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Amazon.com essential recording: While live recordings can be treasured mementos for those who were present at the show, they're often substandard versions of favorite material. The live At the Ryman avoids this by covering the material of artists who've influenced Harris's music, rather than concentrating on her own hits. From Steve Earle and Bill Monroe to the Everly Brothers and Creedence Clearwater Revival, her choices are solid and sometimes unexpected (Bruce Springsteen). Harris's love of the music--and appreciation for the audience--shines through in these performances. The songs may have been done better elsewhere (most notably by the songwriters) and Emmy's delivery is at times uneven (as with any live performance), but the talented, fun-loving, all-acoustic Nash Ramblers do much to compensate. --Alexandra Russell
Customer Reviews:
- Articulate, Masterful Country: For twenty years I have appreciated Emmylou Harris' ability to bring a song to fruition; to articulate it in such a way that it practically sings itself. Not only are her studio albums each an experience in themselves; a journey through a set of tunes that she masterfully presents, but her live performances tend to be 'events.' The concert at the Ryman recorded here was an almost perfect moment. She brought together for this set songs from artists as various as Bill Monroe and Bruce Springsteen, and made the performance personable as well as musically astute. There is an emotionality to her music that I find 'healing,' 'consoling' and 'invigorating.' All of these characteristics can be experienced in these tracks. If you like Emmylou, this CD is a gem. If you've never listened to her before, this CD is a good entry-point.
- The Best: I have been an Emmylou Harris fan for quite a while. I believe this to be her best compilation. I am actually going to go out on a limb even further. I think "Walls of Time" is the best song. Ever. By anyone. Before you dismiss this out of hand, listen to it a few times over the course of a week or so.
- The best of live bluegrass : I've now owned a copy of "Emmylou Harris & the Nash Rambler At the Ryman" on LP & CD for 15 years. Recently, on a Thanksgiving trip over the beautiful North Cascades Highway, while listening to it, volume jacked up and singing along, I thought about all of the elements that make this a perfect recording.
Not only do you have great musicians like Sam Bush, Roy Huskey, Jr., and Al Perkins, but you have an amazingly eclectic selection of songs, from Stephen Foster's "Hard Times" and Steve Earle's "Guitar Town"--one of the best covers ever!--to John Fogerty's "Lodi." Mix all of this with Emmylou's strong and honest voice, characteristically country phrasing, and warm understated stage rap, and you've got the makings of a recording I plan on listening to over and over for the next 15 years.
If you have somehow missed this gem and enjoy bluegrass and real country sounds, I can't recommend it highly enough. - Emmylou at her best!: No one sings like Emmylou- if the combo cut- "It's A Hard Life Wherever You Go/Abraham, Martin and John" doesn't put a lump in your throat, nothing ever will! Put it at the top of your pile of live-performance CD's- you'll be reaching for it often!
- Mmmm, mmm, extry good!!!!!..........................: The title line refers to words Andy Griffith used to use on the Mayberry shows when confronted with something awesome.."Mmmm, mmm, I thought that was EXTRY good." So this is. I was fortunate enough to catch Emmylou's reprisal of this show at a Ryman concert in the mid-90's. But you don't have to actually be there to sink deep into this magnificent collection of material. Some of the most well chosen songs anyone could think to assemble, from the wry Steve Earle "Guitar Town" to the gospel of "Calling My Children Home." Close your eyes and dream what the show looks like while drinking in one of the most moving voices in music accompanied by some superbly accomplished musicians. Then seek out the companion VHS tape of this and see how close you came.
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