LAist: Win Tickets to See Emmylou Harris Private Performance on 9/19

Boxcar

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:00:42 -0800

"Gulf Coast Highway" with her and Willie is just flawless, no small feat since Willie always seems like one of the hardest singers to perform with given his unique phrasing that he never bends to meet his partner. Emmylou's got that strong, clear voice that just rings out to Willie's rag tag vocals making for a perfect mix of both sides of country authenticity - the professional sound and the homespun.

russtacean

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:47:52 -0800

For me, Prayer in Open D is always in my heart. The first time i heard Emmylou was on my way to work in like 1975. i pulled over and stopped the car just to listen and have been moved by her ever since. i just got back from getting the new Songbird box set and am psyched to be able to have it on the first day of release!!! The only other big music thing for me was camping out in the 'bowl' about 40 feet from center stage at the first Woodstock. After an amazing few days and zero sleep, i finally crashed - i think it was the last night - and i remember waking up to Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner on the morning of the last day. Like seeing Emmylou anytime i ever have, Woodstock was also an unbelievably great, legendary experience. peace, russ

dan_c

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:24:19 -0800

This is a tough one. Emmylou has performed so many amazing songs with other artists over the years that it's hard to pick just one. But I have to go with "That's All It Took," with Gram Parsons, from Parsons' GP. Instead of the backing harmony vocals she provided on the other Parsons tracks, she comes blasting out of the gate on the second half of the first verse, her voice all fire and power as she howls: "I tried so hard to let you go, but look how I still tremble at your name. That's all it took." It's a sad, powerful song, and the kind of Cosmic American music that would influence the rest of her career, from country to folk to bluegrass to gospel. I love it for all those reasons, but also because of the honesty and pain in her voice as she sings.

terabull19

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:45:50 -0800

Emmylou with Linda and Dolly. "The Pain of Loving You". Talk about the voice of an angel. If I could die and come back, I'd want Emmylou Harris's voice!

jodom75

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:39:11 -0800

On a roadtrip to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, my friend and were heading southwest far outside of San Antonio. We had the windows rolled down and the iPod was on shuffle. We lit up a joint and as soon as we did, Emmylou and Steve Earle's live version of "Goodbye" came on. One song out of five thousand on the iPod, and this song comes on at the perfect time. We both smiled in amazement as they sang, "But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico One place I may never go in my life again Was I just off somewhere or just too high But I can't remember if we said goodbye." A serendiptious moment I will never forget. Thank you Emmylou and Steve.

vklj

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:05:41 -0800

Ten days after 9/11 Emmylou performed "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" with Sheryl Crow and Gillian Welch on Letterman. I can name a dozen other collaborations that are just as brilliant (Bright Eyes, Dolly, Linda, etc) but this one moved me to tears and restored some of my faith during that time.

AlPl

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:41:32 -0800

Emmylou Harris and The Band. Her plaintive wail has always cut through the soft roundness of their natural vocals giving their music the hard edge of a backbone to hang off of. It sits up. It takes notice. And it may waltz you around the room.

ks

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:06:42 -0800

It's cheesy, but I'll go with Love Hurts w/ Gram Parsons. It's a song you never want to hear sung by any other two people and that says enough for me.

teeem

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:56:10 -0800

Neil Young, yes... the song? Wrecking Ball. The doomed yet deathless relationship that will haunt you forever. And her sound embodies it even without the words. A bar with a dumb name can be the most important place in your whole life. Breaks my heart every time I think of it.

le_slash

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:49:02 -0800

Wow - hard to narrow down. Normally, I'd go with any of her Neil Young collaborations, because Neil is god. But if I really think about it, I'd say my favorite Emmylou collaboration of all time would be the first one I ever saw - Emmylou and The Band performing 'Evangeline' from "The Last Waltz." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDJiINc-2YI That performance is just so convincing, it's like watching a time machine in action. She is so sweet and elegant; there's no ego to the act. Just a clear and beautiful purpose.