Roses In The Snow

About

Framed as a rebuke to critics who called her not country enough—or who claimed she was stuck in a country-rock “rut,”to use one columnist’s words—Emmylou Harris’ 1980 album <i>Roses in the Snow</i> found the singer diving almost entirely into bluegrass sound. Though Harris had no genetic or geographic ties to the music, her voice and its almost antique charms proved well-suited to the style, as did her penchant for soaring harmonie. Though there are no billed guest, <i>Roses in the Snow</i> is dizzyingly star-studded, befitting Harris’ considerable status by this point in her career; luckily, those big names are only buried in the credit, not in the mix. Most listeners will likely be able to discern Dolly Parton on the harmonies of “Green Pastures”; less obviou, perhap, is Willie Nelson as a guest on guitar. And keep an ear open for Johnny Cash’s bass-baritone on “Jordan,” and Linda Ronstadt’s potent alto on “Gold Watch and Chain.” The ensembles gathered for <i>Roses in the Snow</i> included Harris’ Hot Band, as well as what amounts to a who’s-who of bluegrass: Ricky Skaggs—who’d been on all of her albums to that point—makes an appearance, as do Tony Rice, Jerry Dougla, and the White Family. Together, they channeled virtuosic playing into deceptively straightforward traditional song. There’s nothing rough-hewn about this proudly country record; instead, the takes are flawle, capturing the very best in the field playing and singing with poise and feeling. .

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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