Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511130006
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIM PATTERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NASHVILLE, TENN. LENGTH: Medium
The 48-year-old Harris is doing the most passionate work of her distinguished 20-year career, with the acoustic sound set aside for now.
``I felt that it was time for something else to happen,'' she said one recent morning, somewhat subdued after a long night of performing and socializing at the annual party honoring songwriter Harlan Howard.
``I think I've learned as I've gotten older that you have to listen to the quieter voices sometimes,'' she said. ``If something ... is feeling like it's nagging at you, then you should pay attention to it.''
Following that intuition led to the breakup of the Nash Ramblers, the second noted country music band Harris has fronted, after her Hot Band.
It also led her to Lanois.
Recorded in Nashville and New Orleans, ``Wrecking Ball'' has one thread of Harris continuity - her exquisite taste in songs, whether it's the catalog of Bob Dylan or a future star like Nashville's Gillian Welch.
``Wrecking Ball'' has tunes by those two, as well as Steve Earle, Julie Miller, Lucinda Williams, Rodney Crowell, two standouts by Lanois, and Jimi Hendrix's ``May This Be Love.''
Neil Young wrote the title song, and sings along with Harris on her version:
``My life's an open book, you read it on the radio
``We've got nowhere to hide, we got nowhere to go
``But if you still decide you want to take a ride
``Meet me at the wrecking ball.''
The song seems to describe Harris' artistic crossroads: making way for creative rebirth by freeing herself from the past.
``It makes sense when you say it that way,'' she responded. ``But, ultimately, it just was such an interesting phrase and evocative and kind of suggestive and mysterious and, at the same time, ambivalent.''
``Why an album takes on a certain personality or a certain theme has always been a mysterious process for me. I just respect it and kind of go with it.''
Born in North Carolina and raised in a military family in Quantico, Harris took up folk singing in high school. After a short stint in college, she lived in New York and Nashville, then headed to Washington, D.C., after the collapse of her first marriage.
Chris Hillman of the Flying Burrito Brothers discovered Harris playing in a Washington club in 1971. That led to her recording and touring with country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons until his death in 1973.
Her solo career, both with the Hot Band and the Nash Ramblers, is studded with albums that stand the test of time: the bluegrass ``Roses in the Snow,'' the Parsons-inspired concept album ``The Ballad of Sally Rose,'' ``Evangeline,'' ``Elite Motel'' and ``Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers at the Ryman,'' to name just a few.
Always left-field by Nashville standards, Harris nonetheless was a regular on the country singles charts from 1975-1985. Some of her hits: ``Two More Bottles of Wine,'' ``Beneath Still Waters'' and acoustic remakes of pop hits including ``Pledging My Love,'' ``Mister Sandman'' and ``Save the Last Dance for Me.''
Harris has had virtually no luck at all getting played on country music radio stations the past five years. Her wonderful - and country - album in 1993, ``Cowgirl's Prayer,'' was critically lauded but only sold to her devotees.
``Wrecking Ball'' won't change that, and Harris knows it.
``It's something that I just sort of accept,'' she said.
``I know that the people are buying the record and that they're really listening to it 'cause they come to the shows. You just get the sense that they're with you, so I have a kind of a smaller devoted following.
``It's actually almost an ideal working situation and so if that improves ... then great. And if it doesn't, it's something I can definitely live with.''
by CNB