Pieces Of The Sky

I’m beginning to realize I don’t dislike country. I dislike the modern hybridization of pop and country.

Emmylou 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.

Angelic. Simply gorgeous.

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.

Love that LADY

Feels like the heart of Americana, thoroughly enjoyed this surprise of an album

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 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.

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

Such a beautiful voice, great lyrics

Really beautiful.

My favorite voice in country music, just exquisite. I know her work with others more than her own albums, so this was a welcome find. Some beautiful songs esp. Boulder To Birmingham and the Beatles cover. No doubt the wonderful Dylan album "Desire" is on this list, but if not it's a required listen if you love her voice as much as I do.

Beautiful voice, modern-ish country, amazing and emotional ballads (Boulder obviously, but also others), excellent Beatles cover. Very good album.

Most of the songs here are either standards turned into country songs, country covers or some covers outside of country origin. But that does not mean her versions are bad. Quite the opposite actually as her voice is absolutely gorgeous and multiple renditions are improved versions of the originals. The album features lush arrangements and instruments that take inspiration from all around the country world (USA). One thing is certain though: Some songs are absolutely incredible and top-tier country song while others are very lackluster and boring. The album opens with 'Bluebird Wine', a very nice up-beat Bluegrass song that showcases her voice and ability to perform. I think you could not have choosen a better intro for this album as it really puts you in a mood for some country. The instruments also work great, especially the banjo. The follow up 'Too Far Gone' is much calmer and laid back, mainly focusing on a sentimental piano and guitar playing. It stands in big contrast to the opener without leaving you desiring more of what made Track 1. Another big highlight on the album. 'If I Could Only Win Your Love' is a duet with Herb Pedersen who complements Emmylou's vocals very well. The harmonies just work and his voice is perfect for the song. I also really enjoy the acoustic guitar solo. The only song she wrote herself was 'Boulder to Birmingham' and it's kind of sad that she didn't write more as this is without a doubt a great country song. Her vocal performance is incredible, as is the build-up tension and the chorus. Side A closes with 'Before Believing' and this is kind of the point where the album slowly looses its greatness. The song feels much less genuine or forced and it is also way to long. It does end the first half pretty fittingly but it does it in a way where you miss the greatness of the start very fast. It is not a bad song... it's just that I don't care for it at all as it isn't carrying a lot of emotional weight or interest with it. 'Bottle Let Me Down' is opening the second half with a very Honky Tonk sounding instrumental and I mean the subject matter is alcohol... which is as Honky Tonk as it gets. It's an alright song, nothing too crazy but a little bit more interesting than the song before. A similar problem has 'Sleepless Nights': not bad, it just doesn't matter much. Neither to me nor the structure of the album. The greatness of the start does return with the next two songs. 'Coat of Many Colors', which was a legendary Dolly Parton song, is a really good rendition of that song and a much more contemporary piece than its predecessors. The Beatles cover 'For No One', originally off of Revolver, is much different in its structure than the original classic but she delivers it in a beautiful and outstanding way. While it does not get close to the original, it is one of the best songs on this album. Especially the strings add so much to this one. The closing track 'Queen of the Silver Dollar' is much less perfect. Way too long, the build-up is weird and doesn't really work. The chorus is groovy though but that makes the rest feel very weak and uninteresting. It's better than some of the rest on here but it isn't in the stronger half. favourites: Bluebird Wine, Boulder to Birmingham, For No One, Too Far Gone, If I Could Only Win Your Love least favourites: Sleepless Nights, Before Believing, Queen of the Silver Dollar Rating: light to decent 8 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

I can’t write another review of a country record that focuses on my inability to connect with country music. It wasn’t something I wasn’t raised with and I’ve never really had many people in my life that were country music fans. I’m 43, and not to diminish our propensity as humans to grow and change, but I don’t see country music ever being an art form that really engages me. Emmylou Harris’ “Pieces of the Sky”, while more enjoyable than most of the country records I’ve heard - and maybe not as “overtly” country, if that makes sense, doesn’t really change that for me. It was good, very good even, but it didn’t grab me and make me want more. Conversely, I haven’t been able to stop listening to the song “Starry Eyes” by The Records. My god, what a song…pure power pop excellence. I guess that’s where I’m at these days.

"Pieces of the Sky" by Emmylou Harris is a country music classic that showcases her angelic voice and talent as an interpreter of songs. Released in 1975, it marks her debut solo album and the beginning of a storied career. Tracks like "Bluebird Wine" and "Boulder to Birmingham" are notable for their emotional depth and Harris's haunting vocals. The album's production, led by Brian Ahern, is polished and tasteful, with a mix of traditional country and folk influences. While "Pieces of the Sky" is an impressive debut, it doesn't quite reach the same heights as some of Harris's later work. Some listeners might find it a bit uneven, with a mix of original compositions and covers. However, it's a foundational album that laid the groundwork for her subsequent success in the country and folk genres, earning it a solid 3/5 rating.

You know how cats look when they’re basking in the warm sun shining through a window and it seems like all their bones melted away into a puddle of bliss? That’s me listening to Emmylou.

I bought this on recommendation a few years ago and never got round to listening to it. The sound of the record is exquisite and, to my ears, unusual: there’s so much going on, it often is a wall of sound, , but one where you can easily make out each individual element. The songs are frequently beautiful, but oppressively tasteful. Harris’s voice is outstanding, perfect and distinctive, the experience of hearing her sing these covers is like watching an exceptional actor play a classic role. Lovely, but not haunting. Unfairly, Souled American’s handful of skeletal covers jump to mind as the victorious counter argument. After writing that I listened to their take on “Little Bessie, and let faint terror in. I’m not asking for a Lo-fi slowcore Emmylou Harris album, but some grit and flaw would have lifted this record up. S, this morning I saw a brown bear on the way to the nursery - O shouted “DAHG!”

Stunning

Penis = hard

010122 14:42 4.5

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.

Absolutely loved it. Was vaguely aware of her before, but will absolutely give her more of a listen to. This album is why I love this process. Finding gems like this.

Great country album!

awesome album! I am a softy for good country music!

It's mostly covers, but wow they are well done. The emotion in her voice is pure. I'm always a sucker for "Coat of Many Colors" too.

Very nice

I really liked the album, it was nice soft country music that was very calming. I especially liked Bluebird Wine, Boulder to Birmingham, Sleepless Nights and California Cotton Fields.

Awesome album. I listened to this on many a family road trip as a kid. Great covers from an incredible vocalist throughout. “Boulder to Birmingham” is one of the most beautiful, tender songs ever conceived. *****

One of my favourite country albums so far on this list. Harris’s voice gave goosebumps on at least a few occasions. September 19, 2022

Instant classics on almost every track. Harris find traditional music and weaves in into country and the emerging folk-rock scene to creat Americana.

I love Emmylou. I wish she did more originals. She's done some iconic covers but also didn't have much to add to, for example, the Beatles original work. Bluebird Wine is a banger though.

flowery and kind of boring

fuck es isch wie wenn fleetwood mac chli meh country und ich ha gern country fuck ich ha gern oyeah. too far gone isch gad sehr cheesy aber es hittet en spot. mit de slide gitarre und ihri stimm isch jo hammmer. boulder to birmingham au suuper de shit isch soo schön ufgnoh. tomight the bittle let me down seehr country standard. aber ebe guet. coat of many colors het d dolly scho tschuttet. und die version isch etz nöd irgendwie viel besser aber de song isch halt super. ha no denkt ich kenn for no one. duh isch beatles. huuuere schöööön d gitarrelicks ufff. boooh meeega nice. und s gitarresolo hooopala wie geil. bin seeehr nöch amne füfi. super super schöne hammer gspielte country mega geili songs mega tasty alles.

Gorgeous voice, great arrangements, nice variety of fast fun songs and slower more emotional ballads. As good as country gets for me! 5/5.

Unreal vocals. Quintessential country music right here

Thank god they didn’t stack another stinker on me after Ryan Adams

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 didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would, there's something about the instrumentation that doesn't support her voice quite as well as I would have liked but towards the back half of this it started to mold into something that I really enjoyed, very angelic. Also contains a cover of the best beatles song so automatically gets points lol

Song: Boulder to Birmingham Wow. This song is so stunning, and it nearly brought me to tears. Emmylou Harris's voice is absolutely beautiful, so pure and sweet, and she sings with so much emotion that I just got swept up in the song. I could listen to that on repeat for hours.

Guess I do like country. This got my attention right from Bluebird Wine and was pretty great. Emmylou has an awesome voice and i liked the music here a lot. I've heard a couple mid 70s country albums here and so far they've all been pretty good. My favorites here are Bluevird Wine, Gone Too Far, Bottle Let Me Down, and Hank and Lefty.

No one told me country could be this good.

i think if i had been a little more tortured today this would have made me cry

Really enjoyed it. Like kind of sad, very good country music. 9/10

Well, damn. I'm diggin' rap AND country now? I can't find a single thing to criticize. I couldn't help but hear a little Dolly Parton, and then she goes and covers "Coat of Many Colors" to make me feel like I might know WTF I'm talking about. The Beatles' cover ranks among the best I've heard — not of that song specifically, but a general statement that she did an expert job translating the song and bringing something personal and new. Great arrangements, harmonies, instrumentation, playing... I mean, what else do you listen to music for?

OMG I grew up on this album. My mother loved folk music and my dad like bluegrass. Emmylou is the perfect mix of both.

Great! Cool covers. I especially liked For No one

Emmylou Harris' style of music is country folk. It sounds like a female John Denver. Her voice is beautiful. She does a fantastic job of covering Dolly Parton's song Coat of Many Colors. Overall, a fantastic album. Perfect for a lazy Sunday. Favourite songs: Queen of the Silver Dollar, Bluebird Wine, Bottle Let Me Down, Coat of Many Colors, Hank and Lefty, California Cotton Fields, Boulder to Birmingham, If I Could Only Win Your Love, Least favourite songs: Sleepless Nights, For No One 5/5

Wow the vocals alone are a 5!

country music is great and this proves it

Emotional and honest, love the story telling and the vibe of the old school country

A country music classic

Glorious, beautiful, soaring. 5 stars.

Great early post gram Parsons weepy country.

I love her voice so much. Most of these songs are covers but that doesn't bother me. Queen of The Silver Dollar is one of my favorite country songs. All in all I probably enjoy this at the 4 level, but its absolutely criminal that the current community rating is barely over 3. It needs a 5.

second emmylou harris album and wow i love country music again

Marvellous

Genuinely heartbreaking country ballads. Gorgeous arrangements. An incredibly talented singer.

Album: Pieces of the Sky Artist: Emmylou Harris Year: 1975 Album #: 72 (listened after album 274) first impressions: usually not super excited to listen to country but this sounds pretty surprisingly contemporary and not...crusty and whiny. after listening through: what an emotional and musical rollercoaster!! i'm exhausted but also excited to dig further into her catalog. post-reading reviews/wiki: curious what contemporary musicians will end up like Ms Harris 50 years from now, if any. recommended for: Dolly Parton fans

Sublime. Beautiful vocals, excellent playing, American music at its absolute finest.

Hauntingly beautiful voice. ever ever heard of her and immediatly fell in love. country usually isn't my thing (minus ts debut or any dolly parton bc duh), but she made me realize that I actually do like the country-folk mixture she does.

I LIKED THIS

So good. My favourite we've had so far.

Sweet voice. Always a pleasure.

Wow, what an amazing work of art! I was vaguely familiar with Emmylou Harris as that folksy country singer with the amazing high glass-like smooth voice, but I hadn't really heard much of her music before this. Every track was amazing to listen to, but I especially loved For No One -- one of the best covers I've ever heard of it. Emmylou's voice is like Dolly Parton crossed with Joni Mitchell for me, just really great! So good I had to listen to it twice. Five stars easily.

Here is the warm fuzzy blanket that I could have used yesterday!

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!

Sublime. More like this please!

Wonderful country/bluegrass album. Great songs, great voice.

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.

Love.

What a throwback that was.

Really beautiful

Love her voice & her music. Great 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

Really nice. Will listen again.

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.

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.

Her voice is beautiful.

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.

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.

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

Pretty good. Emmylou has a great voice and the instrumentation is fantastic. The album was a but samey though

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

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

Love it.

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.”

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.

Great country album with a signature Emmylou vocal performance. Great run time and production.

Prachtig!

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.

She has a beautiful voice. I loved the Beatles cover.

Thanks to 1001 I'm discovering I actually have a pretty big soft spot for country music.

Good background music. Really nice voice and not too “country”.

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.

“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

Was pleasantly surprised by this one