Search - Emmylou Harris :: Profile 2: Best of

A must for every music collection.

11/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"BLUE KENTUCKY GIRL has been in my record collection longer than any other album. When I wanted to hear some of Emmylou Harris' other material, this was the album I picked to start. I couldn't have made a better choice. All ten of these songs are true classics, with strong arrangements, beautiful vocals, and exellent material. BLUE KENTUCKY GIRL is paid the best tribute with three songs from that album, "Blue Kentucky Girl", the #1 hit "Beneath Still Waters", and her classic version of "Save The Last Dance For Me", which is superior to any other version I've heard. Unfortunately, none of the other albums are given quite as much material. From the marvelous masterpiece ROSES IN THE SNOW, there is her stunning arrangement of "Wayfaring Stranger". From her great album EVANGELINE, there is her recording of "Mister Sandman" with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton from the 1st Trio project in 1977. From the excellent album of all new material CIMARRON, there is "Born To Run" written by Emmylou Harris' future husband and collaborator Paul Kennerly. LAST DATE, her terrific live album with the Hot Band, we have the great hits "I'm Moving On", and "(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date". From the far-reaching and intriging WHITE SHOES there is the great classic "Pledging My Love". The new song "Someone Like You" so beautifuuly done, it's breath-taking. PROFILE II does miss some great tracks along the way, the grammy winning duet with Roy Orbison "That Loving You Feeling Again" is the most sorely missed. Also the liner notes don't give that much information about the individual songs. However, the music is fascinating, and magnifiscent. Only Emmylou Harris could do so many intriging songs and breath-taking albums. Unfortunately outstanding albums like EVANGELINE, CIMARRON, LAST DATE, and WHITE SHOES are no longer in print, so PROFILE II is the only way these great songs can be found. Especially since in a catalog of music so fantastic as Emmylou Harris' these albums would be exellent additions to record collections. PROFILE II: THE BEST OF EMMYLOU HARRIS is an outstanding collection and a great way to get acquanited with one of the best artists in the music world."

Wonderful music, skimpy collection

Pieter | Johannesburg | 04/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"
Emmylou Harris cannot really put a foot, or a note, wrong. All of her albums are worth owning, from the early country classics like Pieces Of The Sky to her more recent work like Wrecking Ball, Red Dirt Girl and Stumble Into Grace. This collection is the second in the Profile series and it draws on albums like Blue Kentucky Girl, Roses In The Snow, Cimarron, Evangeline, Last Date and White Shoes.



The traditional country here is represented by tracks like Blue Kentucky Girl, Beneath Still Waters and her definitive version of Save The Last Dance For Me. Wayfaring Stranger is a beautiful song from her bluegrass masterpiece Roses In the Snow, whilst Mister Sandman is a piece of harmony heaven with the assistance of Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt, from the Evangeline album.



Cimarron contributes the brilliant country-rock anthem Born To Run, any time as good as Bruce Springsteen's song of the same name. The chart-topping single (Lost His Love) On Our Last Date comes from the live Last Date album and is a vocal version of the original instrumental by Floyd Cramer. I'm Moving On comes from the same album. White Shoes was Emmylou's final album with Brian Ahern and it contributes Johnny Ace's Pledging My Love.



In my opinion, the most regrettable omissions are Green Pastures, You're Learning, Gold Watch And Chain and Miss The Mississippi And You from Roses In The Snow, and If I Needed You, Spanish Is A Loving tongue, Tennessee Waltz and Son Of A Rotten Gambler from Cimarron. Profile 2: The Best Of Emmylou Harris is thus a magical listening experience, but represents only a small fraction of her best work from those years.



"

Elegance, grace, great delivery & songwriting - she's got it

06/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Emmylou has to be seen live to fully appreciate just how great she really is. Sure, this is a five star record for Emmylou, but she has plenty of those. See her live and you'll know why I chose to write this review. This album is, however, one of my personal favorites, as it showcases numerous aspects of her amazing talents. Truly the voice of an angel."