Bluebird (Emmylou Harris album)
Encyclopedia
Bluebird was an Emmylou Harris
album from 1989, which merged a number of eclectic songs (including work by the McGarrigle Sisters
, Tom Rush
and Rodney Crowell
) with polished, country-music production. It included her most recent top-ten country-charting single, "Heartbreak Hill". The album enjoyed renewed interest in 2004 when The Sopranos
introduced its fifth season with "Heaven Only Knows."
Bonnie Raitt
provided guest vocals on the track "Icy Blue Heart". Billboard said in their review of the album that, "Like most of Emmylou Harris' albums, Bluebird is an expertly performed album, featuring some truly startling and affecting tour de forces."
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
album from 1989, which merged a number of eclectic songs (including work by the McGarrigle Sisters
Kate and Anna McGarrigle
Kate and Anna McGarrigle, were a pair of Canadian singer-songwriters from Quebec, who performed as a duo until Kate McGarrigle's death on January 18, 2010.-Profile:...
, Tom Rush
Tom Rush
Tom Rush is an American folk and blues singer, songwriter, musician and recording artist.- Life and career :Rush was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His father was a teacher at St. Paul's School, in Concord, New Hampshire. Tom began performing in 1961 while studying at Harvard University after...
and Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
) with polished, country-music production. It included her most recent top-ten country-charting single, "Heartbreak Hill". The album enjoyed renewed interest in 2004 when The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
introduced its fifth season with "Heaven Only Knows."
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
provided guest vocals on the track "Icy Blue Heart". Billboard said in their review of the album that, "Like most of Emmylou Harris' albums, Bluebird is an expertly performed album, featuring some truly startling and affecting tour de forces."
Track listing
- "Heaven Only Knows" (Paul KennerleyPaul KennerleyPaul Kennerley is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer working in the American contemporary country music industry. His works include the concept albums, White Mansions and The Legend of Jesse James...
) – 3:36 - "You've Been on My Mind" (Rodney CrowellRodney CrowellRodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
) – 2:54 - "Icy Blue Heart" [background vocals by Bonnie RaittBonnie RaittBonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
] (John HiattJohn HiattJohn Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
) – 4:08 - "Love Is" (Kate McGarrigleKate McGarrigleKate McGarrigle, CM was a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter, who wrote and performed as a duo with her sister Anna McGarrigle....
, Anna McGarrigleAnna McGarrigleAnna McGarrigle, CM is a Canadian folk music singer/songwriter who wrote and performed as a duo with her sister, Kate McGarrigle, until Kate's death in 2010.-Musical career:...
, Jane McGarrigleJane McGarrigleJane McGarrigle is a Canadian songwriter and musician.She is the elder sister of Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and has written and performed several songs with the duo. She produced their album Love Over and Over. Songs she co-wrote have been recorded by Nana Mouskouri and by Emmylou Harris...
) – 3:53 - "No Regrets" (Tom RushTom RushTom Rush is an American folk and blues singer, songwriter, musician and recording artist.- Life and career :Rush was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His father was a teacher at St. Paul's School, in Concord, New Hampshire. Tom began performing in 1961 while studying at Harvard University after...
) – 5:38 - "Lonely Street" (Carl Belew, W.S. Stevenson, Kenny Sowder) – 3:14
- "Heartbreak Hill" (Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, Kennerley) – 3:12 - "I Still Miss SomeoneI Still Miss Someone"I Still Miss Someone" is the title of a song written and originally recorded by American country music singer Johnny Cash. He first recorded it in 1958 as the b-side to "Don't Take Your Guns to Town".-History:...
" (Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Roy Cash, Jr.) – 2:51 - "A River for Him" (Harris) – 5:02
- "If You Were a Bluebird" (Butch HancockButch HancockButch Hancock is a country/folk music recording artist and song writer. He was born July 12, 1945 in Lubbock, Texas. Hancock is a member of The Flatlanders along with Joe Ely and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, but he has principally performed a solo career....
) – 4:44
Personnel
- Richard BennettRichard Bennett (guitarist)Richard Bennett is a touring sideman, session veteran, and record producer. As a touring sideman, he performed with Neil Diamond for 17 years, and Mark Knopfler since 1994. As a session player, he has worked with artists ranging from Billy Joel and Barbra Streisand to Rodney Crowell and Vince Gill...
- acoustic guitar, bass, guitar, mandolin, percussion, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, producer - Ashley Cleveland - background vocals
- Donivan Cowart - background vocals, engineer
- Paul Dieter - mixing assistant
- Glen Duncan - mandolin
- Steve Fishell - acoustic guitar, dobro, pedal steel, electric bass, electric guitar
- Emory Gordy, Jr.Emory Gordy, Jr.Emory Gordy, Jr., born December 25, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American musician and music producer. Since 1989, he has been married to country music artist Patty Loveless. Gordy was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992...
- conductor, string arrangements - Caroline Greyshock - photography
- Glen D. HardinGlen HardinGlen D. Hardin is an American piano player, songwriter and arranger. He has performed and recorded with such notable artists as Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Ricky Nelson and many others.-Career:...
- synthesizer, piano - Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
- acoustic guitar, guitar, percussion, vocals, producer - Michael Henderson - slide guitar
- Kieran Kane - mandolin
- Mary Ann Kennedy - background vocals
- Paul KennerleyPaul KennerleyPaul Kennerley is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer working in the American contemporary country music industry. His works include the concept albums, White Mansions and The Legend of Jesse James...
- acoustic guitar - Janet Levinson - art direction, design
- Kenny MaloneKenny MaloneKenny Malone is an American drummer/percussionist from Nashville, Tennessee. He has been, since the 1970s, and continues to be a prominent session musician in folk, country and many other acoustic-based genres.-References:...
- percussion - Carl Marsh - synthesizer, Hammond organ
- George Massenburg - mixing
- Anna McGarrigleAnna McGarrigleAnna McGarrigle, CM is a Canadian folk music singer/songwriter who wrote and performed as a duo with her sister, Kate McGarrigle, until Kate's death in 2010.-Musical career:...
- background vocals - Kate McGarrigleKate McGarrigleKate McGarrigle, CM was a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter, who wrote and performed as a duo with her sister Anna McGarrigle....
- accordion, background vocals - Glenn Meadows - mastering
- Mark O'ConnorMark O'ConnorMark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
- mandolin - Eric Paul - assistant engineer
- Dave Pomeroy - electric bass, acoustic bass, bass violin
- Bonnie RaittBonnie RaittBonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
- background vocals, slide guitar - Sharon Rice - mixing assistant
- Mark Richardson - engineer
- Pamela Rose - background vocals
- Harry Stinson - background vocals
- Marty StuartMarty StuartJohn Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
- mandolin - Barry Tashian - acoustic guitar, background vocals
- Billy Thomas - percussion, drums, voca
Chart performance
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 15 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 19 |