Reviews (page 2 of 8)
That voice...
Very nice
Pieces of the Sky showcases Emmylou Harris as a complete artist, revealing not only her stunning vocal ability but also her depth and sensitivity as a songwriter. The album moves confidently between traditional country, folk, and more contemporary influences, and in each setting she proves capable of crafting and interpreting songs with equal emotional power. Across the record, Harris’s originals stand comfortably alongside the covers, showing a strong melodic sense and a natural gift for storytelling that match the expressiveness of her voice. The result is a debut that feels fully formed, establishing her not just as one of the great singers in country music, but as a writer with a clear artistic vision and an unmistakable personal voice.
This is a beautiful recording. I'll admit a fondness for Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. Amazing artists! I guess at the end of the day I appreciate originality and musicianship over everything else. This record has that in spades.
Beautiful vocals, right up my alley kind of country, pleasant surprises. This one i might need to buy for my collection.
I think I got an immediate crush on her voice on track one. Stunning. Plus a Merle Haggard cover and a Beatles cover? What a treat
Awesome, great country
Now that's real country music! Her voice is angelic, and the arrangements and lyrics are fantastic. I listened to it 3 times in a row and I was left wanting more! Incredible and wonderful! 5 stars!
What a beautiful voice. I'm not a die-hard country fan but this is what I think of when I think of 'real' country music, great storytelling. Highlights are Before Believing, Sleepless Nights & Bluebird Wine.
The steel guitar only detracts a little from this masterpeice. Incredible honest storytelling over beautiful well executed music.
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.
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.
Thank god they didn’t stack another stinker on me after Ryan Adams
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.
Penis = hard
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. *****
Instant classics on almost every track. Harris find traditional music and weaves in into country and the emerging folk-rock scene to creat Americana.
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.
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
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.
Gorgeous voice, great arrangements, nice variety of fast fun songs and slower more emotional ballads. As good as country gets for me! 5/5.
i think if i had been a little more tortured today this would have made me cry
I thought the album had ended and Dolly came on when Coat of Many Colors played. Excellent album. Beautiful voice. Great guitar, steel guitar, and banjo on the album.
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.
Great country album!
No one told me country could be this good.
Really enjoyed it. Like kind of sad, very good country music. 9/10
Great early post gram Parsons weepy country.
Wow the vocals alone are a 5!
OMG I grew up on this album. My mother loved folk music and my dad like bluegrass. Emmylou is the perfect mix of both.
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.
Sweet voice. Always a pleasure.
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?
Great! Cool covers. I especially liked For No one
country music is great and this proves it
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
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.
A country music classic
second emmylou harris album and wow i love country music again
Glorious, beautiful, soaring. 5 stars.
Marvellous
Wonderful country/bluegrass album. Great songs, great voice.
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.
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
I LIKED THIS
Sublime. Beautiful vocals, excellent playing, American music at its absolute finest.
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.
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!
Here is the warm fuzzy blanket that I could have used yesterday!
Sublime. More like this please!
What a throwback that was.
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
Stunning
flowery and kind of boring
Unreal vocals. Quintessential country music right here
010122 14:42 4.5
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.
Emotional and honest, love the story telling and the vibe of the old school country
Love.
Very nice
awesome album! I am a softy for good country music!
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.
So good. My favourite we've had so far.
Oh, a country covers album. One by a singer I have no prior experience with at that. Harris is clearly an excellent country singer on par with the likes of Dolly Parton and other legends of her ilk. "Boulder to Birmingham" is the only original song, but it's an excellent country ballad dealing with grief in a way all of us can understand and empathize with. Harris's talent as an interpreter of other people's songs is on clear display here as well. I would give this a 5, but for my old rule: albums comprised mainly of covers lose a star because the artist's songwriting cannot be properly assessed in the absence of original material. This album is ranked #16 of 22 for 1975. Other 1975 albums rated by me: Wish You Were Here(1/22)-5 A Night At The Opera(2/22)-5 Physical Graffiti(3/22)-4 Blood on the Tracks(4/22)-3 Mothership Connection(7/22)-4 That's the Way of the World(8/22)-5 Red Headed Stranger(11/22)-5
The twang! The heavenly slides! The voice! The harmonies! The tender melancholy! The swagger!
I was hoping to love this album, but only really like it. A small but important distinction. Emmylou has a classically beautiful voice and brings sufficient emotion to each song. There’s just something missing for me, but I don’t know what. Maybe it gets too slow and sappy for me.
Thumbs up as usual!
yes i love this. yes i am spiritually sometimes a white woman. sue me.
shes never been a favorite of mine but i dont have complaints
I enjoyed this, very easy listening country with Dolly P vibes.
Excellent country music, beautiful voice.
Beautiful, light, breezy, has the freshness despite being 50 years old. Timeless quality, even if not perfect.
This is what country should sound like
Yesterday's album was Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will The Circle Be Unbroken, which was two excruciatingly long hours of whisky, Jesus, and smothering the names of southern states with as much panache and twang as you can muster. While there was clear talent behind it, it was my first one star review and I almost quit listening to it at multiple points. So, my heart sunk when I saw that I had been given more 1970s country. This was a really pleasant surprise. A lushly produced and emotional album from an artist with an absolutely beautiful voice and an impressive range. The beatles cover may be better than the original. I worry 4 stars may be too low and a result of yesterday's onslaught maybe affecting how much I could connect to this, but I do really like this and that 4 may become a 5 down the line.
She sho sangs purty!
I’m convinced the only reason people don’t like country music is because they’re classist.
Fantastic vibe of old country and a glitter of a new fresh take.
A beautiful sound from a voice that understands technique. She makes these covers her own, including the Beatles’ “For No One.”
Gorgeous performances, and the ideal balm for the whole “wake up / coffee / camo / climb tree”-ness of chart-bothering contemporary country music. One to show anyone who thinks they hate country or folk as an entirety.
Wonderful. Really enjoyed this album today. Love her voice.
Very good. I liked it a lot.
shades of Wynette and Dolly while hinting at - and inspiring - the Allison Krauss and others to come. Beautiful and just a little different in it's time. 4
I’ve been learning that while I’m mostly not a fan of modern country pop, I actually do like a lot of classic country. This album is a wonderful example of a country album I enjoy. There is so much more substance to these songs compared to what gets spun on country music radio today. I especially like the bluegrass feel on a few tracks and her cover of For No One was spectacular.
Well, I guess I'm into Country now. Damn this is beautiful stuff. A great mix of folk and country.
Cool country album. Liked the rock inspired songs. Made me feel cozy. Meaning of the songs were good.
her voice is tantalizing, and the sound overall is so crisp and clean. love
Not my usual style but this is genuinely beautiful
Yeah man, good country. Can't imagine needing to return to this unless I'm in the mood for it but she's a great singer and player. Unsure how much is covers and how much are originals but it's all good, this is just a good album.
Get'em Emmy!
Love hearing another version of Coat of Many Colors. Also just a wonderful and gorgeous record.
Emmylou has the voice of an angel and some of her best songs are found here. It can feel a little uneven upon relisten, but look, she’s great, the album’s great. Emmylou is the heart and soul of classic country.
Very cleanly produced 3.5/5
I am developing a better appreciation for earlier country music through this project. Simple songs with good melodies and lyrics that tell good stories. I thought Emmylou Harris was the best part of the Gram Parsons album I had recently and this album proved me right.
Pretty great. Bluebird wine and the For No One cover were my favorites Overall, I dig the vibe on this and hear how she could be an influence to even 90s country artists. She sounds way ahead of her time
Loved this. First half of the album is much stronger - especially that burning first track - but right up my alley on the bluegrass/folk vibe.
Loved this!
Hun lyder lidt som Joni Mitchell. Fantastisk stemme, meget bedre end den forrige vi havde med hende! Virkelig godt cover af et af mine yndlings Beatles numre. Stor 4
Country music is not usually my thing, I promise. 4/5.
Beautiful.
Thoroughly enjoyed this album. How to country music go so far of the rails?
After 3-4 listens today, this is really on my good side. Classic country with a wonderful voice to carry you through.
3.5
Sounds somewhat like Dolly Parton, but smoother.
Super easy listen
Very beautiful voice, good songs
Great album to break from the rock heavy list.
this is a great album
Her second album. Country. Wait, what!? I don't even like Country. This was authentic and with real emotion. The vocals are fantastic. Something different from my usual playlists and that's what I am here for. Really good.
Emmylou Harris is a name I’ve known forever but whose music I’ve never heard. This was a lovely Sunday morning.
guaranteed you give me a country album its going to be liked. but this is being loved. real music!!! before believing, too far gone, sleepless nights, if only I could win your love ... story of my life my gosh. I love it, I love country music man.
I will not include the bonus tracks from the expanded edition in this review. About half a year ago, I talked about how singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris worked with Gram Parsons on his solo career up until his tragic passing. Well, Emmylou decided to continue in Gram's legacy with her own solo career. Pieces of the Sky serves as her major-label debut, and I consider it to be a solid effort, for what it's worth. Emmylou has a very distinct soprano delivery that feels both delicate and resilient, as her country performance seems to take more cues from folk rock. Thus, she carried a very charismatic spirit through upbeat tunes like "Bluebird Wine" and slow-burning ballads like "Too Far Gone". Probably the most notable track on his record is "Boulder to Birmingham", a song she penned in tribute to Gram, as she ruminated on the feelings she was experiencing from his untimely passing. It is a genuinely moving piece as Emmylou illustrated the lengths she would go to see him again. This is some very promising songwriting from her on this track. Unfortunately, "Boulder to Birmingham" is the only track on which Emmylou had a songwriting credit. The rest of this album saw her perform songs from other songwriters and artists around her, including The Louvin Brothers with "If I Could Only Win Your Love", Merle Haggard with "The Bottle Let Me Down", The Everly Brothers with "Sleepless Nights", The Beatles with "For No One", and, in particular, her contemporary and future collaborator Dolly Parton with "Coat of Many Colors". Emmylou did her best performing her renditions of these songs to showcase her range. I just don't find them as transformative compared to the original works, that's all. Still, I enjoyed Pieces of the Sky for establishing a country singer-songwriter in the making. If anything, I'm glad she continued in her friend's legacy and forged her path.
Very enjoyable. Fun to listen to this so soon after Coat of Many Colors by Dolly, as this has a cover. Would listen again.
Am I turning into a country music fan? I think this is the second album of hers that I think is fantastic :-( Geez, what's wrong with me?
Overall quite good with some of the highest highs yet.
not My Thing but pretty fun and doesn't overstay its welcome
4+/5
What a beautiful voice! Great tunes, and it’s what country should be. Too Far Gone was my fav song and first listen. Boulder to Birmingham and If I Could Only Win Your were my other highlights
Americana? Country? Whatever it's called, I've definitely got a soft spot for this type of music. And good songwriting.
Boulder to Birmingham and Queen of the Silver Dollar are my favorites. I can quibble with the high 1970s country production, but it wouldn't kill my enthusiasm for the song writing. She does an earnest and faithful cover of my favorite Dolly Parton song, but it doesn't outshine the original. It is such a profound and sad song, I will take it in almost any format.
4/5 - Pretty rare that I'm going to go high on the rating just for vocal quality, but this deserves it.
Emmylou Harris is about as country as I like. Bluegrass/folk instead of full country western. I like her voice. She’s great every year at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.
First Listen; 4; I really, really enjoyed this album. There's an effortlessness here while still sounding incredibly powerful. The instrumentation is also diverse enough to not sound like twangy country music over and over. To my ears, this also sounds very modern and timeless. Favorite Track: Queen of the Silver Dollar
While I can't cite any particular song I liked, I enjoyed it as a whole. Beautiful voice.
Lore time: Gram Parsons is one of my favorite musicians of all time, and this debut by EmmyLou showcases just how much influence and impact he had on her. In a way, this feels like the final Parsons project. Because of this, this isn’t your typical debut album. I don’t think EmmyLou had intended on launching solo by the time Parsons died in ‘73. Despite that, she carried on the torch of their works in a super beautiful and impactful way. Songs like Boulder to Birmingham (one of the few non covers on here) showcase just how impactful that relationship was to her. This same year, she would go on to collaborate with Bob Dylan on his album “Desire” where she takes on a similar role as she did with Parsons, doing harmonies and background singing. With that, she would also tag along for one of the best tours ever imo (Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue *Watch the doc it’s amazing*) To me this era 1975-1977 is what cemented the legacy she was building from the early 70’s. She was already a well established artist in the folk and country scene, but now she was cemented in history. I fucking love EmmyLou.
Emmylou loves a instrumental bridge and so do I. Alot of these older records are covers and I love the original on this one Boulder to Birmingham. She has such a good voice and a lovely backing instrumental. I love country that really leans into itself. The Queen of the silver dollar is so amazing. The way she makes herself seem like royalty through her singing. I really like Emmylou Harris and I want to delve deeper into her originals but the covers are nice.
I love Emmylou’s voice. So beautiful and melancholic. 4 stars. Fave - Boulder to Birmingham
Wonderful
A beautiful voice. I recognised the beatles cover, perhaps there are others but either way it was just a good listen
Love a good classic country album. It’s also cool that the (arguably) best song on the album is the one song written by her. Very neat!
This was excellent. Hope to return in the future. Some of the covers didn't really do it for me (meaning that I often preferred other versions to the ones here). This has good range and sounds quite nice throughout.
A relaxing album to listen near the campfire.
I love Emmylou’s voice and sensibility. She pours her heart in her craft. Not rating 5 because the twang in the back started to make me sick around the 8th song
Beautiful voice and great songs
Really good album from one of country's preeminent female vocalists.
Lovely. I added Boulder to Birmingham to my Generator playlist.
Interesting coincidence to get a second straight legendary lady of country music and another album with Coat of Many Colors. I'm an admirer of Dolly but a fan of Emmylou, and this is one of her best. The Hot Band is still in the future, but the Nashville ringers are top notch and EL delivers some stunning performances, especially her take on For No One. Not my favorite of hers, but a top notch solo debut
Cool cool country sound. Her voice is unmistakable and remarkable. The covers were cool also, especially the Bottle Let Me Down/Merle Haggard one. Even the folks in my listening group who aren't country fans like this.
My comment last time was that she sounded like a less country Dolly Parton and this time she really leaned j to the country sound and actually sang “Coat of Many Colors,” aside from that my favorite was probably “Bottle Let Me Down”
Country douce, très agréable même si parfois un peu lisse.
"Boulder of Birmingham" is notable for being both her sole original song on this album, and the best song on the album. I think it loses a point for being mostly covers, but it's still a wonderful listen.
My favorite country voice and one of my favorite all time singers. I would have picked Wrecking Ball for this list though.
4 stars
Good material and a beautiful voice. Emmylou is a treasure
Great album. Good song choice. Well song. Ok arrangements.
Awesome voice and some enjoyable country tunes.
Such a beautiful album, beautiful voice. Somehow I never heard this before but I was very very impressed. I would rate it probably a 3.6 or 3.7 so surrounding up to four stars. I think I'll be returning to this again.
She has a really beautiful voice. The cover of “for no one” shows how dark that song is and what a great cierran illuminate. I don’t think she was able to di the same thing with “coat of many colors” which felt like just a worse copy of Dollys version.
Sounds of a budding star.
Stuffed my face full of popcorn while I listened to this. I like her voice and the instrumentals.
I admit I have a soft spot for this type of country music. Partly because I grew up with it and partly because I love the idea of story telling. And modern country has lost its identity. The odd song shines through but the majority is pop with a twang here and there and a poor effort southern drawl. Or it’s just racist, songs about drinking beer, and fishing. It’s pretty uninspiring. It’s funny how I can draw parallels to modern country to some modern hip hop. It’s just bad. Not all bad. Don’t get your knickers in knot. This record was full of charm and honesty that it’s hard not to like it, as a lover of music and song writing.
Really beautiful album with some fantastic singing and lyrics. I am not much for country but I really enjoyed this one!
I’m far from an expert in classic country, so I know the name Emmylou Harris but can’t say I heard anything of her. This is beautiful folky singer songwriter music. Harris’s voice is incredible and the songs are well written but mostly covers. It is pretty mellow throughout and more than a bit saccharine. So I’d say worthy of a place in the list but not my personal top 100 or anything. Giving four stars for the really great voice a vocal performance.
Gostosinho o estilo country, me imagino muito no início de uma road trip. Muito boas a primeira e a quarta. Cantou até Beatles, aí sim. Gostei da voz dela, músicas boas. 4*
Achei a primeira música (Bluebird Wine) MUITO foda. Aquele estilo clássico da rádio country do San Andreas. Curti bastante. Já dá pra ver de cara que a mulher canta pra caralho. As vezes o álbum vai pra uma pegada mais calminha que, apesar de ser bonito, me dá um pouco de sono kkkkk não curto muito. Mas teve várias que acabei adicionando, geralmente as mais agitadinhas. Curti o álbum, músicas muito bem feitas, voz muito boa, altos banjinho daóra, acabei adicionando várias. Fiquei alternando entre 3* e 4* a medida que o álbum ficava um pouco mais monótono ou mais agitado. Mas acho que vou de 4* sim, acho que merece. Achei divertido.
Modern country has really damaged the reputation of country music. Stuff like this, at least for me, is what country should be. Emmylou has such a beautiful voice with that amount of country twang. I really liked this, especially her cover of For No One!
Light and breezy, love Emmylou Harris
Very enjoyable
Pieces of the Sky delivers timeless country through rich melodies, sincere lyrics, and a voice that carries every song effortlessly.
Drinking
Super fun
What a beaut
7/10
Yes! Country should sound something like this.
Цікавий альбом, мені сподовка голос співачки
Sublime.
Like a lot of singers of the time, it seems like most of this is covers or performances of songs written by others. This isn't a bad thing because I was only familiar with a few of them in any case. It's hard to comment on her as a songwriter, but as a singer she's flawless country royalty. I particularly liked her take on the Beatles song "For No One" which changes it pretty significantly from the original. I also enjoyed her rendition of "Coat of Many Colors", which we heard on a previous Dolly Parton album. She's got such a great voice and all the songs are well performed. Good stuff.
A strong country voice, even if this is mostly covers.
Great country album - she’s very underrated - got a beautiful voice - I think there was a few standout songs and the rest were ok
8/10 Favourite: Too Far Gone Least Favourite: Bottle Let Me Down
Country music… no thanks! Oh wait, hang on this is pretty good and her voice is amazing… I am in!
Coat of many colors and boulder to Birmingham are classic country ballards this album helped make a staple
She just has a magnificent voice. Songs flow nicely
Classic country music. Sure, it’s mostly cover versions, but they’re beautifully done, the arrangements are memorable, and Harris’s voice is lovely throughout. It’s also beautifully produced. I liked this much more than ‘Red Dirt Girl’ (also on the list). I even stuck around for the bonus songs on the expanded version.
I don't know what's happening to me as I get older, but my attitude towards country music is really starting to soften. I used to hate the genre with a passion, but I really enjoyed the Willie Nelson album I was drawn on this list ('Red Headed Stranger'), and I don't mind this Emmylou Harris album either. 'Pieces of the Sky' cements Harris' status as one of the "Big Three" female country singers of the 1970s alongside Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt, showcasing her effortless vocal chops. Through 10 carefully selected tracks from the likes of Charlie and Ira Louvin ('If I Could Only Win Your Love'), Merle Haggard ('The Bottle Let Me Down'), her contemporary Dolly Parton ('Coat of Many Colours') and even The Beatles ('For No One'), Harris' impressive vocals give these songs plenty of new life, and is aptly supported by sound instrumentation and that classic country atmosphere. Her sole songwriting credit on this album is 'Boulder to Birmingham' (the Alabama city, not the England one), and it is certainly the highlight here. Harris wrote it primarily to express her grief around the untimely death of her mentor and fellow country star, Gram Parsons, who was also good friends with Keith Richards, funnily enough. Perhaps getting into the Stones more has eased my view of country, given Richards incorporated the genre quite heavily into the Stones' early 70s records. But anyway, back to Harris. 'Pieces of the Sky' is a solid record given its her major label debut. Harris would continue to excel as a country artist throughout the 70s and this album helped set her on the right path. Best songs: If I Could Only Win Your Love, Boulder to Birmingham, The Bottle Let Me Down, Coat of Many Colours, For No One
Highs and lows on here for me. The first few tracks I thought were pretty good with some very nice high harmony singing. At least one song in the middle of the album sounded just a little too much like praise music for my taste, but then the last few tracks I really enjoyed. I think the highs outweigh the lows, and it's one I'll probably come back to again. 3.5/5
Pretty nice album. I have gained an appreciation for Emmylou over 1001 albums. I liked this one about as much as Red Dirt Girl, but this one doesn't sound like Sheryl Crow. 3.5/5
Her voice is truly remarkable. I always love getting a country artist on this list and this was delightful. There weren’t really any standout tracks but I liked it more than a 3 star album so it’s getting a 4
Really easy listen, her voice is one of the very best
Enjoyable country music record. I would listen to this one while enjoying a hot summer evening in the countryside. Emmylou has such a beautiful voice. Special mention to that Beatles' cover.
It was pretty good but I don't really get what was so special
Enjoyed this. Sweet voice and nice lyrics
A lovely blend of folk and country with a great voice and some great songs.
Gorgeous voice even if not a go to genre.
Unexpectedly nice
Emmylou had me falling in love with both types of music, country and western.
Never heard of it, but some banger country/folk music.
Very nice
Belle voix. Une grande de sa catégorie.
Je peux pas dire c'est vraiment mon vibe, mais ça s'écoute bien en background. Je mettrais ça au même niveau que Coat of Many Colors, de Parton dont elle partage à peu près le même timbre de voix. Et d'ailleurs, surprise, un cover!
Du bon country! Certaines plus « quetaine » du genre If I could only win your love, qui viennent pas me chercher. Alors que d’autres sonnent plus chanson d’autrice, ou on voit son beau talent ressortir. Quelle voix en plus m!
I’m not usually a big country music fan, but I rather enjoyed this album. Older country definitely hits different than modern country, I don’t even feel like it’s the same genre at all.
Emmylou learned from Gram to sing country from the depths as well as the surfaces, which means going pop, going rock, and going for nothing but the soul. 'I have come to listen for the sound / Of the trucks as they move down out on 95.' She's more Joni and Mary (Travers) than Patsy or Dolly - she's more of a soarer than a crier, hence the title of this record. But that doesn't mean she's an ethereal or vapid angel. She has her problems, no doubt, and she gains from Merle to be straight, to be actual: 'The one true friend I thought I'd found / Tonight, the bottle let me down.' I prefer Dolly's 'Coat of Many Colors,' and tho Harris is an Alabamian, it don't always feel that way. If I want southern, this isn't where I'd go, but good for you it is.
Gorgeous voice, and great songs
Beautiful voice, a country classic that I wasn't aware of until today.
I was a bit apprehensive when this came up on the generator today. I've heard some of her songs before, and while I think she's talented, her vocals have usually become annoying to me in the same way as Dolly Parton's do. I wasn't feeling great when Bluebird Wine began, as it was exactly what I thought the entire album would be. But then Too Far Gone began and I absolutely loved it. Her singing didn't bother me at all, in fact it was perfect for the lyrics. I found that I either liked or loved most of the songs after that as well, as I got more used to her vocals. I prefer her version of Coat of Many Colors to the original, and I almost feel the same about For No One. This was a such a pleasant surprise for me. I'm not sure it's a five, but it might be as I think about it more.
Beautiful voice. Would definitely listen to this again.
Not a lot to say about this album. The music was fine; her voice was fine but definitely had the country twain. I liked the variety of songs. I enjoyed hearing Linda Ronstadt's harmony. Best song: "If I Could Only Win Your Love' and worst song: "Bluebird Wine".
I’ve heard her sing duets with some of my fave country artists, and always really enjoyed her, but never listened to one of her records. I’m not sure why it’s taken me this long… What a voice. It’s hard to describe. It’s like everyone else, talented or not, sings in 480p. Emmylou Harris sings in 4k. I don’t love every song on this record, but even the less interesting songs are made better because of the singing. 4/5
Lovely voice. Lovely stuff. My progression until actual country continues.
I really liked some of this. Some of the songs about whiskey and the bottle were a bit too country even for me, but I really like her voice.
Country is overhated
Disco de country increíble. Emmylou tiene una voz muy bonita
Solid country album, cosy and transportive. Realistically a 3* but bumping up because I was feeling it today.
I liked it. Her early stuff is really quite nice. 4.00/5
*Fantastic classic country album *Loved Boulder to Birmingham and Coat of Many Colors
One of the only country albums that I've heard so far that I actually enjoyed. Good fun.
Perfect voice for country!
Rounding up to 4 stars. Really liked Bluebird wine, queen of the silver dollar, and Hank and lefty.
Fun, catchy country album.
Honestly this ended up being better than I thought it would be. I really enjoyed her cover of Parton.
Unapologetic, simple, and genuinely beautiful country. It’s a reminder of an era when the genre leaned on real talent rather than affectation: no gimmicks, no exaggerated twang, just a stunning voice and immaculate songwriting. Harris makes it feel effortless, and that’s exactly what makes it great.
8/10.
Lovely Album, will revisit
Familiar with the name but not the music. Boulder to Birmingham is great and I really liked a few other songs as well. 136 albums in and this is my first real country album. This seems too few. Perhaps some Britpop could have been sacrificed?
I knew who Emmylou Harris was but I was not familiar with her music. I really love her voice and as well as the beautiful bluegrass / country music. The songs did start to all sound the same after a bit of- but I loved the sound. Will definitely listen to more.
Fun old school country stuff. Reminiscent of Dolly Parton.
Honestly pretty listenable and enjoyable for an older country album
Beautiful classic album. Good listening for relax and cozy
This was a pretty one 😌
This is lovely. I'm gonna have to revisit because the score may go up. 4 Stars.
This is a great album. Emmylou Harris has never been a name that I knew but the country folk music here is really great
I keep liking country records. Yet I would never say was a country fan. But then how in 50 yrs did we get from this to that pap pop country thing, that's supposedly country music. Alt country, let's call it that and I can say I'm a fan. her voice seems effortlessly, beatles covers can be dodgy but this is excellent. 4 Star
I've heard more of her later stuff, which I feel skews more Americana rock, but I definitely prefer this. Not all the songs were my thing, but it does a great job of being what it is.
Like Aretha, this is another album that demonstrates what talented vocals bring to the table given this is apparently primarily covers. But it's great, with sweet arrangements and gorgeous singing - pretty much a pleasant to fantastic from front to back.
mostly covers, like most Emmylou albums from this time period. and country music in general. she's good at what she does hence this is a good record. shrimple as that. the song she did write, Boulder to Birmingham, is the standout. really phenomenal song deserves to be one of the 1001? one of her 70s albums should absolutely be here and this is a good pick
Dit is mijn kopje koffie, zeker op een grauwe ochtend in oktober. Wat een stem heeft ze toch, wat ze voor deze plaat al meermaals etaleerde op werk van partner in crime Gram Parsons. Het gaat van intiem naar uptempo, en ze weet de country en pop covers allemaal een eigen twist te geven. 'For No One' is prachtig, maar daarna vlakt het helaas wel snel af. Desalniettemin echt een prima plaat uit het rijke country canon van de southern states. 7,5/10 Highlights: Bluebird Wine Bottle Let Me Down For No One
This was absolutely delightful. A joy to listen through. Ran the span of emotions, hit a few country sub-genres, had some out of nowhere guitar solos. Really really enjoyed this.
Just what I thought Emmylou would sound like. Very good, sweet
I’m not a Country fan but it is the type of Country I’d f with. Its old school. I can hear a lot of her influences today. It really reminds me of that song My Silver Lining, by First Aid Kit. Or rather they were influenced by her.
This album was such a lovely surprise. There’s a warmth and grace to Emmylou Harris’s voice that just wraps around you, and it makes even the saddest songs feel comforting. It has that classic country sound but delivered with so much elegance that it never feels dated. Right from the start, it’s clear she’s not just covering songs but fully inhabiting them, giving each one her own quiet strength. What really struck me is how well the album balances melancholy and hope. Songs like “If I Could Only Win Your Love” and “Boulder to Birmingham” have this emotional honesty that sneaks up on you. Her phrasing is so effortless, and the arrangements are clean and beautifully played, letting her voice take the lead. Even when the production leans heavily into its 70s country roots, it never loses its emotional core. By the time it finished, I realised I’d been completely pulled into its world. It’s the kind of album that doesn’t need to shout to make its point. Emmylou has a way of making everything feel genuine and timeless, and Pieces Of The Sky captures that perfectly.
beautifully tender country - hard-nosed, too
country with a touch of bluegrass at times. gorgeous voice, very listenable. all this and covers of the beatles and dolly parton.
aðeins of mikið country fyrir mig á köflum en samt mjög næs og róandi annars
Beautiful, made me cry thinking of my mom who would have or perhaps did love this album. Wish I could share it with her now.
It's the lady from the Gram Parsons album I didn't like. She has a lovely voice. It's a well made album and even if you don't like county it's better than any of the modern garbage they put out now. I enjoyed this one more than I expected to. Reminds me of Dolly a lot but since they are lady country singers around the same time that makes sense. I will end up listening to more of her I think.
I'm a little skeptical of my rating for this one. It's not as good as Madvillainy.
My favorite country voice and one of my favorite all time singers. I would have picked Wrecking Ball for this list though.
Emmylou's voice is distinctive and one of the best in country or any genre. This is a great sample box of an album of different styles of country. I especially liked "From Boulder to Birmingham" and her cover of The Beatles "For No One." While I prefer her 90's work with Daniel Lanois ("Wrecking Ball" and "Red Dirt Girl"), this was a stellar debut.
In the world of country/Americana, Emmylou Harris is simply one of the best to ever do it. This is a great debut. I love Bluebird Wine, Boulder to Birmingham, Queen of the Silver Dollar. She also does justice to Dolly Parton and especially the Beatles with those covers. For No One is an underrated Beatles song and it works perfectly as a country ballad, Emmylou's golden voice nails it
I was going to say 'Dolly Parton lite' but I think that's reductive. I don't think I had ever heard of Emmylou Harris before this album; man I have been missing out. Beautiful voice, beautiful music.
Country, more covers (including Dolly's Coat of Many Colors) but surprisingly good - more bluegrass and traditional (1973) than 90's country which was refreshing and Emmylou has a great voice. I recall not loving Emmylou growing up but Country wasn't my thing.
I liked Emmylou's voice across the whole album, but didn't necessarily like every single song. Some of them just didn't click and that's okay.
Bro country ain’t got nothing on this! Authentic 1970s Classic Outlaw Country through and through.
Sonically beautiful record. Really started off my morning right. The instrumentation, the vibe, THE VOICE!!! Like most country albums, it has too many snoozer ballads woven in between every other song, though that’s not saying that some of those ballads aren’t absolutely incredible. Grateful to have been turned on to this album. ❤️
Magnificent, made me think of Dolly Parton so happy to see that they collaborated and had great respect for each other!
All beautiful songs with a good band and good harmonies. Classic country.
Good album! The kind of soulful country I actually like.
Folk Country Queen. I love her voice. It's so clear. It's so emotive. I love the song writing. This is what I love about country. I wish I could write songs even half as good. A knee-bouncing good time of an album. I'd love to square dance to this.
Had no idea what to expect here but I liked it. Glad I listened to it...to me, it's pure 70s country. And that's not a slam, but when I think of country music from that time, this is the type of sound I think of. Not sure if I'd return to this, but I liked it enough to suggest it to my wife while she's at work today. And if she wanted to listen to it on an upcoming road trip or if she wanted to put it on in the house I'm good with that, too. She has a hell of a voice, the songs are stuff you can tap your foot to and the band is tight. So, 4/5 from me.
really nice :)
Could it be more beautiful? Lovely vocals, sad and uplifting both.
Not my favorite album of hers, but still a lot in here that showcases the best of what she can do. Worth the listen if only for "Boulder to Birmingham" and "For No One."
Solid album. I don’t know if it’s because it was my first Emmylou album, but Wrecking Ball is still my favorite.
The Beatles, stop fighting
Thoughts before listening: Pretty sure this is the second Emmylou album I've gotten on here. Not necessarily a bad thing, just kind of interesting. I do like Emmylou quite a bit, but it's surprising that she is getting more love than other country artists. I'm not sure I've actually heard this album before. Review: This is mostly new to me although there are quite a few covers of well known song songs this album. Emmylou has a wonderful voice that works well whether she's covering Dolly on "Coat of Many Colors" or the Beatles on "For No One". There is a good mix of styles on here, with honky tonk barnburners mixing with jazzy ballads and pop covers. Very enjoyable album that I'll give 4-stars.
I liked this! Folksy and feels timeless
Good country, but kind of standard. Solid 4 Stars.
Emmylou Harris is great.
Great voice, it is exactly what I imagine when I think old school country music. I enjoyed most of the songs and her soothing voice. Definitely something I will listen to again.
This was new and beautiful. A stunning voice and a beautiful balancing act between country soul and folk delight. Their impact on modern female singers is obvious and im delighted with this introduction.
An angelic voice that simultaneously comforts you while also giving you something to hope for that might not even be realized yet. Just a timeless singer. And many of the collaborating players here like Linda Ronstadt, Bernie Leadon (banjo/Eagles), Byron Berline (fiddle) and Herb Pedersen (The Dillards) should also be recognized as they no doubt help elevate this record.
heard this once in the past already. will listen again to properly rate Bluebird Wine - 5/5 Too Far Gone - 4/5 If I Could Only Win Your Love - 5/5 Boulder to Birmingham - 4/5 Before Believing - 4/5 Bottle Let Me Down - 3/5 Sleepless Nights - 3/5 Coat of Many Colors - 5/5 For No One - 5/5 Queen of the Silver Dollar - 5/5 Average score: 4.3/5 (rounding down) country is a very hit-or-miss genre for me. however, i think this is solid country folk, and i love her voice. i believe i would've rated this a bit higher if i were in the right mood for listen to country tonight
Decent country vibe. Really great album, had Stevie Nicks style vocals and nice catchy country rhythms. A pleseant surprise.
Great voice, I love a storytelling country song. Some of these are a bit too plinky-plonky for my taste (I can't come up with a better way to describe what I mean). Harris' cover of Coat of Many Colours is better than the Dolly Parton original imo
Beautiful voice
ОЧЕНЬ ШИКАРНЫЙ КАНТРИ АЛЬБОМ!!!
Bluebird Wine is such a tune and a perfect album opener. Emmylou got that noice golden voice.
Beautiful, if not exciting
really loved it
2 songs in. It's ok. She's got a fine voice but not blowing my mind. 4 songs in. Ah ok I get it. I typically don't listen to country because, unfortunately (?), i am in the section of the USA that is prejudiced against it and calls it cringe. As such, listening to it is challenging. But what's life without challenge!? 5 songs in. There's a bit of depth here. Some solemn moments. Her voice carries most of it--the instrumentation is ok but it does what it needs to. If I was invited to a stereotypical saloon in the south where this is played, I could have a good time probably 8 songs in. What is interesting is how....light? the music is, without being weightless. It's a very interesting middle ground. It's not Joan Baez where it's *just* her voice, nor is it something like Laura Nyro where everything blasts, voice and instruments together. It's almost chill. 9 songs in. Ok ok ok you got me. I'm into it. The verse titillates you and then the chorus comes in. Ugh, you guys are right, this is good and I hate this fact...You win.
This is beautiful music that I really enjoyed.
Obviously, this is not my thing. And I won't be listening to this any more than I will be listening to Dolly Parton. But it's great music and she's got a great voice. Respect.
Que álbum delicado e divertido. Adorei. TRIxHBB Kai
The queen of the silver dollar is one of my favorites. Lovely album.
I won't say I am biased, but I grew up around a lot of Emmylou Harris' music growing up as my mom was a huge fan of hers. Emmylou's voice is really great and there's a solid selection of songs here. My only complaint is that I think she has better track listings in her career, and it's not my favorite mix of songs. That being said, she still is a great singer and this is a fairly enjoyable listen.
very fun, one of my personal favourite Country albums
Pristinely beautiful in a legit and authentic country context. Nothing to argue with hear – these are good to very good songs executed most effectively.
Fantastic! 4/5
Sweet little country album. Emmylou's voice is so soothing and she does a lot of these covers justice. I would like to hear more songs that she wrote though, because Boulder to Birmingham was very nice.
Hur mysigt som helst, country blir nog inte mer härligt än såhär. Underbar röst!
Excellent album will be listening to it again, calafornia Cotten fields is a little dated for the modern world!
great folksy bluesy country album. way better than expected
Just a powerful distinctive voice, and this is real country and really beautiful.
If you're going to make a country album, this is the country album to make - outlaw stuff aside. Gorgeous voice, tender lyrics and varied compositions put this head and shoulders above anything else I've heard from this area of the genre! Favourite tracks: Boulder to Birmingham, Before Believing, For No One
Yessir, classic
Pretty good.
That voice!!!
4.25
The Bush Administration's involvement with the Bin Laden family, particularly in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, has long been a subject of controversy. Despite the fact Osama bin Laden was the mastermind behind the attacks, members of his wealthy Saudi family—who had longstanding business ties with American elites, including the Bush family—were quickly and quietly flown out of the U.S. in the days following the tragedy, raising questions about preferential treatment. The trauma of 9/11 deeply impacted American culture, and country music became a key outlet for expressing grief, anger, and patriotism. Songs like Toby Keith’s Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue and Alan Jackson’s Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) captured the national mood, often reinforcing pro-American and militaristic sentiments that aligned closely with the Bush Administration’s subsequent War on Terror. In this way, the political handling of 9/11 and its symbolic associations trickled down into popular culture, with country music serving as both a mirror and amplifier of the era’s nationalist fervor. This is what I wish country could have remained as, but alas, it couldn't. Beautiful songs by a beautiful singer. My Mum adores this album, and I can see why. I'm not exactly going to go as far as say this is good for many replays, personally, but I think Emmylou had a gift, and one she used well. I've saved a couple of tracks on here as the radio for them is GREAT.
A really great singing voice that really elevated what I feel would otherwise be a fairly straightforward album consisting mostly of different cover songs
Crazy Clark’s version of Dolly Parton (positive) insofar as varying slightly in style with a barely noticeable difference in quality. Might be more apt to compare this artist to the Aldi version where the packaging and content is basically identical but just different enough to avoid a lawsuit.Perhaps lesser known than the queen herself but an undeniably enjoyable listen.
This is what real-ass country music used to be, now it's all bros from the suburbs with a giant truck and an oversized hat.
Ah lovely. I do enjoy not-shit country.
Beautiful old country music! I never get tired of this stuff.
This is a pretty good album. Nothing overly impressive, but it’s great if you’re into old-school traditional country with a folk edge. It’s easy to appreciate for its simplicity and authenticity.
Lemppari: Too Far Gone
Gorgeous voice and amazing harmonies. ‘Too Far Gone’ and ‘Boulder to Birmingham’ are so rich and emotional. The album is overproduced with arrangements that detract from some of the songs. Fortunately, Emmylou Harris transcends these limitations of 1970s Nashville.
Forgot to write a note for this, going to need a relisten.