Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
1975
Album Summary
Pieces of the Sky is the second studio album by American country music artist Emmylou Harris, released in February 1975 through Reprise. Although she had released the obscure folk-styled Gliding Bird five years earlier, Pieces of the Sky became the album that launched Harris's career and is widely considered to be her début. In those intervening years she forged a musical relationship with Gram Parsons that altered the musical direction of her career. The album includes Harris's first high-charting Billboard country hit, the #4 "If I Could Only Win Your Love," and the relatively low-charting #73 "Too Far Gone" (originally a 1967 hit for Tammy Wynette). The overall song selection was varied and showed early on how eclectic Harris's musical tastes were. In addition to her own "Boulder to Birmingham" (written for Gram Parsons, who had died the previous year), she included the Merle Haggard classic "The Bottle Let Me Down," The Beatles' "For No One," and Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors." (Parton, in turn, covered "Boulder to Birmingham" on her 1976 album All I Can Do.) On Shel Silverstein's "Queen Of The Silver Dollar," Harris's longtime friend and vocal collaborator, Linda Ronstadt, sings harmony. Pieces of the Sky rose as far as the #7 spot on the Billboard country albums chart. Pieces of the Sky was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
WikipediaEmmylou Harris is somehow an underrated country legend. When it's all said and done, she'll forever be on the Mount Rushmore of female country artists, along with Loretta Lynne, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Parton. None of those country legends have a voice like Emmylou Harris. And the puzzling thing is that it seemingly took years for Nashville to truly embrace her. She'd consistently put out album after album, all of them great, but the early knock on Emmylou was that she never wrote her own songs. This, her debut country album, is mainly covers, including one from the aforementioned Dolly and even a deep cut from The Beatles. But the real gem from this album is the one song Emmylou wrote, and it became her signature song. "Boulder To Birmingham" is one of the greatest sad songs ever put on record, and it wrecks me every time I hear it. Just listen to the words of "Boulder To Birmingham". You feel the pain and sorrow she has over losing her mentor Gram Parsons. She can't understand why he's gone, and more importantly, she can't fathom why no one else feels like she does over his death. Emmylou's tastes were clearly too eclectic and ahead of her time for Nashville (and there may have been some hesitancy to fully embrace her because of her previous association with Parsons, another vanguard in their opinion). But Emmylou focused on keeping the spirit of Gram Parsons alive. She'd solidify her legacy (and write many more great songs) on future albums, but this one clearly puts her on the map. Props for getting former Eagle and Flying Burrito Brother Bernie Leadon, along with many other musicians in Parsons' orbit, to play on this gem of an album. To my ears, Emmylou is the true First Lady of Country Music.
Damn, I knew her, kind of, but it hasn't really hit me until now how breathtaking her voice is. She really communicates a depth of emotion. I'm tempted to complain that she didn't write most of these songs, but in a way it's interesting that she does write some, yet chooses to record others' music. It's like admitting, there are songwriters as good or better than me, so why not sing their songs instead? And the one she wrote (Boulder to Birmingham) is a stunner.
The alt country queen! I love Emmylou, but this genre is hit or miss for people. Personally I love it, so this is a 5 star for me.
Baby brought me in out off the highway Made me put my money in the bank, bank Straightened out my crooked way of thinking Made it purely pleasure when I drank - bluebird wine
She does a good job covering Dolly Parton. (Unless it’s the other way round) either way I’m a fan. I love coat of many colours it’s my favourite Dolly song.
Emotional and honest, love the story telling and the vibe of the old school country
I'm not a big country fan. However, I do like what I consider to be REAL country: not the countrified-rock crap that is put out today. Emmylou's voice is amazing, and this album was a gem from start to finish.
I know several of the songs on this album - but performed by other artists. Emmylou Harris does them justice. I love the variety on this album. Favorite songs include Boulder to Birmingham, For No One, and Queen of the Silver Dollar. But the whole album is really a pleasure.
Oh, I was needing this. Absolutely lovely, and sounding both old fashioned and very modern (both in good ways). It made me laugh ("Queen of the Silver Dollar") and cry ("Coat of Many Colors"). I love hearing a talented voice sing a wonderful variety of songs by amazing artists (Merle Haggard, Lennon-McCartney, Shel Silverstein, and Dolly Parton!) with backup by Linda Ronstadt! Speaking of Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt... I'm still waiting!
Best Song: Boulders to Birmingham or Queen of the Silver Dollar. Timeless, beautiful voice. Great gospel/country/folk vocal melodies. I'm sure this album has been very influential to many female singer-songwriters.
The singing and playing are flawless. However, although Emmylou got here first, I think there are stronger collections of alt country songs out there, which i will almost certainly be going back to before this one.
1/6 Real good folk album. Standout Tracks: Bluebird Wine, Bottle Let Me Down, Queen of the Silver Dollar
Almost magical, which is remarkable for an album of, as I understand it, mostly covers. It contains a nice range of country sounds, and Emmylou's voice is a smooth constant. It doesn't outlive its welcome in any way, but near the end becomes a collection of songs as opposed to a cohesive LP.
Great tracks, classic country, awesome covers. Not my usual tastes but will listen to again
This was great. Country can be a bit hit and miss and I can't listen to it for too long but I really liked this album. Although it's got a few covers on it, it's not a covers album but Emmylou Harris only has a writing credit for one song. Interesting stuff.
I must like country music. It just sounds like *music*. Particularly the duets. Don’t know why those are able to get through these jaded ears and into my brain.
Never heard this - this is great country music! Her voice and the production is a sweet kiss of Americana
I’m beginning to realize I don’t dislike country. I dislike the modern hybridization of pop and country.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this country folk album- especially when a beebles cover came out of nowhere
Feels like the heart of Americana, thoroughly enjoyed this surprise of an album
Pretty good. Very good voice. Not remarkable enough to listen to regularly, but very nice for the background and definitely something I could listen to again, especially within larger playlists.
YIHAAAA BABY! ZO BEGINT GE EEN ALBUM 🤠 If i could only win your love, mooi.
liked the "Coat of Many Colors" cover, I feel like I should listen to this one a bunch more
Stonking opening track and then it ebbed and flowed after that but in an enjoyable way. Will defo listen again
Emmylou Harris is a titan of the Americana scene. Utilizing traditional instrumentation, a subtle western beat, and a gift for storytelling, she creates earnest, compelling music that is entirely her own. Like the outlaws of the 70s and 80s, Harris operates outside the Nashville formula, and borrows across genres.
“Pieces of the Sky” by Emmylou Harris (1975) This major label debut by superstar Emmylou Harris is a fine collection of covers of worthy songs, with excellent country instrumental arrangements providing plenty of clear space for individual flourishes (pedal steel, banjo, mandolin, strings, and you name it). The meaty midsection of the album is passionate and potently evocative. Harris’ voice is outstanding, with tremendous use of dynamic variation (e.g., “Too Far Gone”), touching stylings, dreamy resonance, bold interjections of power, and country-honest inflection. It’s all demonstrated on this record, which goes a long way toward explaining why she subsequently became one of the most sought-after backing vocalists in the history of recorded music. Her selection of songs by other artists provides a suitable vehicle for the passion of her performance, eclectic yet well ordered. She teases us into it with the opening track “Bluebird Wine”, a shuffling thank you note to liquid (and cheap) intemperance. The album ends with “Queen of the Silver Dollar”, a raucous and recklessly triumphant celebration of lower middle class (im)morality written by Shel Silverstein (of all people). God, I love the proletariat. Merle Haggard’s “Bottle Let Me Down” is delivered by Harris with sugar and sass, reflecting on the bad feelings one has when the alcohol doesn’t quite ease the pain. Maybe she needs to graduate from wine to port. The one song on this album written by Harris is “Boulder to Birmingham”, a beautifully poetic lament, grieving over an unexpected loss (the demise of her mentor Gram Parsons). Sadly flawed (by a gimmicky rapid oscillation between left and right channels applied to the Rhodes keyboard), it still gets a sob and tears on only the second listen. And again, she goes from wail to whisper in an instant, and then back again as she storms into the chorus: “I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham if I thought I could see your face”, she sings. But it ain’t gonna happen, she knows, as she looks out the airplane window at the prairie and the sky. “The hardest part is knowing I’ll survive.” Hard for you, Emmylou. Fortunate for us. Harris gives a sublime interpretation of Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors”, a touching alternate take on the biblical story of Jacob’s preferred son, Joseph, and the envy of his brothers (Genesis 37:3-4, KJV). It’s a rich embellishment of the notion of poverty, suitable for Everyman. If you’re not (yet) a fan of country music, this album just might make you one. 4/5
Emmylou’s voice is just incredible throughout this album. The songwriting is a joy to listen to and the covers are perfectly matched. A little on the slower side but it fits the tone well.
Beautiful voice, modern-ish country, amazing and emotional ballads (Boulder obviously, but also others), excellent Beatles cover. Very good album.
Listening to this album, it hit me that there is a distinct lack of country music on this list. I can only really think of one other straight-up country album that I've gotten. Regardless, this album is everything that's good about country. Harris has a beautiful voice full of emotion, and the accompanying music is good without distracting from from her as the focus. I'm not in love with her cover of For No One by the Beatles, but at least it's more tasteful than most Beatles covers 4/5
Awesome album. The varied instrumentation and is rousing during the lively songs and beautiful during the pretty songs, and naturally the singing is also on point.
jättebra, klockren kvalité och mix. Bra känsla, roliga texter och topnotch 'instrumentalitet'. Önskar all country va så här
She's the original angelic country singer that all copycats are based on. And this is a really good album. Showcases perfectyly what she is about
I know Emmylou Harris from her work with Gram Parsons which I love but regrettably have listened to much more. That is the great thing about this challenge as it is getting me to listen to more than my dozen favourite albums on repeat. This is a beautiful album. Really good traditional country that just shys away from the Nashville glitz. I need to give this a few more listens for all the songs to sink in. A couple of songs lose me but a few others sound as good as her work on Grevious Angel.
A very pleasant listen. I'm not massively into country, but this all seemed very well done. Fave track - "Bluebird Wine", maybe, or "For No One"
Iako je većinom album pun covera (90%), lijepo je odrađen. Općenito se ljudi u današnje vrijeme boje priznati da je nešta country jer dobiva hejt koji po meni ne zaslužuje. Ovo je lijep album i lijep glas sa laganom akustalijom. Volim taj steel zvuk gitare, žao mi je što opet nema pola zvjezdice. Ponavljam. Cover albuma je isto dobar. Može biti isto u nekoj pozadini, pogotovo vožnjom auta kroz countryside u Texasu. Najdraže su mi Bluebird Wine (htio sam da bude više takvih), Before Believing, For No One (Bitlsova prerada) i Queen of the Silver Dollar. Napravila je ovaj album kao pravi album, kao da je njen, a ne da je prepjevala tuđe. Koincidecija??? - taman ima cover od Dusty Springfield (Coat of Many Colors) koje smo prethodno imali, jučer. Huhu.
I didn't expect that, but I loved the album. It's country, but with a slight folk undertone. Honesty and emotion are palpable in the music of Emmylou Harris. A very nice discovery for me, even if I'm not a die-hard fan of country music.
Really solid country music album from someone I've never heard of. Really liked the first two songs of the album and the rest kept me engaged. Feels ahead of its time too
Track 1 is now one of my favourite songs! Had never listened to EH before. Loved most of the album.
Great album. Would like to hear some original songs performed by Harris, but her voice is no joke; beautiful, soft and charming.
This is a terrific album. Beautiful lyrics delivered in a timeless style
Definitely prefer this older county style compared to... anything modern. Not something I'd always wanna throw on, but I can't deny her charm and vocal prowess. Some great harmonies and instrumentation.
Thanks to 1001 I'm discovering I actually have a pretty big soft spot for country music.
The first memorable experience listening to Emmylou Harris was from her 2000 album "Red Dirt Girl" and this early offering from 1975 has all of the indicators that made "Red Dirt Girl" a good listen. "Boulder to Burmingham" has that gloried mix of hymn, some blues, with a tinge of solemn gospel. The type of combination that defined that softer-almost-folk type of country that this particular era became known for. Emmylou's vocals are remarkably clear, her lyrics enunciated without fault. Musically, the band is clearly tailored to her range. This is a well-done album from 1975, and at the risk of overstatement, Emmylou Harris should be considered a gift to this genre if not for her longevity. Where Dolly Parton brought out the glam and brightness of Nashville as one its best entertainers/singer/songwriter, Emmylou Harris has taken the more studious approach in her career, a sort of grounding to remind everyone that outside of the stage, there is a heart and soul to this music.
Original country music that is bookended by two great, faster songs which I liked a lot. In between there were loads of slower ballads that, despite me wishing a bit faster tempo, were still good and enjoyable
Great country album with a signature Emmylou vocal performance. Great run time and production.
I'm not a fan of Country music, but I am a fan of Emmylou Harris. But with songs this good and a voice as angelic as hers, genres are just not really applicable. It's all just music and this is good music. simple as that. 4 stars
Pretty good. Emmylou has a great voice and the instrumentation is fantastic. The album was a but samey though
For some reason I've been itching to get this album on the list for a while. Not sure why, I've never heard it, but I was intrigued by the cover and title. Emmylou's a country singer, and apparently this one is mostly covers, but she does a great job. You could call it more of a collection of songs than an "album" but whatever it is, it works well. There's an excellent energy stringing all of these together, and while the styles shift here and there the production and instrumentation remains skillful and interesting. I really enjoyed a lot of this, plenty of replay value for me, and it's refreshing as always to get a country album, and from a female artist no less. The list needs more stuff like this to balance itself out! Favorite tracks: Bluebird Wine, If I Could Only Win Your Love, Boulder to Birmingham, Coat of Many colors, For No One, Bottle Let Me Down. Album art: Really love this one. I've seen it a lot, and maybe just by looking at a list of albums including on this list, but something about it sticks with me. The picture seems modern for some reason, maybe it's the name too. There are quite a few female country artists today with similar names and aesthetics that made me think Emmylou's a kindred spirit. But the framing/colors are great here, and the picture is nice and contemplative. 4.5/5
Fantastic country album. Especially back in the 70’s I’d wonder if she was one of the pioneers. Either way, this felt like I was listening to a variant of Joni Mitchell or The Carpenters. Really liked this album.
I didnt know much about Emmylou Harris before I heard this album, but shes got a hell of a voice and theres not a weak track on this whole album. Special credit to "Bottle let me down" and Beatles cover "For No One" - 4/5
This leans a little too country and less folk than I enjoy, but tows that line pretty well. I enjoy it more than I expected to at first. "Bluebird Wine" was the only track I knew well before this and it is a great song. "Boulder to Birmingham" was another standout track. "Sleepless Nights" based off listen counts is a underrated song on this album, it is calm and heartfelt. I really enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would.
I'm not sure I've ever listened to Emmylou Harris. I get her mixed up with other folks in my head and I can't think of, ya know, that one Emmylou Harris song. But damn this is strong. This is just one of those perfect little albums, where everything fits. Even her doing a cover of Coat of Many Colors works just perfectly. I'd only heard that from Dolly Parton, with that distinctive Dolly Parton voice. And yet Harris knocks it out of the park. Is it that I believe everything that comes out of her mouth? Probably. Dug this one. I'll go back.
This is a good example of the good that this project has done for me, as a music fan. Had I gotten this album earlier in the project, I'd have ripped it to shreds in my review. Now, almost 500 albums in, I have a little more perspective. Emmylou clearly has one of the best voices in country music. There's no argument possible there. She's an incredible vocalist. The issue here is the songs. The vast majority of them are utter slogs. Mind-numbingly slow drags through the mud of steel guitar and banjo refrains. But it's far from the worst of the country albums I've gotten on this list. In fact, it might be some of the best. There's a joy here that's missing in the songs of Loretta Lynn or Merle Haggard. The production is solid. And, of course, Emmylou is exceptional. I can't bring myself to give it a 5 but it has earned every bit of its 4-star review.
Such a pure voice. Interesting mix of tracks, mostly covers. Some misses but mostly hits. I appreciate the cover of Beatles’ “For No One” which for me has the saddest lyrics to any Beatles song - Enmylou’s cover reveals the country soul of the song’s theme. Boulder to Birmingham is of course a classic and has earned its place in my personal country favourites playlist.
With a voice clear as a bell, Emmylou Harris brings her own gentle touch to a well-curated group of covers and originals. Those who normally disdain other artists attempting Beatles tunes may be pleasantly surprised at her melancholic rendition of “For No One.”
It's always a pleasure to listen to Emmylou Harris' sweet, angelic voice. This album is a really nice collection that highlights her versatility and never ceases to be charming. The elegantly heart-rending "Boulder to Birmingham" is the obvious star track of the album. But Harris also shines on the covers, including an unexpectedly gorgeous, expressive rendition of "For No One." Fave Songs: Boulder to Birmingham, For No One, Before Believing, The Bottle Let Me Down, Too Far Gone, If I Could Only Win Your Love
8/10 really good but it sounded exactly like Dolly Parton to me and I literally couldn’t tell the difference still, really liked it for the most part
I really enjoyed this. It was quite quaint. A pretty good string of albums I’ve been going through recently.
Flott rödd, fínt country, aldrei aulahrollur. Gæti mjög vel hlustað aftur.
The tribute to Gram Parsons is worth the price of admission, but otherwise it's kind of a standard country album. Best track: Boulder to Birmingham
A voice that I'm used to hearing in background harmonies. When it's front and center in the spotlight, it takes on a different quality. Like yesterday's album (by Joni Mitchell), I am often too busy listening to her voice to pay any attention to the words being sung. She could sing jibberish and I'd listen. Lots of covers on this album make me wonder about her songwriting. Her voice is the focus for sure.
Old country music. Something mom would put on in the car I feel like. Not bad by any means, so it broke into 3 instead of 2, but not my type personally.
Emmylou oli aiemmin tuttu vaan nimenä SMG:n ja First Aid Kitin biiseissä. Artistin genre toki oli tiedossa, mutta muuten varsin vieras tuttavuus. Ihan miellyttävää countryfiilistelyähän tämä oli, vaikkei sinänsä mitään suuria elämyksiä tarjonnutkaan. Tämä jos joku on peruskolmonen.
A nice country/folk album that I didn't know anything about the singer.
Para tener la mano de Gram Parsons, me parece un disco infinitamente más entretenido que el que puso a The Byrds a hacer. El country se siente más como lo que me gusta, quizá a ratos pasado de meloso y melancólico. La voz es muy agradable y adecuada para el género, al menos más que la de Joni Mitchell, y el cover a The Beatles me gustó mucho (aunque obviamente no se compara a la original, que es de mis favoritas). Sin embargo, no le veo mucho la razón de estar en la lista.
Le voy a poner 3 solo por qué es un country muy limpio y por la voz tan perfecta, no hubiera notado que son covers hasta leer los créditos en wikipedia
A bit too country for me, but pretty good overall. Emmylou has a beautiful voice. 2.5 stars.
Usually I find country stuff isn't my thing, but actually found quite a lot of this really soothing. Did enjoy!
I love her music and voice. None of these tracks really stuck with me though.
Super country pero con una dosis de folk suficiente para poder disfrutarlo. Es un disco de 1975 y suena atemporal (es lo que tiene el country). Me ha gustado bastante Queen of the silver Dollar, For No One y también muy bonita Boulder to Birmingham.
I listened to the first half of the album. I like her voice, and some of the songs were in my head later. I listen to most of my music now sitting on the back porch crushing beers. Emmylou Harris is not what I want to listen to when I'm getting after it. But, I appreciate it.
I liked it. Might revisit when the mood is right. Nothing amazing, but pleasant listening.
Needs a re-listen but some surprisingly good stuff here. Including a Beatles cover.
Nice enough without anything really standing out and making me want to listen again.
This album really brings me back to getting stuck riding in my dads car. In general, I enjoy the faster songs more. Some of those slow, country- folk songs are very boring. "Boulder to Birmingham" and "Sleepless nights" make me want to smash their guitar John Belushi style #igavemyloveacherry. Her voice is great. Its sounds like a prettier version of Stevie Nicks (still like Nick's more). "If I could only win your love" is great. She really brings that California country sound that I know her from her collaborations with Graham Nash. Her cover of "For no one" is fantastic. And so are her other covers; you start to understand why she was always invited to play with other bands.
This wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t in the mood for it either. I enjoyed what I heard, but getting into it was very difficult. Might revisit. Might not.
Very nice and good in the background, but only a few tracks really stood out.
Super classic country. I like it. Emmylou has a beautiful voice. This is her first album and you can definitely tell- some of the songs sound same-y. However, she has a huge discography and I bet her music has evolved so much over the years!
It's probably a sin to say that this was just "pretty good," but a few of the standouts were covers and the rest were good, but not amazing.
Nice. Some songs a little slow, some a little honky tonky. Before Believing was the highlight for me, brilliant tune.
No way in any possible universe that Kacey Musgraves didn't craft her entire career around Emmylou Harris. We've got my first country music here. I am generally not a fan. Bluebird Wine was a decent little toe-tapper though. I can see why it's a hit! She follows up the fast song with a very slow ballad, "Too Far Gone," which has Nelson/Cline "Crazy" vibes. Also has a Linda Ronstadt/Eagles sound. I like it. So I looked and Linda Ronstadt is listed as backing vocals on this album - so there you go! If I Could Only Win Your Love is a cover it seems. Pretty standard, but musically decent and good harmony with the male backup singer. Again - sounds like early Eagles. Boulder to Birmingham showcases Harris's vocals. She's a talented singer. A lot of heart and range in her voice. Before Believing is a sad song. She's really taken the tempo down at this point. There's a Joni Mitchell vibe here. Easy listening to the n'th degree. Bottle Let Me Down - All the up-tempo songs are drinking songs. What's that all about? Country music can be so predictable, shallow, and silly. Sleepless Nights: This is an album about an alcoholic whom in between fits of drinking is sad about stuff, so she drinks again. Pretty tragic! Coat of Many Colors - Here's a story song - very sweet song about love, family, and of course the cruelty of general mankind. Powerful song. "One is only poor, if you choose to be." Heartbreaking. Best song so far. For No One - Beatles cover. I heard it right off the bat and thought it was just a similar lyric and sound, but upon closer listening, it's a cover. Definitely a beautiful rendition. Overall, if I'm going to listen to country music, this is the kind I'll listen to. I'm not sure how to categorize it, but the Nashvillian, Dolly Parton/Kasey Musgraves type of stuff is impressive at times.
Not something I would usually listen to but I can appreciate some of the songs. I particularly enjoyed the lyrics of "The bottle let me down"!
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Southern point, Two weeks, Fine for now, Ready,able,
Two country albums in a row what a lucky boy I am! haha jk this isn't too bad, just good old timey country. 3/5.
She has a beautiful and pure voice. The first Songs are pretty good. (6/10) FT: Boulder To Birmingham, Too Far Gone
Not great, not too bad for a country album. The sad type of country. The Beatles cover was a welcome surprise
Emmylou has such a lovely voice, like a warm quilt. While I've never been a huge fan of country, I am beguiled by this album. Emmylou tackles various new country classics and give every song the interpretation it deserve.
All in all it sounds beautiful both the compositions and her voice. A lack of variety brings the score down a bit
Emmy Lou Harris has a great voice and I enjoyed this - for country music which is not really my thing. Would I listen again, yes, but wouldn’t go out of my way. 3
Känns mera som något intressant att lyssna på än något jag vill lyssna på. Det verkar vara fantastiskt inspelat och välskrivet, men har svårt att komma över country tropesen.
This kind of country is not really my thing, while I can recognize it’s quality. The rather apocalyptic title song was an interesting detour.
2 really nice songs before believing . For no one. Less twangy I suppose . Mainly less twangy voiced
Для ковбойского салуна - вполне нормальное музыкальное сопровождение. Но ощущение, что ровно такая же музыка звучит в ковбойских вестернах про 19-ый век. То есть менялась она не сильно даже с тех времён. Надо отдать должное, что есть заимствования из других жанров и хороший голос.
My knowledge of country music is close to none. Even the ones I know and like (Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash) has more folk in them than Emmylou. This is country front to back, and while I can't say that I was crazy about it, it's easy to see why people would like that one. Emmylou has a great voice and most of the songs have a bright, uplifting vibe that is comforting. From what I gather this is mostly covers, but I didn't really recognize the originals except for For No One, which was kinda nice.
Classic country...so much better than modern country. Have always enjoyed Emmylou's sound. 3/5
Bon album de country, les musiciens sont super tasty, c'est dans le style mais pas trop cliché, tout le monde sert les chansons, elle a une belle voix pis toute. Ça sonne vraiment bien. Je connaissais le nom mais c'est ma première écoute. Plus pertinent, à mon avis, sur cette liste que bien d'autres passés et à venir
Pleasantly sung but not many of the songs are great material - I suppose the problem of an album full of covers. If there's any more Emmylou on this list I hope it features more of her own work.
L'appréciation de la musique a beaucoup à voir avec notre culture. La musique country ne fait pas partie de la mienne. Si j'ai appris à apprécier Johnny Cash ou Merle Haggard, j'ai du mal à aller plus loin. La voix d'Emmylou Harris est magnifique, c'est ce que je peux dire.
She's like a character actor but for country music. Great support but just not good enough for her own time in the spotlight. Best Tracks: Bluebird Wine; Boulder to Birmingham; For No One
I enjoyed this album more than I expected. I feel like there are a handful of quite stand-out songs (Bluebird Wine, Boulder to Birmingham, Sleepless Nights, Coat of Many Colors), but the rest seem to not make much impact. Might come back to this one later still. 6/10
I really don't like this shit. Dum de dum (twang), dum de dum (twang) words.
This process is softening me up on country. This is a nice, mournful, gentle album of plaintive loveliness. Now I know the context (it's an album mourning Gram Parsons, essentially) it makes a lot of sense. It didn't blow my mind or anything, but I could listen again, in the right mood.
i liked this album, but i’m not really sure about it — this is a high 3, could be a 4 under other circumstances
Genre: Country 3/5 An exercise in bland, Emmylou Harris' Pieces of the Sky is certainly a country album. Full of very little surprises and rife with the usual substance, this album plays like your downtown neighborhood fair might play out. In all seriousness, this isn't a bad album by any measure, and it's quite easy to listen to, but its distinct lack of spice leaves this project falling short for most of its runtime. Bluebird Wine, the album's twangy opener, is a great way to start the album off, but that's the big highlight of the tracklist unfortunately. An album mostly filled with covers, it was nice to hear some interesting takes on some old tunes. The Beatles even make an appearance, as Emmylou covers Paul's For No One, a great track from Revolver, and it's recreated quite gracefully here. Overall, this is an inoffensive album with light production and decent vocals from our leading lady, but not much in the way of exciting material. Quite milquetoast.
Il faudra un jour proposer un grand débat sur la place de la country dans l'histoire de la musique, ce genre est absolument ringard, et ça même la superbe voix de Emmylou n'y peut rien.
J'aurais probablement apprécié cet album si j'avais été un Américain moyen passionné de rodéo et de soda. Malheureusement, il n'en est rien.
My opinion changes song by song on this a here LP. The first couple tunes were just fine. By the time we get to "Coat of Many Colors" I'm not having the same experience. But then I quite liked the cover of "For No One." Ditto "California Cotton Fields." That one feels like it should've been used as montage music to a 1970s comedy that's set in the 1930s and has a bunch of kids running around in overalls. I'm here for that. I like her voice overall, but I don't know that it stands out to me in such a way that I'll get excited if another one of her albums shows up on this list. I'd be just as happy to listen to Dolly Parton or Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn, ya know? But if she's got an album of nothing but sad Beatles covers I'd be all over it. Also, I got hosed on seeing that The Whole album was up next. Will have to listen to that one (all 144 tracks) later.
This was pretty good. I was a bit disappointed though. This 70s country singer thing is usually my type but not so much this. I did like it though
On hearing Bluebird Wine, this album's first track, I had high hopes, but was a bit disappointed to find that the rest of the album didn't live up to that song. It's not bad by any means, but just middle-of-the-road Country without anything that would make it stand out from other albums of the genre. 2.5/5
It’s mostly okay but that for no one cover is so beautiful 3/5 for the album 5/5 for that track.