass Pedals, Djembe, Harmony Vocals, Vocals
    • Paul Kennerley
    • Synthesizer, Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background), Producer, Project Assistant, Mixing, Engineer
    • Mark Knopfler
    • Guitar, Vocals, Guest Appearance, Guitar (Electric), Producer
    • Daniel Lanois
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Duet, Project Assistant, Bass Pedals, Producer, Orchestra, Vocals (Background), Vocals, Guitar (Electric), Arranger, Mandolin, Guitar
    • Sam Bush
    • Fiddle, Mandolin, Harmony Vocals
    • Rodney Crowell
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background), Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar
    • Emmylou Harris
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Percussion, Harmony Vocals, Author, Guitar (Electric Baritone), Introduction, 6-String Bass, Executive Producer, Producer, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Electric), Arranger, Vocals
    • Dolly Parton
    • Vocals, Vocals (Background), Guest Appearance
    • Steve Earle
    • Organ, Banjo, Finger Picking, Mini Moog, Vocals, Harmonium, Harmonica, Mandolin, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Bass
    • Albert Lee
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Electric), Mandolin
    • Gram Parsons
    • Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Producer
    • Linda Ronstadt
    • Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Guest Appearance, Vocals (Background)
    • Tony Rice
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Harmony Vocals, Guitar
    • Ricky Skaggs
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Fiddle, Mandolin, Harmony Vocals, Viola, Vocals
    • John Starling
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Producer, Harmony Vocals, Arranger, Vocals, Vocals (Background)

    Notes

    Listening Party includes:

    1. My Songbird
    2. Ooh Las Vegas
    3. Tulsa Queen
    4. Get up John
    5. Bright Morning Stars
    6. Boy From Tupelo
    7. I Don't Love You Much Do I
    8. All I left Behind
    9. Wildwood Flower
    10. Don't Let Our Love Die
    11. Gone
    12. Waltz Across Texas



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