Emmylou Harris Album: “Blue Kentucky Girl”

Emmylou has recorded many brilliant albums throughout her career but the string of albums that she recorded between 1975 and 1980 are ultimately her most important legacy. Everybody has his or her favorite - this is mine, perhaps because traditional country is what I like best, and that's what this album is filled with.

The set opens with Sister's coming home, an up-tempo song written by Willie Nelson, on which Tanya Tucker joins Emmylou for an incredible duet. I love Willie's music, but Emmylou and Tanya's version of this song is far superior to Willie's original.

Next comes the superb ballad, Beneath still waters, a hitherto obscure George Jones song, which provided Emmylou with a country number one hit. Even better is Save the last dance for me, also a huge country hit for Emmylou. I've heard countless versions of this song including the original Drifters version as well as brilliant covers by Buck Owens and others, but this is the best I've ever heard.

Among the other great covers here are Rough and rocky (Flatt and Scruggs), Hickory wind (a Gram Parsons song that first appeared on the classic album Sweethearts of the rodeo by the Byrds), Sorrow in the wind (Jean Ritchie - the song is sometimes titled Sweet sorrow in the wind), They'll never take his love from me (Hank Williams) and Every time you leave (Louvin Brothers) - with Don Everly.

The title track, Blue Kentucky girl, was an early Loretta Lynn country hit that might have faded into obscurity but for Emmylou's revival of it.

The album (as originally released) closes with one of my favorite country songs, Even cowgirls get the blues. Written by Rodney Crowell and with friends Dolly and Linda joining in, this is brilliant, although more restrained than Lynn Anderson's rousing up-tempo version, which is equally brilliant. Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings later recorded the song on their Heroes duet album, and they also did a great job with it.

Two bonus tracks have been added to this re-mastered edition, including a cover of Cheatin'is, originally recorded by the talented but under-appreciated Barbara Fairchild.

As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the best albums ever recorded by anybody in any genre of music.

Emmylou had a string of phenomenal records on Reprise from 1975 through and including this release in 1979, but this one holds up as a cohesive, dreamy, almost perfect explication of her vision and musical personality. While for the most part eschewing covers of popular and rock songs and reaching back to her musical roots, Emmy rediscovers the lilting, pure beauty of her voice, harmony, and acoustic guitar. She is joined by fantastic musicians such as Ricky Skaggs on fiddle, Ronnie Tutt (later of the Jerry Garcia Band) on drums, the great Elvis guitarist James Burton, Albert Lee, and others.

It all works. Her cover of "Save the Last Dance for Me" should have been the benchmark version of this Doc Pomus staple, but she makes it all her own. She tries on Willie Nelson's "Sister's Coming Home," again making it personal and dramatic.

"Beneath Still Waters" is beautiful and haunting, the emotional anchor to the album. As a Byrds fan I was pleased and surprised by her version of "Hickory Wind," taking it places Gram Parson never did. And "Blue Kentucky Girl" and "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" sound effortless and perfect, with swirling harmonies provided by Dolly Parton and Linda Rondstadt.

Bonus tracks include an interesting harmonic diversion with Glen Campbell and songs that add to the overall experience of the album, a treasure trove of great music, great harmonies, and great instrumentation.

BLUE KENTUCKY GIRL was not only my introduction to Emmylou Harris, it was the first tape I ever bought. It's hard to imagine a better album in existence. The excellent uptempo country songs, "Sister's Coming Home", a duet with Tanya Tucker, a terrific version of Flatt & Scruggs "Rough And Rocky", or the masterful "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues", can transport you to the West. Her talents as an arranger shine through in all the songs, but her version of "Save The Last Dance For Me" is the BEST version I've heard of the song. "They'll Never Take His Love From Me" isn't any less spectacular. The #1 hit "Beneath Still Waters", is gorgeous with the excellent arrangements perfectly suiting Emmylou's beautiful voice. On "Hickory Wind" she improves upon the original arrnagements, and increases the emotion of the song. "Sorrow In The Wind" is a display of Emmylou's ability with harmony, and she sings it beautifully. "Everytime You Leave" is an excellent duet with Don Everly, the defination of a classic country love song. The musical master does it again on "Blue Kentucky Girl", as Emmylou Harris makes a classic. No collection should be without BLUE KENTUCKY GIRL. Once her sensational music comes into your life it doesn't leave. BLUE KENTUCKY GIRL is one of many crowning acheivements, by one of the most talented, intellegent, and creative performers of this century.

Her voice is so beautiful. This CD is worth getting for "Hickory Wind" alone. I am not a big country music fan, but I like music that is well written and well thought out. This CD is a keeper for me, and the start of my exploration of Emmylou's music.

This remains one of my favorite country albums, and with new bonus tracks, it's just that much better. Not only does Emmylou cover some of country's classics here, but this CD is extremely well-polished, and musically one of her finest works. "Sorrow In The Wind", with help from Sharon and Cheryl White, is one of the unheralded gems on this collection, and "Hickory Wind" and "Rough And Rocky" are excellent, soulful pieces that showcase her range and the sweet, soulful sound of her voice. "Sister's Coming Home" with Tanya Tucker is a rollicking fast-stepper, and her rendition of "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" remains the best I've heard of that song. If you're new to Emmylou Harris, and looking for a sampling of her work without investing huge bucks, this is a perfect addition to your collection. If you want a more detailed, thorough portrait of Emmylou, go with "Portraits", a 3-disc boxed set, which covers most of the highlights of her career.