LUXURY LINER, Emmylou Harris' third album, found Harris' Hot Band undergoing a major transformation. Quick-picking maestro Albert Lee replaced lead guitarist James Burton. And future mega-star Ricky Skaggs, fresh from a stint with bluegrass pioneers J.D. Crowe and the New South, also signed on, taking Rodney Crowell's place. The result was a different, but equally breathtaking, version of what was fast earning a reputation as country music's finest ensemble.
Aside from the personnel changes, LUXURY LINER is a typical early Harris album, filled with wonderful songs and performed with tons of feeling and tremendous skill. Harris takes mentor Gram Parson's title track and kicks it up a notch, allowing Lee to show off his trademark chops. Townes Van Zandt's "Pancho and Lefty" immediately follows and, while this isn't the recording of the song that topped the charts (Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard had a hit with it later), it clearly laid the blueprint for the blockbuster version. Other standout tracks on this uniformly excellent album include Chuck Berry's "C'est La Vie," the Louvin Brothers' "When I Stop Dreaming," and the Carter Family classic "Hello Stranger."
Includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks.
Additional Tracks
Recorded at the Enactron Truck, Beverly Hills, California. Originally released on Warner Bros. (2998).
Personnel: Emmylou Harris (vocals, guitar); Nicolette Larson (vocals); Rodney Crowell, Albert Lee (guitar, background vocals); Brian Ahern, James Burton, Rick Cunha (guitar); Hank DeVito (pedal steel guitar); Mike Auldridge (dobro); Ricky Skaggs (fiddle, mandolin); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Glen D. Hardin (piano); Emory Gordy (bass); John Ware (drums); Fayssoux Starling, Herb Pedersen, Dianne Brooks, Dolly Parton (background vocals).
Personnel: Emmylou Harris (acoustic guitar); Brian Ahern (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, acoustic bass); Rodney Crowell (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Rick Cunha, Barry Tashian (acoustic guitar); Albert Lee (electric guitar, mandolin, background vocals); James Burton (electric guitar); Michael J. Henderson (slide guitar); Mike Auldridge (dobro); Ricky Skaggs (mandolin, fiddle); Wayne Goodwin (mandolin); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Glen D. Hardin (piano, electric piano); Don Heffington, John Ware (drums); Dolly Parton, Fayssoux Starling, Dianne Brooks, John Randall, Herb Pedersen (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Donivan Cowart; Brian Ahern.
Recording information: The Enactron Truck, Beverly Hills, CA (1976).
Photographers: Dan Reeder; Jim McGuire ; Ed Thrasher; Norman Seeff; Urve Kuusik; Glen D. Hardin.
Arranger: Brian Ahern.Rolling Stone (4/25/02, p.80) - 4.5 stars out of 5 - "...A premonitory mix of country rock, bluegrass, Texas folk, hill-country balladry, rockabilly twang and traditional country....This album is her apex: superbly chosen songs, hot picking and a definitive representation of her plangent, romantic sensibility..." Entertainment Weekly (2/27/04, p.99) - "[Harris] drew on [Gram Parsons's] earthy country eclecticism and blossomed." - Rating: B+ Q (4/04, p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[I]ts Parsons-penned title track and Townes Van Zandt 'Pancho And Lefty' deftly showcasing her breadth." Uncut (4/04, p.112) - 5 stars out of 5 - "LUXURY LINE finds the voice even more expressive, sad-sweet with the subtlest ache, drawing out vowels almost as if blowing glass." Mojo (Publisher) (12/00, p.41) - "...The crafted apogee of her early albums with the Hot Band..."
(*) MP3 for this song is from a different CD. Listen to the sound sample to be sure this is the version you're looking for.
Luxury Liner Music Review
Customer Luxury Liner Reviews
Average Rating: (4.6 out of 5 stars)
i loved the luxuryliner album in the middle 70's I had the chance to see Emmylou live on the grass in Park City Utah around 1980. She had 7 encores. Her "hot band", as they were called, played most of luxury Liner songs. The song "luxury liner" and "Poncho and Lefty" are still one of my favorites along with "making believe". Luxery Liner is really a fast paced song showing off the great picking of the band. Well worth the money. Submitted by herbhike (Everett, WA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The high-water mark of Emmylou Harris' career With her third album, Emmylou Harris showed the rest of the world, why she was the reigning queen of countryrock. Having released two superb records, she was still able to release an album that could outshine them all. Brian Ahern's production is first class and The Hot Band literally lives up to their name. Resident songwriter Rodney Crowell wrote one of the outstanding tracks, "You're Supposed To Be Feeling Good", with lyrics that sound like they might have been written with Emmylou Harris in mind! On this particular song ex-Elvis Presley sideman James Burton shows why he is such a fantastic guitar player. But the same could be said about all the other musicians and singers. Excellent choice of songs and thoughtful arrangements. This is a personal favourite among many excellent recordings. This is history. Submitted by Søren (Hvidovre, Denmark) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
A Timeless Classic! I've been a tireless music addict all my life, and will always be. I do like all kinds of music, as well as a lot of country music, and "Luxury Liner" is a timeless, stunning album from a terrific artist. Although I'm not a fan too much of female artists, there is something that works far too well here with the amazing voice of Emmylou Harris and the music combined. This also goes for her mostly forgotten and underrated 1981 album "Evangeline". One main thing that is so fascinating about these 2 albums is my father used to have them on cassette and play them almost all the time when I was a little child, and it was around the period when I was 6 through 9 years old. The amazing memories of hearing that music have still come back to haunt me just like it did back in those days every time I continue to play those 2 albums and my father and mother would play those tapes in his car whenever we went places. For one thing, if it wasn't for my father, I would probably never have discovered such great music from a great artist. Thanks Papa! Sticking to the subject of the "Luxury Liner" album, I've always considered it to be one of the best sounding albums I've ever heard, as well. Every song is magnificent! Whether it be the stunning ballad "You're Supposed To Be Feeling Good" or her superb cover of Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell", Emmylou Harris has made a true one-of-a-kind masterpiece from start to finish. Submitted by Ron Haynes, Jr. (Covington/Cornelia, GA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
one of the greatest in emmylou's career this one is when emmylou harris started
doing country, rock, ballads. the first
song "luxury liner" is really going to
get you rocking. the beautiful ballad
"when i stop dreaming" amazing harmony
with dolly parton. nicolette larson and
emmylou beautiful together--you can't go wrong with this one Submitted by nat (hoover, alabama) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
LUXUS EMMYLOU, LUXURY ALBUM!! The third solo album of Emmylou harris .this is "THE HOT BAND" at its best. Emmylous` voice is pure and clear. Highlights are " Poncho & Lefty " Cest La vie( You never can tell ) , Making belive" and " Tulsa queen " And of course "Luxury Liner" The title track. Anyone who likes Emmylou harris, will love this cd1 Submitted by a reviewer (6460 Eidsvaag , Norway) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
i loved the luxuryliner album in the middle 70's
The high-water mark of Emmylou Harris' career
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