Disco de Emmylou Harris: “Profile II: Best of Emmylou Harris”

Emmylou has to be seen live to fully appreciate just how great she really is. Sure, this is a five star record for Emmylou, but she has plenty of those. See her live and you'll know why I chose to write this review. This album is, however, one of my personal favorites, as it showcases numerous aspects of her amazing talents. Truly the voice of an angel.

Emmylou Harris cannot really put a foot, or a note, wrong. All of her albums are worth owning, from the early country classics like Pieces Of The Sky to her more recent work like Wrecking Ball, Red Dirt Girl and Stumble Into Grace. This collection is the second in the Profile series and it draws on albums like Blue Kentucky Girl, Roses In The Snow, Cimarron, Evangeline, Last Date and White Shoes.

The traditional country here is represented by tracks like Blue Kentucky Girl, Beneath Still Waters and her definitive version of Save The Last Dance For Me. Wayfaring Stranger is a beautiful song from her bluegrass masterpiece Roses In the Snow, whilst Mister Sandman is a piece of harmony heaven with the assistance of Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt, from the Evangeline album.

Cimarron contributes the brilliant country-rock anthem Born To Run, any time as good as Bruce Springsteen's song of the same name. The chart-topping single (Lost His Love) On Our Last Date comes from the live Last Date album and is a vocal version of the original instrumental by Floyd Cramer. I'm Moving On comes from the same album. White Shoes was Emmylou's final album with Brian Ahern and it contributes Johnny Ace's Pledging My Love.

In my opinion, the most regrettable omissions are Green Pastures, You're Learning, Gold Watch And Chain and Miss The Mississippi And You from Roses In The Snow, and If I Needed You, Spanish Is A Loving tongue, Tennessee Waltz and Son Of A Rotten Gambler from Cimarron. Profile 2: The Best Of Emmylou Harris is thus a magical listening experience, but represents only a small fraction of her best work from those years.

Wow, I had not listened to Emmylou much over the last few years and I'd forgotten how great her music is. I've been a country fan all my life, mostly listening to my CD's though for the last decade because "new" country doesn't cut it. I just got reaquainted with Emmylou and now I'll be adding her music to my CD collection. Unlike other singers, it seems every song she chooses to do sounds wonderful in her style. Her version of Save The Last Dance For Me is every bit as good as Jerry Lee's in it's own right. Blue Kentucky Girl is an absolute classic, her incredible vocals touch you deeply. All the songs on this collection are wonderful...I suggest getting this CD and her earlier Profile CD together, so you can listen to all her moving hits! Emmylou is truly a country icon.

Harris is our most talented "country" artist. Her vocals are delicate and yet not cloying. She has collaborated with anyone who is anybody and this is a fine introduction to her most popular singles. Heartbreaking in places, this is one you will turn to again and again.

I catch my self singing along in the car. I play along on my guitar at home. Blue Kentucky girl is one of my all time favorites. I'm not a big country fan, but I love this CD anyway. Her style is simple and clean and heart-felt.