Disco de Emmylou Harris: “Angel Band”

One day I was driving home from work when I heard on the Public Radio station that I was listening to the most incredibly haunting and beautiful song! I listened with my mouth hanging open, it was so magical. When it ended, I listened eagerly to hear the name of the singer. The song was Drifting Too Far, from Angel Band, by Emmylou Harris. I found it in a record store the next day and have played it dozens of times since. This cd is, I believe the most heart-felt that Ms. Harris ever sang, and I have listened to nearly of of her other work The songs a very Christian, but also universal in their appeal, bringing to mind the misty hills of Ky., Tenn., and W. Va. and the best qualities of rural life. Some songs to carry a note of sadness or wistfulness, but they are so appealing that anyone would love them. Ms. Harris, as so often in her body of work, touches the heart very deeply. This is a classic cd that I consider a key part of my cd collection.

Emmylou has recorded several albums that had a theme to them and that's true on this collection as well. The "theme" here is "let's take some of the most beautiful hymns ever written, get the most beautiful voices and the most beautiful instrumental soloists, and record those songs." Emory Gordy is a rock-solid foundation, vocally and instrumentally on the upright bass. Carl Jackson has one of the smoothest and appealing voices in American music. (Additionally he is a wizard on banjo and guitar, which he plays here.) What can you say about Vince Gill? If you don't think Vince Gill is a great singer, go ahead and look at some other CD - this one's not for you. On this CD Mr. Gill plays lovely mandolin while adding that angelic tenor harmony ABOVE Emmylou's! The trios of Emmy, Vince and Carl are just heavenly, and Mr. Gordy adds his fine vocals to the occasional quartet. All of the above are complemented with Mark O'Connor on fiddle and Jerry Douglas on dobro. If this isn't the music playing in heaven, I don't want to go.

This collection of 12 Gospel favorites, sung as only Emmylou Harris can sing them, is beautiful in it's simplicity. This isn't bluegrass, and it's not country, it's best described as acoustic Gospel. Mostly old songs from those floppy song books found in the pews of country churches (the floppy books were the ones you used on Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, and during revivals), Emmylou and an excellent supporting cast (including Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, and Mark O'Connor to name a few) sound truly inspired. Some of Emmylou's best singing is here, in my humble opinion - for example, cue up "When He Calls", or the a capella harmony of "Bright Morning Stars".

Highly recommended for acoustic and/or Gospel music lovers.

Angel Band is one of Emmylou Harris' more obscure albums, a flawless gem of mostly traditional songs where her spiritual expression reigns supreme. Backed by acoustic and bass guitars, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, mandola and viola, the vocals are particularly impressive with the tenor of Vince Gill, the baritone of Carl Jackson and the bass of Emory Gordy interweaving perfectly with Emmylou's gorgeous voice.

It opens with the stirring Where Could I Go But To The Lord, which is followed by the title track, which is thematically similar to the well-known Swing Low Sweet Chariot. The third one, the rhythmic If I Be Lifted Up, reminds me of her version of Orphan Girl on the album Wrecking Ball, in its comforting lyrics. The non-traditional When He Calls with its lovely instrumental flourishes is a definite highlight. The lilting We Shall Rise is another, together with If I Be Lifted Up the most uptempo numbers among these generally slow ballads.

There is seamless continuity between the traditional and the non-traditional compositions like Someday My Ship Will Sail and The Other Side Of Life. The album concludes with the uplifting When They Ring Those Golden Bells. Angel Band is an album of tender and yearning hymns, mournful and comforting at the same time. Those who love Emmylou's bluegrass excursions like the album

, will love this neglected classic.

In Emmylou Harris's long and storied career, she has produce many fine Country albums.My favorite CD of her's is the classic debute, "Pieces of the Sky". But a close runner-up and big favorite of mine is the wonderful gospel/acoustic album, "Angel Band".I think what makes this album so good is the simplicity that is inherent within it.We get to hear Harris's beautiful, voice against a variety of acoustic, wooden instruments. Even though this isn't a remastered recording, you can hear the hush or silences between the breathes she takes.The spare musical accompaniment of her sessionmen is just right. Nobody is stepping on anyone's toes.One can hear their reverence for the spirtual nature of these songs.You can tell that the material for this album has been a carefully picked lot.My personal favorites are "Drifting to Far" and the Stanley Brother's classic, title song, "Angel Band". Emmylou brings such beauty to these songs.If you have ever had a stressfull day, I definitely recommend this album to put you in another state of mind.