Emmylou Harris: Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * * * )

In many circles Harris is considered the soul-bride of the dead Christ of country-rock (Gram Parsons) and in others the most pristine voice in the trio with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.

But her last two albums — Wrecking Ball and Red Dirt Girl — belatedly took her to a wider audience than that of country-orientated ears which have acknowledged her interpretative gifts for decades.

And her appearances here in April were wonderfully diverse and lively. So local interest in Harris is high, which makes the timing of this handsomely packaged, 44-track double disc (with 48-page booklet of biography, photos and recording details) just about perfect.

These chronological tracks trace her career from the mid-70s to the end of the 80s when she parted with the labels here, and include many of her defining moments — Boulder to Birmingham about Parsons and Sweet Dreams, through to Drivin' Wheel and Wheels of Love, the titles of which tell you where she made her reputation.

There are duets with Roy Orbison, a gorgeous cover of Phil Spector's To Know Him is to Love Him with Dolly, and Linda and Townes Van Zandt's If I Needed You with Don Williams, and most tracks were with her justifiably acclaimed Hot Band.

Harris smartly picked diverse material from outside the country canon, too (Lennon-McCartney, Chuck Berry, Paul Simon) but when she nails something as powerful as Rodney Crowell's Precious Love you are reminded again of her unique ability. Excellent overview of a rare talent.

Label: Warners