Customer Reviews

Emmylou Harris Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unlike many of her country music colleagues in the 1970s, Emmylou Harris didn't record singles and pad an album around them. She recorded detailed, consistent, expensive, and high-quality albums and pulled the songs with the highest commercial potential for singles. Listening to ANTHOLOGY: THE WARNER/REPRISE YEARS and comparing it to recordings by other stars of the 1970s and 1980s is a revelation. There is no contest in terms of the quality of songs and the breath-taking beauty and power of the performances. This compilation features six of her #1 hits: "Together Again", "Sweet Dreams", "Two More Bottles Of Wine", "Beneath Still Waters", "(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date", and "To Know Him Is To Love Him". (Her seventh #1, "We Believe In Happy Endings" was originally released on the BMG label and wasn't licensed for this collection.) I've listened to lots of country music collections lately and found only three or four songs half as incredible as "White Line", "Beneath Still Waters", "Boulder To Birmingham", "Save The Last Dance For Me", "Easy From Now On" or "In My Dreams". These songs are just the beginning. ANTHOLOGY features Emmylou Harris' legendary heart breaking ballads "Making Believe", "Beneath Still Waters", "Sweet Dreams", and "On Our Last Date". Her uptempo material is terrific, just listen and love "In My Dreams", "C'est La Vie", "Two More Bottles Of Wine", "White Line", and "Heaven Only Knows". In addition, its hard not to be impressed by "If I Could Only Win Your Love", "To Know Him Is To Love Him", "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again", "Save The Last Dance For Me", "Here, There And Everywhere", "Boulder To Birmingham", and "Heartbreak Hill". ANTHOLOGY is the beginning of Rhino Records updating the extraordinary Emmylou Harris catalog - a collection of quality music without equal. Emmylou Harris brought the beauty and emotional resonance of traditional music back to a country music era that desperately needed a lesson about its own past. Harris was also the chief leader in bringing rock music's album orientated approach to a country music audience that had been fed cheaply manufactured LPs reminiscent of pre-Beatles rock records.

ANTHOLOGY is a completely different type of compilation from 1996's excellent PORTRAITS box set. PORTRAITS is a great collection that highlights Emmylou Harris' artistry, though I find the minimal coverage of the 1982-1987 years disappointing. ANTHOLOGY functions more as a greatest hits collection, its an almost perfect in this matter except that it omits "I Don't Have To Crawl" from EVANGELINE. Hopefully, EVANGELINE will be issued soon. ANTHOLOGY corrects many of the omissions that were made on the original greatest hits collections, the highly enjoyable PROFILE series. PROFILE II released in 1984 omits "The Boxer", "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again", "I Don't Have To Crawl", "If I Needed You", "Tennessee Rose", "So Sad", "Drivin' Wheel", and "In My Dreams". which were released as singles between 1979-1984 the years that compilation covers. ANTHOLOGY collects most of these songs, but in Emmylou Harris' rich catalog the only box set that would work is one that features all her songs.

ANTHOLOGY succeeds immensely because it collects most of the singles not featured on PROFILE or PORTRAITS, (the omission of "I Don't Have To Crawl" does bother me), and all of the songs released as singles after the 1984 release of PROFILE II. It's hard to argue with what's here in terms of hits "If I Could Only Win Your Love", "Sweet Dreams", "Easy From Now On", "Save The Last Dance For Me", "Born To Run", "Pledging My Love", "White Line", "Heartbreak Hill", as ANTHOLOGY is essentially a greatest hits collection, even if Emmylou Harris is recognized for her album artistry. The single versions of "Mister Sandman" and "Tennessee Rose" are welcome. "Mister Sandman" was re-recorded by Harris after the "TRIO Project" was cancelled. The version with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton is available on PORTRAITS and (though still not available) EVANGELINE. The version here is featured on PROFILE II, and the song is different. When CIMARRON spent its ten-plus years as a cassette only release, the instrumental ending to "Tennessee Rose" was replaced by the vocal harmony fade-out of the single, which is also a shorter version. Eminent's exceptional reissue of CIMARRON featured the original version with the instrumental backing as opposed to the vocal harmony ending. I don't know why the collection lists certain tracks: "Sweet Dreams", "I'm Movin' On", "On Our Last Date", and "So Sad" as being live versions. If studio versions exist they have yet to be released, ANTHOLOGY features the same "Sweet Dreams" as ELITE HOTEL, PROFILE, and PORTRAITS. On ELITE HOTEL "Sweet Dreams" was one of three live tracks which showcased the Hot Band in concert, LAST DATE which features "I'm Movin' On", "So Sad", and "On Our Last Date" is a live album with the Hot Band. Another notable accomplishment of ANTHOLOGY is the first CD issue of two tracks from THIRTEEN, one of Harris' most underrated recordings, "I Had My Heart Set On You" and "Today I Started Loving You Again". This collection also features five of the six exclusive B-sides Emmylou Harris issued in the early 1980s: "Precious Love", "Fools Thin Air", "Colors Of Your Heart", "Another Pot O Tea" and "Maybe Tonight". "Precious Love" and "Fools Thin Air" have never been released on CD. Overall ANTHOLOGY is an excellent Emmylou Harris collection. The real place to experience her extraordinary talent is her catalog of incredible albums, still ANTHOLOGY is a wonderful introduction to one of the most talent artists of all-time.

My collection included about half of Emmylou Harris's releases on either vinyl or cassette, and when the Portraits box set came out in 1996 I saw it as an excellent opportunity to upgrade to CD. Five years later along comes Anthology and I figured it would be little more than a condensed version of the box set. Boy, was I wrong.

Only twenty of these songs are duplicated from Portraits. Two other songs are repeated from the box set but in different versions: "Sweet Dreams" is presented here (somewhat puzzlingly) in a live version and "Mister Sandman" is the original single version. [The album version of this song--included on the box set--was an alternate take with backing vocals from Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.]

So what you get with the remaining twenty-two songs are the rest of Harris's singles and non-album B-sides from her 1975-1990 tenure at Warner/Reprise.

Disc-1 offers three additional songs not found on the box set: two non-album B-sides, "Precious Love" and "Fools Thin Air"; and the non-charting single "Colors of Your Heart," written by Rodney Crowell.

Disc-2 only duplicates three tracks from the box set: "In My Dreams," "To Know Him Is to Love Him" and "Heartbreak Hill." The second disc starts with the three singles (all Top 10 country hits) from 1981's Cimarron, including the duet with Don Williams on "If I Needed You." "Another Pot O' Tea" and "Maybe Tonight" are non-album B-sides from "(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date" (Harris's fifth No. 1) and "I'm Movin' On"--both taken off 1982's live Last Date album. A third single from that album, "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)," is a heartfelt cover of the Everly Brothers classic.

Disc-2 also showcases Harris as a songwriter. Three singles were extracted from the song cycle The Ballad of Sally Rose. They were "White Line," "Rhythm Guitar" and "Timberline," all co-written with Paul Kennerley who played guitar and co-produced the album with Harris. [They would latter marry in 1987.] "White Line" was the biggest hit peaking at No. 14 in 1985. Harris's last No. 1 was a remake of the Phil Spector-penned "To Know Him Is To Love Him" from the Trio album. Her final top ten was another Harris-Kennerley original "Heartbreak Hill" from 1989's Bluebird.

Anthology serves not only as a terrific introduction to one of country's greatest female vocalists, but its focus on her singles output makes it a wonderful supplement to her box set. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Five years ago Emmylou Harris "Portraits" was released which is as good as any career highlight box set in music. The "Elvis 50's Masters" covered only half a decade and doesn't count. I can honestly say "Portraits" is ten times better than "Anthology", but in all fairness there are radio people out there, the get in the car and go crowd. For those fans, this collection is better. I still give "Anthology" a 5 star because Emmylou takes the hands on approach to ALL her recordings and has the reputation for never making a bad song, including the singles. She's takes an average song like "Here, There And Everywhere" makes it twice as good. If some of you still question how great this lady is, how many other female stars from the mid-seventies are still filling the halls in present times? Enjoy this collection or the box set, they don't come much better than Emmylou Harris - the greatest female Country Rocker of alltime.

I have to give this 5 stars - it's Emmylou Harris and there's not a better female artist out there. What I particularly like about this anthology is that it includes a number of the b-sides of her singles - most notably 'Another Pot O' Tea' and 'Colors of Your Heart.' All of her Reprise hits as well are included. The disappointment (again) is the lack of music from her terrific "Evangeline" album. Only two tracks from the original vinyl album have made it onto CD: 'Mr. Sandman' (again) and the duet with Waylon Jennings, 'Spanish Johnnny.' And the only version of the title tune to make it onto CD is Emmy's version with The Band (from The Last Waltz album) - again, not the one from HER album. But, for those of you who have never given Emmylou's earlier music a listen, this anthology will give you a truly eye-opening ear-candy full of listening pleasure. Buy this, then purchase the rest of her CD's. It doesn't get any better than EMMYLOU HARRIS!

I've been taking guff from almost everyone I came in contact with for years, all because my music collection includes Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Gram Parsons, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and an assortment of bluegrass and Texas-style country or Country-Blues, as it has been dubbed at different times in music history. For some reason, Jimmie Dale Gilmore slipped through the cracks, oozing into places others weren't allowed to go. In the last year, that's all changed. Cuban music took a dive, and the redubbed "Roots" music stormed the charts. I've enjoyed it myself, but hope that some folks will take a look back at the meat and the history of this music.

I always recommend Emmylou Harris as the starting point. And this CD collection is as fine a place as any to start with her music. It's not all encompassing, and it does note a great deal of music that passed through the hardcore C & W censors of the '70s and '80s. And thank goodness for that! There's no Rhinestone Cowboy here. Just some of the best music from one of the best there ever was!

There is nothing on this collection that I don't like. If anything, it just makes me want more. Emmylou always sounds good; because she has great taste in the material she chooses to record, she always surrounds herself with the best musicians, and then there's that voice (It's like hot-buttered butter), yeah, I'm a fan! I do wish there was more from Evangeline, especially since it's not available on CD. I wish Til I Can Gain Control Again was here. I'd love it if Racing In The Streets was included. There are other songs I would have included if I were allowed to create my perfect Emmylou Anthology, but, to paraphrase Spencer Tracy's observation of Katharine Hepburn, "What's there is Cherse!"

I have to say that I've loved Emmylou Harris since I first heard her in the Prism coffeehouse in C-ville. There are better voices in country music, but there are none better in tune with giving a song an emotional charge. I agree with another reviewer that the absence of Evangeline from this is almost criminal. My vinyl copy of that album is nearly worn out. Why Warner/Rhino chose not to include the title cut is a mystery. There are some other tunes that are missed in this anthology as well. Too many Rodney Crowell tunes are missing: Till I Gain Control Again, You're Supposed to Be Feeling Good, Tulsa Queen, I Don't Have to Crawl, and Ashes By Now. (BTW, did anybody who had heard EH do this last tune cringe when you heard the "hit" version a few years ago? I did!) Hey Warner/Rhino! You realize that you could have done an Emmylou Sings Crowell CD and had some of the most fabulous country music of the 70's and 80's? Am I sorry I bought it? Not at all. In fact listening to the luscious harmonies and styling....makes me want to erase the presets for the country stations on my radio!

Well, it just doesn't seem that the folks responsible for compiling this collection were using their noggins. Either they just don't have good taste, or they just didn't take the time to become familiar with Emmylou's body of work. So many of her gems (Before Believing, Sleepless Nights, Luxury Liner, Pancho & Lefty, Evangeline, Roses in the Snow, Millworker, Born to Run, A River for Him, Icy Blue Heart, Gulf Coast Highway, No Regrets, need I go on...?) have been omitted and songs included that most of us could have done without. Now let's face it...a bad Emmylou song is still better than most other people's 'good' songs. But the fact remains that there's quite a bit of weirdness in the sum total of these choices. I think the reviewer below was correct in feeling that these choices were made based on whether they charted or not. But we all know that most of our favorite Emmylou songs never made it to the radio.

If you're looking for a really fine collection, look for the 3 CD set called 'Profiles'. When I'm in the mood for Emmylou (which, I must confess is quite often) I have a really difficult time deciding which of the three CDs I'm gonna listen to.

As with any CD collection, you are going to get a lot of great music and some that just doesn't please you. I would have added "Cimmaron", "Pancho and Lefty", "My Songbird" and a few others to this set, and left others out. I guess it all comes down to personal tastes. Still, there is some great music on these discs, and the set is a very good value.

Emmylou has always been a singer that focused on albums. Her music covered a wide variety of styles, but each album had its own style, although the changes in style became even more dramatic in the nineties. This compilation brings together tracks from all those differently styled albums from the mid-seventies to the late eighties. If you are familiar with her more recent music via albums like Wrecking ball and Red dirt girl but not her earlier music, I must warn you that this is a country music anthology.

During the period covered by this compilation, Emmylou had many hits on the American country charts including five solo number one hits, all cover versions and all included here. They were Together again (Buck Owens), Sweet dreams (Patsy Cline), Two more bottles of wine (Delbert McClinton), Beneath still waters (George Jones) and a live recording of Lost his love on our last date (Floyd Cramer). Emmylou also had a number one hit with To know him is to love him (a cover of the fifties pop hit by the Teddy Bears), which she recorded with her friends Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt and which is also included here. We believe in happy endings, a duet with Earl Thomas Conley, also reached number one but you have to buy Emmylou's Duets album to get that - it's not here.

Emmylou had many other big country hits with cover versions, including If I could only win your love (Louvin brothers), Here there and everywhere (Beatles), which was a minor UK pop hit, You never can tell C'Est la vie (Chuck Berry), Save the last dance for me (Drifters), Blue Kentucky girl (Loretta Lynn) and The boxer (Simon and Garfunkel).

Dolly Parton wrote To Daddy and recorded it for her 1976 album All I can do, but Emmylou heard it and recorded it herself. When Dolly heard Emmylou's version, she substituted another song for her own album, although Dolly's version was eventually released on a compilation CD many years later. Thus, Emmylou's version, included here, is the first one the public heard.

Another notable feature of Emmylou's career is the vast number of duets that she has recorded, though the only ones here (apart from the Trio track) are That loving you feeling again (with Roy Orbison) and If I needed you (with Don Williams).

In the early years, it was rare for Emmylou to write songs, but she co-wrote Boulder to Birmingham, one of her earliest successes. She wrote more as the years went by, particularly on the concept album Ballad of Sally Rose, an album she co-wrote with Paul Kennerley and which is represented here by Rhythm guitar, White line and Timberline, but she didn't really write much until the nineties - after the period covered by this anthology.

This is a great introduction to Emmylou's music of the seventies and eighties for any country music fans new to it.