Red Dirt Girl

by Emmylou Harris

Overview

On her 29th album, Emmylou Harris continues the evolution from innocent folkie to present day renaissance woman. Alternately sparse and lush, Red Dirt Girl can be seen as a companion piece to 1995's Wrecking Ball with the production credits going to Malcom Burn (who previously worked with Harris engineering and mixing Wrecking Ball). Here, drum loops and middle eastern melodies nestle in comfortably next to warm guitar work and Harris' gently wavering voice. Her extensive guest work on dozens and dozens of recent releases (showing up on albums by everyone from Guy Clark to Midnight Oil) pays off with great help from Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, Buddy and Julie Miller, Guy Clark, Kate McGarrigle, and even alt-rock upstarts Dave Matthews and Luscious Jackson's Jill Cunniff. The diverse production only adds to Harris' earthy songwriting, adding interest to what could otherwise be lulls during the more subdued songs, and really showcases the understated lyrics that the singer has slowly become recognized for. The teary dirge "Bang the Drum Slowly" written for her father (who died in 1993) wrings with emotion and ethereal atmosphere, while "J'ai Fait Tout" (co-written with Cunniff) is an upbeat and jangly pop song, complete with hip-shakin' tambourine. While this is a big departure from her rootsy '70s releases like Blue Kentucky Girl and Roses in the Snow, it still burns with an honest intensity and clear voice that Harris is known for 20 years later. ~ Zac Johnson

Product Details

Release Date:	02/19/2021
Label:	Maverick / Nonesuch / Reprise / Warner Music
UPC:	0075597917581
Rank:	50530

Tracks

Disc 1

1. The Pearl
2. Michelangelo
3. I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now
4. Tragedy
5. Red Dirt Girl
6. My Baby Needs a Shepherd

Disc 2

7. Bang the Drum Slowly
8. J'ai Fait tout
9. One Big Love
10. Hour of Gold
11. My Antonia
12. Boy From Tupelo

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Emmylou Harris   Primary Artist,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric Baritone)
Patty Griffin   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony
Ethan Johns   Primary Artist,Ebo,Drums,Omnichord,Mandocello,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Julie Miller   Primary Artist,Vocal Harmony
Kate McGarrigle   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Piano,Accordion,Vocal Harmony
Jill Cunniff   Primary Artist,Bass,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Electric)
Jim Watts   Primary Artist,Fender Rhodes
Darryl Johnson   Primary Artist,Bass,Drums,Percussion,Bass Pedals,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Electric),Guitar (Electric Baritone)
Buddy Miller   Primary Artist,Mando,Pedal Steel,Guitar (Electric)
Malcolm Burn   Primary Artist,Bass,Piano,Guitar,Tambourine,Fender Rhodes,Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String)
Dave Matthews   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
John Deaderick   Primary Artist,Fender Rhodes
Rene Coman   Primary Artist
Patti Scialfa   Guest Artist,Vocals
Bruce Springsteen   Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony
Carlo Nuccio   Drums

Technical Credits

Malcolm Burn   Producer,Drum Programming
Patty Griffin   Composer
Joe Gastwirt   Mastering
Emmylou Harris   Composer,Lyricist
Rodney Crowell   Composer,Lyricist
Jill Cunniff   Composer
Jim Watts   Engineer
Angelo Petraglia   Lyricist
Guy Clark   Composer,Lyricist
Darryl Johnson   Composer,Lyricist
Rene Coman   Performer
Michael Wilson   Photography
Jeri Heiden   Design
John Heiden   Design
Jill Cuniff   Lyricist