Emmylou Harris - Songbird: Rare Tracks and Forgotten Gems
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Free Music Notes for Songbird: Rare Tracks and Forgotten Gems
Free Music Review: J'adore Emmy Lou Harris and Bonaparte's Retreat
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been listening to ELH since I was quite young. Her sharp, shrill voice and the beautiful songs that she writes and records make me cringe and cry and smile all at the same time.
"Tulsa Queen" and "Evangeline" are my all time favourites. "Spanish Johnny" which is a duet with Waylon Jennings is wrechingly, heart achingly beautiful. "Lillian" is a soul searching, wonderful ballad that pours out sadness for everyone who has ever lost a loved one in war.
"Jerusalem, Tomorrow" a combination of song and reading is haunting, frightening and mournful. I can only liken it to Matraca Berg's music and style.
Emmy's version of "Icy Blue Heart" tears me up, everytime. But, "Sweet Dreams of You"..is my all time, overall love of my life song that I played over and over after my cat Hobbes died of Leukemia. I still cannot listen to it, without tears coming to my eyes and that awful ache in my chest...... coming......alive.... again.
Ms. Harris, has been making me smile and cry since Gram Parsons and "Jaunita". I sincerely hope that she continues for a long, long time more and best wishes to her and her animal rescue organization "Bonaparte's Retreat"!!!
Free Music Review: Forty years!
Hit: 5 Stars
Thank you Amazon! You're right: it's not enough just buying the box, it's my duty to tell the world what I think about it.
What can I say, it feels like it was only yesterday I bought my first Emmy-Lou Harris album and lo and behold! reading the booklet I'm informed it was nearly forty years ago. She's been singing and I've been listening: three marriages ago - we've got that in common!
We have some more in common: we knew back then that Folk and Country would converge. Yessiree. Did I deserve all that scorn from my friends in those years 1970-75? I would say "Listen: this is good, it's Bobby Bare: Detroit City" or "Harper Valley PTA: Jeannie C. Riley, good stuff!" Nah! Red neck stuff, must be trash!
Who turned out to be right? Emmy-Lou and I! "Folk" is the people and the people are who they are. A bit on the schmaltzy side I concede. But when you think of it, "Silver dagger" and "Ode to Billy Joe", same thing.
So, some really nice pieces here among these forgotten gems and rare tracks. My favorites: the (gasp!) cheesy hymns. Yeah, I know, I'm old by now - she isn't though! - that happens to old folks you know!
Free Music Review: Absolute Perfection!
Hit: 5 Stars
This collection will blow your mind! If you are an Emmylou fan, it is indispensable for all of the unreleased and "forgotten" gems it contains. If you know Emmylou's music only in a casual way, this is the best in-depth survey you could ask for, especially since Emmylou handpicked the tracks. With her track-by-track commentary, it's like sitting down with her for an afternoon and letting her take you through her favorite moments of her career.
If you don't know Emmylou's music at all, then this collection will introduce you to one of the most important musical artists in America. There is no fluff here -- these songs will move you to the core of your soul. There are many top-name guests included in this collection, so in addition to Emmylou, you get wonderful vocal performances from a variety of artists.
Do not hesitate to pick this one up!! You will not be disappointed!
P.S.-- The packaging is beautiful, but you will have to be careful in removing some of the discs. It's not that big of a deal, however, and certainly no reason to knock a star off of the review.
Free Music Review: LOVELY GEMS IN A DUMB BOX
Hit: 5 Stars
It took me 20 minutes to get the box open and remove the CD's. I was so frustrated with the package I was in a fowl mood. BUT..The INSTANT Emmylou's voice hit the speakers I was transported to Music Heaven as always. From the moment she begins to sing until the last chord is played I sit transfixed by the legendary voice of Emmylou. She can tear your heart out with just a phrase.... Or she can make you appreciate the one who is in your arms with a ballad of her own lost love. Emmylou makes me thank God each night for my hearing. Many people get into the dynamics of "I heard this song before" "They should have included this song" "They should have exclude that song". I don't bother with that stuff. It is enough to say: This box set is yet another treasure chest of Emmylou's songs, talent and music. AND...the DVD is the first time I have seen Emmylou actually sing a song other than the very few times I have seen her on TV. The DVD ALONE is worth the money! Thank you Emmylou for a lifetime of music. God Bless and Love you always.....Dennis Troy Worcester, MaFree Music Review: GREAT MUSIC - POOR PACKAGING
Hit: 5 Stars
From a musical standpoint SONGBIRD is wonderful. Its packaging is another story.
Songbird comes housed in a attractive slipcase containing a nice book & the cds.
It is aesthetically pleasing but not very functional. The 5 3/4 x 5 1/4 cd packet opens into a 5 section, 28.5 inch cardboard monster with each section containing a cd or dvd. All the disc are tightly housed in the sections making it difficult to remove without tearing the packaging and impossible to handle the disc properly.
All of my disc are playable but somehow marred because of the packaging design. Rhino would have been wiser to have each disc housed in individual jackets that fit into the slipcase. I would urge Songbird buyers to find another way to house the Songbird disc.
SONGBIRD is a big ticket item, musically superb, and worth every penny, but its poor packaging is a disservice to both Emmylou and anyone electing to buy the collection. A pity since this is a MUST HAVE item for Emmylou fans.