There are few artists more respected or loved in popular music than Emmylou Harris. At age 63, the Birmingham, Alabama native has seen her reputation as a vocalist and songwriter grow consistently from her first collaborations with Gram Parson in the early 1970s, to her own solo records, to her later collaborations with artists as diverse as Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Daniel Lanois, Conor Oberst, Ryan Adams, and well, the list goes on and on. For a while, it seemed that every other new release featured backing vocals by Emmylou.
Hard Bargain is her first collection of new songs since 2008’s All I Intended To Be. This is a fairly stripped-down affair, with just three musicians, including Harris, making all the music. The other two are producer Jay Joyce and multi-instrumentalist Giles Reaves. Together the trio have produced a beautiful, intimate sound that perfectly showcases Emmylou’s voice and songs.
The album opens with The Road, an ode to the late Gram Parsons. “I can still remember every song you played”, Emmylou sings, and you believe her. Parsons isn’t the only dearly-departed person Parson’s has written about. Darlin’ Kate is a tender farewell to Kate McGarrigle, a friend and frequent collaborator, while My Name Is Emmett Till is a sad, but harrowing account of a 14-year-old black boy who was killed in Mississippi for talking to a white woman. The incident happened in 1955 but Emmylou makes it sound like it happened yesterday.
New Orleans is a rocked-up tribute to the spirit of that broken city and Big Black Dog lightens the mood with its playful banjo. But it’s on songs like Ron Sexsmith’s Hard Bargain and her own Lonely Girl that Emmylou really shines. She digs deep into the lyrics and when she sings “I’m a lonely girl in a lonely world” you just want to give her a big hug.
The album closes with Jay Joyce’s Cross Yourself. It moves along with a gentle urgency and a mood that Harris’ previous producer, Daniel Lanois, is known for.
Hard Bargain is a simple album…three musicians getting together to play a collection of well-written, heartfelt songs. There’s nothing overly fancy involved, just guitar, bass and drums, with an occasional keyboard or banjo. But the strength and sincerity of Harris’ songs combined with her beautiful vocals and the sympathetic production makes Hard Bargain another reason to love and respect Emmylou Harris.
Marty Duda
Click here to listen to The Road from Hard Bargain:
Je suis toujours sous le charme lorsque j’écoute un de vos disques dont j’ai tous les albums. Le dernier je l’avais commandé depuis le mois de mars et c’est avec un plaisir fou que je l’ai écouté . C’est magnifique ,votre voix est toujours aussi pure et je ne me lasse pas . Merci pour ce bonheur que vous nous donnez. Vivement le prochain album……
I love all records by Emmylou since her renegade Gliding Bird , to the ballad of Sally Rose, Blue Kentucky girl, Luxury Liner, Wrecking Ball, and anything else she recorded, I bought all in the last 11 months, but Hard Bargain is her best. I like it so much for the songs and the way she sings, production Highlights her voice, and no one of the song seem to rest, there isn’t a boring minute even in the slower songs.
New Orleans is symply amazing!
The only fault, in my opinion is about the recording and mixing audio quality, in some parts the distorsion, expecially of bass, is too much, and so the equalization pushes too much the bass, of course it’s intended, it’s the same fault of Red Dirt Girl (but here is less frequent). Songs are so beautiful and her voice so haunting that I can certainly forgive it and consider it one of the best record I’ve ever listened To (and I have more then 500!) What if it was recorded like Wrecking ball?
Frits Spits, Radio 2 dj in The Netherlands, played some tracks of Emmylou’s new album. Great! Highlights: the tributes to Gram Parsons and Kate McGarrigle. Thank you Emmylou, we love you
I just listened to the whole album from the NPR site and I will definitely be buying it. Another classic from one of our greatest singers. Thank you, Emmylou. Your spirit and your voice move me so much, sometimes to tears, sometime to laughter. Always love hearing you.
Wow! Truly amazing! Can’t wait for the entire album.
Emmylou, I’ve been a fan since the beginning: the days with Gram and then your first solo LPs. Saw you in Montreal many, many years ago, and then again a couple of times in Toronto (that memorable night at Massey hall with your Buddy and the two other girls!). Every new record from Emmy is an event in my life. Cannot wait for Hard Bargain. Thanks as always for the music. Please don’t stop – ever. Joanne
look out for All the Road Running with Mark Knopfler – a great DVD. Goodness knows why Why Worry which is on the DVD is not on the audio CD – fantastic song that it is.
Garry;B.C. Canada. Miss EMMYLOU HARRIS,I’ve attended every concert you’ve done up here in British Columbia. I’m pretty positive I have every C.D. you have put out or pretty close to it.I wonder why you don’t put out some DVD’S,the only one I have is SPY BOY . I thought it very ironic our birthdays are one week apart and both born in 1947.Not only are you graced by your beauty,your talent and your wonderful voice it is unique,you are a great singer someone I listen to almost everyday. I look forward too more songs from you in the future.So THANK YOU MISS EMMYLOU HARRIS.
Still remember Emmylou´s fine voice from The Band´s Last Waltz 1976 (movie 1978).
Now a blonde brunette with a fine song 2011. And remember to listen to Gram´s records!
Looking forward to hear (and see) her in Copenhagen on the 23rd May.
Emmylou is like no other. A wonderful voice and a wonderful spirit.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season.
Thankfully we are here for hers!
Nothing in this world stirs emotion in me like Emmylou’s voice–This song just proves that the old lyric is still true, “Heaven is a girl named Emmylou”. She is right, with everything there is a season and I think I’m stuck in the Luxury Liner season!
Thank You Emmylou
Gorgeous song….looking forward to the album. Thank you
You are my favorite countryartist , and it seems like you deliver as usual! See you in Oslo, Sentrum Scene april 30th! Before that, HAPPY BIRTHDAY and good luck with your new album . I can’t nearly wait to listen to the rest. Thank you for all of your music! =;o)
A beautiful song!!! Looking forward to Emmylous concert in Berlin next June!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is a beautiful song, Gram would love it. I can’t wail to hear the
whole album. Thank you Emmylou.
thank you Emmylou
I was crying when I heard that song. Only you could write something as beautiful as that about gram. I ‘ve been a gram fan from the beginning . I’m a close friend of Buddy’s , go ahead ask him if he’s ever heard of me. If I could make on wish in my whole life , I would wish to just one time sing Love Hurts with you. God Bless you sweetheart , you are truly an angel. Duke the drifter.