Disco de Emmylou Harris: “Songs of the West”

Forget about what you read above: Sure this is a retread but what this review doesn't tell you is that three of the most lovely songs on this CD have never before been available on Domestic CD. They were released on the LP CIMARRON which is apparently only availble on Australian CD and I have never seen it for sale. Since that Album has been out of print for years, I gladly paid the price for this CD just to have those songs. Also, if you have not had a decent sampling of Emmlyou's Western style and only been listening to her more pop oriented music, this will be an eye-opening experience for you. I popped this into the Car Stereo last Christmas while driving my parents about town and they loved it, having only heard her radio hits before. Accept this CD for what it is: an introduction to a side of Emmylou not heard on the Radio and a welcome chance to own a few precious songs not included on the PORTRAITS Boxed Set or on any other CD

I'm a big Emmylou fan, but this cd was a disappointment. Her more recent western songs, like "Ballad of a Runaway Horse" from _Cowgirl's Prayer_ and "My Antonia" from _Red Dirt Girl_, are far superior than any on this cd. The one thing I like about this cd is that I can put it in my cd player with other western cds and put it on random play without breaking the cowpoke mood (except fot the unfortunate pinball machine in Amarillo), which doesn't work with her other cds with their more southern flavor. Still, I might have used the money more wisely elsewhere, on some other Emmylou album or some other western cd.

i have always been a great fan . I wonder did she ever record an album with Buddy Holly songs. This album is excellent

I'm a huge Emmylou fan, particularly of her more recent stuff (Wrecking Ball in particular)... but this collection has a few absolute gems. I am not too concerned about what other albums they were on, or all that history, etc - I just enjoy the music for what it is. "Rose of Cimarron" is my faraway favorite, and it is a great road song as well. "One Paper Kid" showcases some very unusual, but very beautiful, harmony with Willie Nelson. "Spanish is a Loving Tongue" is another favorite - it is a classic take on that enduring south of the border love story - I know it well - and the tragic end brought on by classic Western troubles. "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" is a gorgeous song, very much a country tune, and quite unabashedly so. "Cattle Call" never sounded better (I can't take Eddie Arnold in the first place). "San Antone Rose" - well, if there's anyone who has danced a slow song with a passionate, mysterious stranger that can't relate to that song, I don't know what to say. "Queen of the Silver Dollar" is the first song I ever heard from this collection - it must have come from another album, because I seem to remember it on Canadian radio when I was a kid (Ottawa's CKBY - my dad always had his old school country on in the morning when I was getting ready for school). I wasn't too excited about this album the first time I heard it many years ago, but it has become one of my favorites. It showcases Emmylou's vocals in a more mainstream, less convoluted way than some of her more recent offerings. There can be no doubt that Emmylou has one of the most beautiful, unique and haunting voices in music, and this album gives her a more subtle, less contrasting musical backdrop for those vocals.