Emmylou Harris on the BBC

[Bev Stapleton]

I know, it's not jazz but...

Any UK members with even the slightest interest in St. Emmylou should look to BBC4 (Freeview) tomorrow night - a repeat of tonight's excellent documentary, an Old Grey Whistle Test from the mid-70s and the Down from the Mountain film.

Oh, and St. Emmylou is on Desert Island Discs at 11.15 on Sunday, Radio 4.

My heroine!

[Swinger]

She was really beautiful in the 70s (still is) and her unique voice has always got my attention.My favorite Emmylou albums are Wrecking Ball and Red Dirt Girl. I have also listened to her albums made in the 70s but for some reason I like her latest ones.

[Bev Stapleton]

Apart from being a marvellous singer (and a writer of several quality songs) she is pure sincerity. Whenever I've heard her speak she's come across as a total enthusiast, genuinely interested in the music around her and other musicians. She took over a BBC country programme for three weeks a few years back - some of the best radio I've heard, drawing on music well beyond the frontiers of the genre she works in.

It was interesting to hear her talk of her difficulty with the Vietnam War. Coming to professional maturity in the folk scene of the late 60s she moved in anti-war circles; yet coming from a military background (her father had been a POW in the Korean War) she found it difficult to reject what her father stood for.

There's an honesty and complexity there that helps explain why her songwriting can be so compelling.

Here's what she chose on Desert Island Discs:

1. Dreaming my dreams with you - Waylon Jennings
2. Uncloudy day - The Staple Singers
3. Up on Cripple Creek - The Band
4. Talk to me of Mendicino - Kate & Anna McGarrigle
5. The Emperor of Wyoming - Neil Young
6. Mansion of the Hill - Bruce Springsteen
7. The Maker - Daniel Lanois
8. Polegnala E Todora (Theodora is Dozing) - Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic

First choice - Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Book: Blank book
Luxury: Library

[alsa]

"It was interesting to hear her talk of her difficulty with the Vietnam War. Coming to professional maturity in the folk scene of the late 60s she moved in anti-war circles; yet coming from a military background (her father had been a POW in the Korean War) she found it difficult to reject what her father stood for."

She and the BBC are worth each other

(God bless the BBC though - the World Service was my window into the world in the late 80s, but then I switched to the Voice of America...)

[Swinger]

Bev!

In case you didn't know...

Emmylou's first albums are going to released as remastered editions at the end of February. I'm going to buy her first two discs since I don't have them yet (My cousin has them.Unfortunately they are rather worn LPs with lot's of pops,hisses and clicks)

[Bev Stapleton]

Yes, I noticed that on a UK vendor's site.

Those first two discs are wonderful. 'Boulder to Birmingham' on the first always sends shivers down my spine.

'Elite Hotel' was the first Emmylou I bought back in '75, on the back of hearing her on Dylan's desire. As an absolute country music hater at the time it helped undermine my prejudices. A marvellous balance of excellent covers and superb originals.

[drhorner]

Her Angel Band disc is absolutely amazing and my favorite of hers. Mark O'Connor and the rest of the line-up are second-to-none.

Her more recent Red Dirt Girl shows a lot of musical maturity as well.