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Track Listings
| 1. The Road |
| 2. Home Sweet Home |
| 3. My Name Is Emmett Till |
| 4. Goodnight Old World |
| 5. New Orleans |
| 6. Big Black Dog |
| 7. Lonely Girl |
| 8. Hard Bargain |
| 9. Six White Cadillacs |
| 10. The Ship on His Arm |
| 11. Darlin' Kate |
Editorial Reviews
Emmylou Harris's Hard Bargain will be released April 26 on Nonesuch Records. The album follows Harris's acclaimed 2008 release, All I Intended to Be, which received widespread acclaim - Newsweek called it an album that "shows that Harris is still the stalwart songbird at the top of the roost." Hard Bargain, which comprises 11 new songs by Harris as well as two covers, was produced by Jay Joyce (Cage the Elephant, Patty Griffin).
Also available as a deluxe edition of the album, which includes a DVD featuring six performances interspersed with interviews.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
158 of 166 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A conversation with Emmylou: 'Time is light when I'm making music'
April 26, 2011
Format:Audio CD
Emmylou Harris has many admirers, but my wife and I may be the only ones who chose our wedding date based on her tour schedule. It wasn't that we were following her around like a couple of Deadheads --- we wanted Buddy Miller, then her lead guitarist, and his wife Julie to give a mini-concert for the guests at our wedding.
We spent just enough time with the Millers that weekend to grill them about Emmylou. They had no dish --- really, they had almost nothing to say about her. And they explained why: Emmylou Harris is an unspeakably nice person.
Her twitches are minor: baseball, her dogs, and if there's a third one, I've forgotten it. After three marriages, she lives in Nashville with her mother and brother. She has a shelter for rescued dogs in her yard.
Her career reads equally saintly. Over 40 years and 25 records and a dozen Grammys, she's followed her instincts, and, in the process, avoided sudden spikes and tumbles. She has graced hundreds of records as a celestial back-up singer and duet partner. The verdict is generous: There are, a critic has said, no bad Emmylou Harris records --- only good ones and better ones.
"Hard Bargain" is one of the better ones. Recorded in just a month with only three musicians, its first distinction is that Emmylou wrote 11 of the 13 songs. This is unusual --- it's only the third release on which she's been the dominant writer. The second distinction is that she's 64 now, and, like a lot of people who have hit their sixties, she can't quite grasp where the time went. And why people who have been important to her --- Gram Parsons and Kate McGarrigle, most prominently --- can be located only in memory.
This is a CD of deep feeling: sad memory, deep loss, specific regret. But it's not self-indulgent or maudlin --- if anything, the music is unusually jaunty. Very much like the new Paul Simon CD. And like Simon, she's reached a place where she can see far and she can see wide --- without trading sharp observation or wry insight for boomer platitude.
It's tricky to interview an icon. Fame at that level is a shield; you can't get in, she can't get out. It's tough enough with actors. It's much tougher with an Emmylou Harris, because everything about her --- that crystalline voice, that forever gray hair --- suggests that she's some kind of living saint. When we chatted on the phone, that seemed like a good place to start.
Jesse Kornbluth: I've been listening to you --- and reading about you --- for decades, and it occurred to me: I know nothing about you that you don't want me to know. How have you achieved that? A flawless life? Or total discretion?
Emmylou Harris: A flawless life, absolutely. The only time I ever appeared in the Enquirer was for a piece about people who let their hair grow gray. I guess I'm not much of a wild child.
JK: Buddy Miller says that he feels what he plays is "country" and that stuff they play on the radio is "alternative." Given that he was your guitarist, on and off, for a decade, it's no stretch to say that applies equally to you. Where are you with country music and/or Nashville?
EH: I'm nowhere with country music. I don't hear much of it, so I shouldn't venture an opinion, but when it finds me, it seems formulaic. I don't hear anyone who moves me like George Jones or Bill Monroe. The country that you hear on the radio, it feels poppy but without the originality of pop.
JK: Do you miss your country years?
EH: I had my run. It served me well. Country taught me how to sing, it put me on a path. But I was never going to be locked into a formula. I don't want to be considered a current country artist.
JK: Still, you live in Nashville. Go out much?
EH: I'm going out tonight to present an award to Kris Kristofferson and see a free movie.
JK: What about tomorrow night?
EH: Normally I don't go out. I run a dog rescue shelter.
JK: Topic change: your new CD. On which you do your own backup vocals. Is this a first?
EH: No, but I've never sung backup on all the songs before.
JK: Musically, is it more of a challenge?
EH: As an experience, it's easier to harmonize with yourself than with others. But I still judge it by the same standards --- if I didn't sound good or we needed a different color, we'd bring someone in.
JK: You've spoken of going from gig to gig on your bus: "I'm like a trench soldier, I've been out there on the bus." After all these years, do you ever look at rock stars and think, "I'd kill for their plane?"
EH: I love the bus! You can spread out. You have your books. You can sleep when you want, have company when you feel like it. And you can take your dogs. I wish I'd realized that earlier --- it's only in the last 15 years that I've taken them with me on the bus. They're such a joy --- they keep you in the present.
JK: When I think of you, I think of Virgil's line: "Admire a large vineyard, cultivate a small one." By which I mean: You've always been hungry for the music --- not the fame.
EH: You must have somebody listening. I have just enough people paying attention that I have the freedom to be in charge. And I have a great record company --- Nonesuch understands what I'm about.
JK: Paul Simon, who's 69, says, "When I'm in the music, I'm no age." And as a performer, you too have achieved around 40 years of visible past. No surprise that your new CD is drenched in time --- time as a force, almost a character. How heavy does that feel?
EH: Paul's right --- time is light when I'm making music. Other times it ranges from heavy to inconsequential. But the press of time? It's always there. And it's sometimes a wonder --- I can't believe that I'm at this age and still working and have all these things I want to do. In that, I'm lucky. I'm healthy and in better shape than I was 30 years ago.
JK: Energy, creative spark, opportunity --- so why name the CD "Hard Bargain?"
EH: Just being in the world is a hard bargain. Everything has a price, a blessing and a curse. It's relentless. We can't really resist life --- we're pulled back into it.
JK: What's the reward?
EH: The reward is that we're here.
We spent just enough time with the Millers that weekend to grill them about Emmylou. They had no dish --- really, they had almost nothing to say about her. And they explained why: Emmylou Harris is an unspeakably nice person.
Her twitches are minor: baseball, her dogs, and if there's a third one, I've forgotten it. After three marriages, she lives in Nashville with her mother and brother. She has a shelter for rescued dogs in her yard.
Her career reads equally saintly. Over 40 years and 25 records and a dozen Grammys, she's followed her instincts, and, in the process, avoided sudden spikes and tumbles. She has graced hundreds of records as a celestial back-up singer and duet partner. The verdict is generous: There are, a critic has said, no bad Emmylou Harris records --- only good ones and better ones.
"Hard Bargain" is one of the better ones. Recorded in just a month with only three musicians, its first distinction is that Emmylou wrote 11 of the 13 songs. This is unusual --- it's only the third release on which she's been the dominant writer. The second distinction is that she's 64 now, and, like a lot of people who have hit their sixties, she can't quite grasp where the time went. And why people who have been important to her --- Gram Parsons and Kate McGarrigle, most prominently --- can be located only in memory.
This is a CD of deep feeling: sad memory, deep loss, specific regret. But it's not self-indulgent or maudlin --- if anything, the music is unusually jaunty. Very much like the new Paul Simon CD. And like Simon, she's reached a place where she can see far and she can see wide --- without trading sharp observation or wry insight for boomer platitude.
It's tricky to interview an icon. Fame at that level is a shield; you can't get in, she can't get out. It's tough enough with actors. It's much tougher with an Emmylou Harris, because everything about her --- that crystalline voice, that forever gray hair --- suggests that she's some kind of living saint. When we chatted on the phone, that seemed like a good place to start.
Jesse Kornbluth: I've been listening to you --- and reading about you --- for decades, and it occurred to me: I know nothing about you that you don't want me to know. How have you achieved that? A flawless life? Or total discretion?
Emmylou Harris: A flawless life, absolutely. The only time I ever appeared in the Enquirer was for a piece about people who let their hair grow gray. I guess I'm not much of a wild child.
JK: Buddy Miller says that he feels what he plays is "country" and that stuff they play on the radio is "alternative." Given that he was your guitarist, on and off, for a decade, it's no stretch to say that applies equally to you. Where are you with country music and/or Nashville?
EH: I'm nowhere with country music. I don't hear much of it, so I shouldn't venture an opinion, but when it finds me, it seems formulaic. I don't hear anyone who moves me like George Jones or Bill Monroe. The country that you hear on the radio, it feels poppy but without the originality of pop.
JK: Do you miss your country years?
EH: I had my run. It served me well. Country taught me how to sing, it put me on a path. But I was never going to be locked into a formula. I don't want to be considered a current country artist.
JK: Still, you live in Nashville. Go out much?
EH: I'm going out tonight to present an award to Kris Kristofferson and see a free movie.
JK: What about tomorrow night?
EH: Normally I don't go out. I run a dog rescue shelter.
JK: Topic change: your new CD. On which you do your own backup vocals. Is this a first?
EH: No, but I've never sung backup on all the songs before.
JK: Musically, is it more of a challenge?
EH: As an experience, it's easier to harmonize with yourself than with others. But I still judge it by the same standards --- if I didn't sound good or we needed a different color, we'd bring someone in.
JK: You've spoken of going from gig to gig on your bus: "I'm like a trench soldier, I've been out there on the bus." After all these years, do you ever look at rock stars and think, "I'd kill for their plane?"
EH: I love the bus! You can spread out. You have your books. You can sleep when you want, have company when you feel like it. And you can take your dogs. I wish I'd realized that earlier --- it's only in the last 15 years that I've taken them with me on the bus. They're such a joy --- they keep you in the present.
JK: When I think of you, I think of Virgil's line: "Admire a large vineyard, cultivate a small one." By which I mean: You've always been hungry for the music --- not the fame.
EH: You must have somebody listening. I have just enough people paying attention that I have the freedom to be in charge. And I have a great record company --- Nonesuch understands what I'm about.
JK: Paul Simon, who's 69, says, "When I'm in the music, I'm no age." And as a performer, you too have achieved around 40 years of visible past. No surprise that your new CD is drenched in time --- time as a force, almost a character. How heavy does that feel?
EH: Paul's right --- time is light when I'm making music. Other times it ranges from heavy to inconsequential. But the press of time? It's always there. And it's sometimes a wonder --- I can't believe that I'm at this age and still working and have all these things I want to do. In that, I'm lucky. I'm healthy and in better shape than I was 30 years ago.
JK: Energy, creative spark, opportunity --- so why name the CD "Hard Bargain?"
EH: Just being in the world is a hard bargain. Everything has a price, a blessing and a curse. It's relentless. We can't really resist life --- we're pulled back into it.
JK: What's the reward?
EH: The reward is that we're here.
77 of 82 people found the following review helpful
By Polar Bear
Format:Audio CD
Hard Bargain is Emmylou Harris' first release in almost 3 years and it was worth the wait! Her vocals are smooth as honey and hugely emotive and her voice still has that irresistible frail breathlessness. The songs are well written with meaningful lyrics and the music, as always, is beautiful and intuitive. It's hard to believe there are only 3 musicians, including Harris, making all the music. Long, weeping fiddle notes and chunky, contemplative piano chords are balanced only by the occasional tentative brightness of a banjo or mandolin. The percussion is distant, if there at all, but always clever. "Darlin' Kate" is about her close friend Kate McGarrigle who died last year of cancer. "The Road" looks back to her formative years spent with the late Gram Parsons at the start of her career. "Big Black Dog" is inspired by her animal shelter philanthropy and is the only almost-happy song on the album. "My name is Emmett Till is the true story of a 14 year old black boy killed in Mississippi for talking to a white woman. Overall the strength and sincerity of Harris' songs make this just another reason to love and respect her.
48 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In recent years the trilogy of records produced by a completely rejuvenated Emmylou Harris, which starts with the wonders of "Wrecking Ball," climaxes with the brilliant "Red Dirt Girl", and gently lands with the lovely "Stumble into grace" amounted to a peak in Americana music. Harris could barely put a foot wrong and the awards flowed like wine. There have since been a couple of missteps on the way since this reviewer is not a huge fan of her collaboration with Mark Knoplfer yet particularly enjoyed the fine covers on "All I intended to be" (although not all the originals).
Many have questioned whether Emmylou Harris is an artist who sings other people's songs better than she writes her own? In a recent interview with NPR she admitted that songwriting doesn't come easy for her: "It's the fear of writing that's still there with me," Consequently with the majority of tracks on "Hard Bargain" self penned does Harris conquer her fear. The answer is yes in most cases but with a couple of songs that absolutely stand out. Her heartbreaking requiem for her dear departed friend the great folk singer Kate Anna McGarrigle is one example and possibly one of the finest tunes she has written. When "she sings that you are sailing now/ free from the pain" it would take a very cold heart not to be deeply moved by its sentiment. Another even closer friend Gram Parsons is again the key subject of the opener "The Road". She has been here before of course not least in "Boulder to Birmingham" her poignant ode capturing the depth of her shock and pain at losing Parsons. While "The Road" is perhaps not in that class, her unique breathy vocals combined with a rock steady beat is a joy and the song's bridge takes it to new levels.
Other noteworthy songs include the shuffling earthy blues of "Six white Cadillac's", the atmospheric country of "Lonely girl", the rocky "New Orleans" and the excellent cover of Ron Sexmith's "Hard Bargain". That said the straightforward country homage to a "Big black dog" has a novelty value but little else and while the waltz like "Goodnight old world" is fine it does drag. On the basis of concluding with a strong finish the final two tracks "Nobody" and "Cross Yourself" are excellent. They echo a Daniel Lanois style production except that album producer Jay Joyce writes "Cross Yourself" and his pop-related song is a splendid ending. One gripe is quite why her cover of the Low Anthem's alt country classic "To Ohio" sung together with the bands maestro Ben Knox Miller is confined to the deluxe album. This is a outright mystery since it is the best duet that Harris has done since her seminal vocal on Ryan Adams glorious "My Sweet Carolina" and you must promise to seek this out.
Throughout the musicianship is "best in class" and "Hard Bargain" represents a fine collection of songs. In the last analysis its probably not as good as either "Wrecking ball" or "Red Dirt Girl' but frankly there aren't many albums that could come within a hundred miles of their brilliance. Thus "Hard Bargain" is another fine contribution from Emmylou Harris a singer we should cherish and give thanks that unlike many of her contemporaries she remains a constant source of deeply moving music.
Many have questioned whether Emmylou Harris is an artist who sings other people's songs better than she writes her own? In a recent interview with NPR she admitted that songwriting doesn't come easy for her: "It's the fear of writing that's still there with me," Consequently with the majority of tracks on "Hard Bargain" self penned does Harris conquer her fear. The answer is yes in most cases but with a couple of songs that absolutely stand out. Her heartbreaking requiem for her dear departed friend the great folk singer Kate Anna McGarrigle is one example and possibly one of the finest tunes she has written. When "she sings that you are sailing now/ free from the pain" it would take a very cold heart not to be deeply moved by its sentiment. Another even closer friend Gram Parsons is again the key subject of the opener "The Road". She has been here before of course not least in "Boulder to Birmingham" her poignant ode capturing the depth of her shock and pain at losing Parsons. While "The Road" is perhaps not in that class, her unique breathy vocals combined with a rock steady beat is a joy and the song's bridge takes it to new levels.
Other noteworthy songs include the shuffling earthy blues of "Six white Cadillac's", the atmospheric country of "Lonely girl", the rocky "New Orleans" and the excellent cover of Ron Sexmith's "Hard Bargain". That said the straightforward country homage to a "Big black dog" has a novelty value but little else and while the waltz like "Goodnight old world" is fine it does drag. On the basis of concluding with a strong finish the final two tracks "Nobody" and "Cross Yourself" are excellent. They echo a Daniel Lanois style production except that album producer Jay Joyce writes "Cross Yourself" and his pop-related song is a splendid ending. One gripe is quite why her cover of the Low Anthem's alt country classic "To Ohio" sung together with the bands maestro Ben Knox Miller is confined to the deluxe album. This is a outright mystery since it is the best duet that Harris has done since her seminal vocal on Ryan Adams glorious "My Sweet Carolina" and you must promise to seek this out.
Throughout the musicianship is "best in class" and "Hard Bargain" represents a fine collection of songs. In the last analysis its probably not as good as either "Wrecking ball" or "Red Dirt Girl' but frankly there aren't many albums that could come within a hundred miles of their brilliance. Thus "Hard Bargain" is another fine contribution from Emmylou Harris a singer we should cherish and give thanks that unlike many of her contemporaries she remains a constant source of deeply moving music.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just doesn't click
I agree, this album has a lot of heart in it, and no doubt Ms. Harris gave it her all. But, for some reason, it just doesn't click. It's a good album, but far from a great one. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kurt A. Johnson
3.0 out of 5 stars
Emmylou = 5 stars/ producer =1
I was very excited to play this cd and typically it holds up to the standards I have come to expect from Ms. Harris. However, the mix is horrible and amateurish. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gary S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't get enough Emmylou!
"White Shoes" is still my favorite, but I can only hear something so many times before I need to hear something different. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bernie Butt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous songs beautifully sung.
The Emmylou we love. No other voice like hers, so sweet and poignant every time. Songs with a message and a heart. Love Emmylou! How could anyone not?
Published 2 months ago by The Lost Bronte
1.0 out of 5 stars
At least it's shiney!!
You know how you can listen to little sample snippets of a song, and when you finally hear the whole piece, you really love how it develops and builds to something really dynamic,... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Hillsider
5.0 out of 5 stars
FANTASTIC
I purchased this for my mother after taking her to see Emmy Lou in Sydney this year
It was the one CD she did not have so she is VERY happy
Great service... Read more
It was the one CD she did not have so she is VERY happy
Great service... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Maria Clark
4.0 out of 5 stars
stellar artistry
Very puzzling to read the range of reviews for this album, from the glowing ones to those who thought the album was "boring, flat and lifeless." Huh? Read more
Published 4 months ago by Donald E. Gilliland
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to Listen to This Without Falling Asleep
Ok this is the last Emmylou Harris CD I will ever buy! 5 clunkers in a row. You can fool me once (with Mirror Ball), and you can fool me twice (with Red Dirt Girl), and you can... Read more
Published 5 months ago by MJH
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Like fine wine Emmylou gets better with age. The more often you listen to her songs the better they sound! Read more
Published 7 months ago by Calvin M Swiers
4.0 out of 5 stars
Emmylou = Greatness
This is not her best, but any Emmylou album is better that 90% of what's out there. I particularly like track 6, Big Black Dong.
Published 9 months ago by Roger A. Smith
Listmania!
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