Over the course of a career that began in the late-'60s, alt-country/folk grand dame Emmylou Harris has teamed up with the biggest names in the business. Rodney Crowell is a performer and music producer well known in country circles, who first performed with Harris in 1976 as part of her Hot Band. Recapturing that old musical connection on their first collaborative album shows both performers off in exactly the right light.
Whether it's crooning a slow burning ballad such as Spanish Dancer or Open Season On My Heart, or when the pair fire up for a shot of Black Caffeine, Crowell and Harris sound great together. It's a shame that Harris the songwriter doesn't get a run here – it's an aspect of her career that's often undeservedly overlooked, but the song selection has been pulled from the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Patti Scialfa and fellow Hot Band member Hank Devito as well as the pen of Crowell. And bundled together this set makes for a compelling listen.
Harris gives Back When We Were Beautiful a quiet dignity as she sings about memories of dancing the night away, while a revised version of Bluebird Wine, the first Crowell song Harris ever heard back in 1974, has a sprightly country kick to it. Like all Harris' work, the pair are backed by some of the finest names in country music, including several of the original Hot Band members and Vince Gill.
Though listeners may never know why these songs are significant to the pair, the way they are presented and recorded so lovingly proves they hold a special place in the hearts of both artists.
