Emmylou Harris Album: “Roses in the Snow [Remaster]”

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Personnel: Emmylou Harris (vocals, acoustic guitar); Ricky Skaggs (vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle); Linda Ronstadt (vocals); Tony Rice (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Frank Reckard, Barry Tashian (acoustic guitar); Albert Lee (electric guitar, mandolin); Brian Ahern (guitar, synthesizer, bass, percussion); Willie Nelson (guitar); Steve Fishell (steel guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Wayne Goodwin (mandolin); Bryan Bowers (autoharp); Jim Horn (recorder, penny whistle); Buck White (piano, background vocals); Glen D. Hardin (Fender Rhodes piano); Emory Gordy, Jr. (bass); Keith Knudsen (drums); John Ware (percussion); Dolly Parton, Cheryl White, Sharon White (background vocals). <p>Recorded in July 1979. Originally released on Warner Brothers (3422). Includes liner notes by Holly George Warren. <p>All tracks have been digitally remastered. <p>On her sixth country album, ROSES IN THE SNOW, Emmylou Harris decided to explore her growing interest in bluegrass music. It was a bold move: first, because bluegrass had traditionally been the exclusive domain of men (Hazel Dickens being the most notable exception to the rule), and second, because it meant breaking with a formula that had served her well on her five previous releases. Harris tilted the odds back in her favor by assembling an all-star supporting cast including Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, and the Whites, then selecting--with usual impeccable taste--10 great songs for inclusion on the album. <p>As one would expect, Harris salutes the masters of bluegrass here, reworking numbers associated with Ralph Stanley ("The Darkest Hour is Just Before the Dawn"), Bill Monroe ("Wayfaring Stranger") and Flatt and Scruggs ("I'll Go Stepping Too"). Digging even further back, she also comes up with, and delivers on, A.P. Carter's "Gold Watch and Chain" and Bill Halley's "Miss the Mississippi and You," both vestiges of recorded music's earliest era. It's not all ancient history, however: ROSES also includes a hit version of Paul Simon's "The Boxer," miraculously recast as a bluegrass-friendly number.

Ms. Harris' band has been called "The Hot Band", and dozens of talented musicians have been members. The Hot Band was never hotter than on this beautiful album. Albert Lee is one of the hottest country guitar players ever - a sort of country Eddie Van Halen. Tony Rice on the acoustic guitar is every bit the equivalent of Albert Lee's electric. Ricky Skaggs adds his fine mandolin and fiddle work. Dobro King Jerry Douglas adds his stamp.

Then the vocals! Emmylou's angelic voice is harmonized with Rice and Skaggs. Linda Ronstadt. Dolly Parton. Johnny Cash. The Whites.

This recording is every bit as good as ANY of the "Will the Circle be Unbroken" albums, but it is WAY more consistant. AT the same time it's way hotter than the wonderful "Trio" albums with Ronstadt and Parton. There's not a weak track on here. Ralph Stanley, the Louvin Brothers and Simon and Garfunkle's songs never sounded so good.

Get it.

I grew up on Emmylou Harris' music. I have this album on vinyl, and it is the one record I always took extra special care of, because the music on it is among the most gorgeous ever put on record. Along w/ The Whites, she makes S&G's "The Boxer" her own sad story to tell, and her version of "Wayfaring Stranger" is chill-inducing. Dolly and Linda join her on the Carter Family song "Gold Watch and Chain," and while it's not the best of their work together, it's great just the same. The musicianship on this album is fabulous, and Emmylou's voice sits extremely well in bluegrass and acoustic music (not that that's a real newsflash to anyone). This is a fine recording. Grab this cd today!

I was 12 years of when the "Wayfaring Stranger" track of this album began to get a great deal of airplay. I loved it, and my parents bought me the LP of ROSES IN THE SNOW for my birthday. I practically wore the thing out, listening to my favorites "Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn" and "Gold Watch and Chain". Linda Ronstadt sings backup on GWandC, and I have always thought that Ronstadt and Harris produced some of the purest, most beautiful sounds when they sang together. I didn't know that the music was bluegrass, I just knew I loved it.

After the O Brother craze began, I watched a PBS special hosted by Ricky Skaggs, in which Harris sang "Darkest Hour". I pulled out my old LP for my husband and kids to hear and they loved it, too. I just couldn't resist the CD. The first extended track didn't do too much for me, but "Root like a Rose" is just gorgeous.

Thank you, Emmy, for a super album that I have enjoyed most of my life.

I purchased this album in 1980 just because I liked Emmylou Harris. Did I get a surprise! Wow!!! What a gorgeously done CD. Back then an album. I bought a cut master recording, but not as nice as my new CD. I hear the naunce, the hauntingly elusiveness of Emmylou's voice on "Wayfairing Stranger." She sends cold chills up one's spine with Ricky Skaggs" accompanyment on Ralph Stanley's, "Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn." Johnny Cash is heard in his gravel thoated best in accompanyment on "Jordan." Dolly Parton, Linda Rodriguez(Ronstadt), Willie Nelson, The Whites, Jerry Douglas, Albert Lee, Emory Gordy, Brian Ahern, John Ware, Billy Nelson, the llist of her Hot Band goes on and on. Not a single album before or since shows the true voice and class this artist is capable of. It is too bad she can not bring herself out of the quagmire she has molded around herself and bring back the only producer to ever bring out the real Emmylou Harris. Brian Ahern(her then husband) and I believe she needs to assemble this group again with Ralph Stanley and cut another Classic CD. This album was nominated as "Album of the Decade" by one of the trade publications back in the late 80s. It is my opinion, this album is one of the all time classic albums by anyone, anytime, anywhere----LISTEN. Get the Enactron Truck fired up and record Emmylou again with all the people who helped her on this album and the world will have another CLASSIC!!!

It was a risky move in 1980. To release an album of bluegrass was not exactly the way to go about selling records, and Emmylou's record company knew it. So, they were a bit hesitant to release "Roses In The Snow." It is a good thing they relented, as this is probably the best album of Emmylou's career.

From the heartbreaking opening fiddle of the title track which kicks off the album, to the sumptuous harmonies and mandolins that close out its final number "Gold Watch and Chain" this is an album of unquestionably beautiful music. In between is no different. "Wayfaring Stranger" still haunts. "Green Pastures" and "Jordan" are rousing spirituals. The list goes on. Real, passionate, and unforgettable.

Emmylou had the last laugh to. After its release in 1980, it became, much to her record companies surprise, her fastest selling album to date.