Quintessential GP doing country and R&R with Emmylou...
358692
This is truly Gram Parsons at his best.  He and Emmylou Harris roll through country and gospel numbers to Rock and Roll screamers with a top notch band that knows all the hot licks, when to get loud and when to get sad.  You'll cry in your beer while Gram reminds you of your old sweetheart on "Cry One More Time", you'll put on your cowboy boots at the first steel-licks in "Drug Store Truck-Drivin' Man" and you'll long for a truck and a wide open desert road when "Six Days on the Road" rolls you on home.  From Byrds to Burritos to 50's Rock covers like "Bony Maronie" and Chuck Berry's "Almost Grown" and Country deep cuts like Merle Haggard's "California Cottonfields," Gram will make you wonder why you've never heard of this album before. Highly recommended for any country-rock fans or anyone who would rather drink a Lone Star in a roadhouse than a Guinness in a Pub.
4029532
Once again Emmylou Nails it. Soulful rendition of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors. I just love everything that Emmylou sings and plays to. The sweetest voice ever!
3234733
This will be short but sweet...if you've always wanted to own the brilliant music from Dolly's "Great Pretender" album, this is the one to own.  Sure there are some wonderful other tracks included but this contains that album in its entirety in its original sequence.  The GP is one of my favorite albums of all time and I couldn't wait to receive this disc after I ordered it.  I'm thrilled to have it and have played it a ton.
 Additionally, the "Great Pretender" album was produced by Val Garay (who I believe also worked with The Motels).  Wonderful arrangements and spectacular delivery.  A treat all around!  You'll also love Dolly's version of "Harper Valley PTA".
4493993
Emmylou Harris could - to paraphrase an overworked comment - sing the phonebook and she could make me sad. On her 2008 "All I Intended to Be," she digs in deep and follows a mournful track that is just pure Emmylou, teaming up with old collaborators like the McGarrigle sisters and her ex-husband/early producer Brian Ahern to make a fantastic album.

As the pure country strains of "Shores of White Sand" give way to a lilting Celtic flute, you realize Emmylou has moved away from the Daniel Lanois atmospherics of the lovely&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Red-Dirt-Girl/dp/B00004WZOJ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Red Dirt Girl</a>&nbsp;and back to the openness of traditional country. "All I Intended To Be" stays the course with a mixture of Emmylou's original songs and a choice selection of covers from Merle Haggard, Patty Griffin and Tracy Chapman. Chapman's "All You Have Is Your Soul" (from her&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Crossroads/dp/B000002H7I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Crossroads</a>) is one of the album's highlights.

But for me, the clincher is Harris's own "Gold." Here, she invites Vince Gill and old&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Trio/dp/B000002LAC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Trio</a>&nbsp;companion Dolly Parton to sing harmonies. The result is sublimely beautiful (and makes me wish for a return of the "Trio" for a third album). It's my favorite song on an album that surrounds the soul-pulling of sadness with strains of hope, and rates up among Emmylou Harris' best CD's.
664486
TIM MCGRAW RE-INVENTS COUNTRY MUSIC - AND THEN HAS THE ABILITY TO KEEP THE 'OLD' PART OF COUNTRY MUSIC AT THE SAME TIME - HE IS THE BIGGIEST AND BEST COUNTRY MUSIC STAR - NOT TO MENTION HE IS ALSO THE HOTTEST - LOOK AT HIM!!! DO NOT BE WITHOUT THIS CD - BUY NOW!!!!!
180052
Let's get one thing straight first:this is not a country album. If you're like me and got hooked on Emmylou Harris when she was a country singer,you'll be a little disappointed by her latest album.
A few of the songs could be called "Country",but the arrangements by Jay Joyce say:Folk-Rock 2011,which is not necessaryly a bad thing. It's just different. Emmylou wrote or co-wrote 12 of the 13 songs on the album and a lot of them are gems.
For example her tributes to Gram Parsons (The Road) and Kate McCarrigle (Darlin' Kate) will bring tears to your eyes and her sad
countryish ballads "Lonely Girl","The Ship On His Arm" and "Nobody" could have been a lot better rendered with different arrangements."Six White Cadillacs",to me is the best song on the album because Joyce's arrangements really fit here.
We could have done without "Big Black Dog" which sounds like a SPCA commercial.
Overall,I'm a disappointed by this album,because I know she can do so much better
1420923
If you is a lover of traditional country songs you need this album in your collection. 2 LP's, "A Legend In My Time" and "The Sound Of Country Music" are here together in one. With songs of Don Gibson, Hank Cochran, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens and Harlan Howard only to ment some, is here a great opportunity to have these great country songs songed by a legend herself Dottie West.

The numbers are not from the hitlist but standard country songs from that time.

If this not is enough get "The Essential" Dottie West.
4381983
Every track on this CD is incredible.  Willie Nelson's rendition of a Bob Dylan classic is wonderful.  Emmylou Harris lends her beautiful voice to the haunting A LOVE THAT WILL NEVER GROW OLD.  Teddy Thompson and Rufus Wainwright are perfect together on KING OF THE ROAD.  Steve Earle's DEVIL'S RIGHT HAND, I could go on and on.  All of the original instrumentals by Gustavo Santaolalla were absolutely perfect for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.  A must-have for anyone who is serious about music.
4523141
...this album and Emmylou Harris are for you.  Twenty-plus years ago, while a college student, if anyone had told me I would ever enjoy George Jones, I would have said they're nuts.  But that was when I was introduced to Emmylou Harris, whom I didn't think of as country at the time.  But she reeled me in.

Elite Hotel is one of her finest, IMO.  There are so many wonderful songs on this album: "Sin City", "Jambalaya", "Together Again", "One of These Days", and more.  In her liner notes, she makes the point that country music attempts something bold when it aims for the heart but that when it hits it, it is a thing of beauty.  In that vein, her "Till I Can Gain Control Again" on this album is absolutely breathtaking.
3325159
Anybody that sings with Emmylou is blessed indeed! Love the different types of songs and the vocal harmony--love to sing along.
3098764
Some of these songs are written by Bill Anderson, Weldon Myrick takes the lead on steel, some of the smoothest, grinding steel you'll ever hear,... the lady Connie Smith sings her heart out throughout this imported disc featuring Connie's first two albums, both recorded in 1965 for the R.C.A. label. "The soul of country Music", an accurate description of this pretty lady and her natural vocal abilities, Patsy Cline had the songs, the talent, Connie Smith carried her own way, able to take a mediocre song and changing it into a pleasurable listening experience, just not enough hits. This recording is the real deal, somewhere on the lines of the "bakersfield sound", although Smith was never labeled to this genre. There's never a dull or slow moment on this compilation...Connie Smith, my favorite female country singer.  The audio on this disc is almost perfect, better on the second album, also recommended is the All American Country compilation on the Collectables label, just to hear Connie's version of "Louisiana Man" is worth the while.
1688495
Good Ol Country Music Performed by A Few of the Best & Real-Deal Country Performers' To Date!!!!! Enjoyed every minute! TY
2150427
This interesting album of collaborations includes tracks that are available elsewhere. By no means amongst Emmylou's best albums, Duets nevertheless contains some real gems and provides a pleasant listening experience.

The uptempo track The Price I Pay sees Harris accompanied by the Desert Rose band, and is followed by the old classic with Gram Parsons, the timeless Love Hurts. Roy Orbison provides the male vocal on That Lovin' You Feelin' Again, a mellow middle of the road number, more pop than country, that works surprisingly well.

We Believe In Happy Endings (with Earl Thomas Conley) is a traditional, slow country ballad, whilst Thing About You (with Southern Pacific) is quite catchy with a lilting beat. Star Of Bethlehem, with Neil Young, is short, sad and lovely, and All Fall Down, with George Jones, is another mournful ballad where Emmylou's voice really stands out in its phrasing and inflection.

Although John Denver's voice dominates Wild Montana Skies, it is one of my favourites here with its uplifting melody and soaring vocals. Next up is the breathtaking Green Pastures, a beautiful bluegrass-gospel number with Rickey Skaggs that I first heard on the album Roses In The Snow. This is definitely a highlight of the album. There is a riveting live version of this song on Emmylou's Spyboy album.

Gulf Coast Highway is a story song in the country tradition, very moving and very beautiful as Willie Nelson's voice blends perfectly with Emmylou's. If I Needed You is a gorgeous yearning love song where Don Williams provides the male vocal, and the album concludes with Evangeline, a brilliant collaboration with The Band.

Like all Emmylou's work, Duets is quality music. I wouldn't rate it up there with her best like Pieces Of The Sky, Roses In The Snow, Wrecking Ball, Red Dirt Girl or Cowgirl's Prayer, but the album is consistently enjoyable and every song is a classic.
2305257
This live CD is one of the best things to come out of country music in a long time.  It is evident that Davies and her band had a blast recording this CD.  They perform eighteen of their favorites in this collection which includes several tunes written by Bob Dylan (It Ain't Me Babe, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, and Tomorrow Is A Long Time).  There is also the Louvin Brothers classic "Ae You Teasing Me," which was a big hit for Carl Smith in 1952 and the top ten "Round The Clock Lovin," which was co-written by K.T. Oslin.  Other songs worth mentioning are "Right By You," "The Fox Hunting Song/Grandma's Song," "Bucket To The South," and the comical "Wedding Invitation."  Buy a copy of this CD, and if you get a chance to see her live, don't miss it!!!
2613092
This new album is not only a credit to George Strait's phenomenal career, but it attests to his ability to keep putting out some of the best country music ever. After all these decades, George is still the king. Only Johnny Cash is above George.  However, Johnny is gone now and we have to look to George to keep country music as true country.  Yes, at one time for many years, Johnny Cash was the king.  Now we have a new king and that's George.

I miss John, but the legend has to go on and George can do that.  He always has and will always do so.

True country?  Just look to George Strait for that.

Linn Carpenter
3130439
No more enough of fingers to count the number of George Strait's albums, no more enough of expressions to qualify his talent, but here, this new album is excellent. Big George Strait. The "dream team" musicians: Eddie Bayers to the drum, Glenn Worf to the bass, Brent Mason to the guitar, Stuart Duncan to the fiddle, Wes Hightower to the choir, Paul Franklin to the steel, etc, etc. ..! A finely mastered sound, and as usual, a lot of pieces mid-tempos sublimate of which hits "give it away", "it just comes natural" or "how 'bout them cowgirls ", and also honky tonk, western swing like " Texas cookin'". Well, 15 traditional titles, of course without surprised, but this that George Strait, without surprised but we know that's will be well ! Nothing to say more, except that George Strait did not do country music, George Strait is the country music. It's natural!

[...]
3453536
I'm a huge Emmylou fan, particularly of her more recent stuff (Wrecking Ball in particular)... but this collection has a few absolute gems. I am not too concerned about what other albums they were on, or all that history, etc - I just enjoy the music for what it is. "Rose of Cimarron" is my faraway favorite, and it is a great road song as well. "One Paper Kid" showcases some very unusual, but very beautiful, harmony with Willie Nelson. "Spanish is a Loving Tongue" is another favorite - it is a classic take on that enduring south of the border love story - I know it well - and the tragic end brought on by classic Western troubles. "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" is a gorgeous song, very much a country tune, and quite unabashedly so. "Cattle Call" never sounded better (I can't take Eddie Arnold in the first place). "San Antone Rose" - well, if there's anyone who has danced a slow song with a passionate, mysterious stranger that can't relate to that song, I don't know what to say. "Queen of the Silver Dollar" is the first song I ever heard from this collection - it must have come from another album, because I seem to remember it on Canadian radio when I was a kid (Ottawa's CKBY - my dad always had his old school country on in the morning when I was getting ready for school). I wasn't too excited about this album the first time I heard it many years ago, but it has become one of my favorites. It showcases Emmylou's vocals in a more mainstream, less convoluted way than some of her more recent offerings. There can be no doubt that Emmylou has one of the most beautiful, unique and haunting voices in music, and this album gives her a more subtle, less contrasting musical backdrop for those vocals.