All I Intended to Be
Artist: Emmylou Harris
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
Customer Rating:
, based on 77 reviews
Lowest Price: $9.14
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Editorial Review:
On her second Nonesuch disc, Emmylou Harris assembles an extraordinary cast of veteran musicians and fellow singers, all of them longtime friends, for a set that indeed showcases this Nashville icon, and 2008 CMA Hall of Fame inductee, as all she has intended to be - a singularly expressive vocalist, a brilliant interpreter of other people's songs, a graceful and confident songwriter. In particular, the album displays Harris's ability to bring new life to songs that may have been overlooked, forgotten or lost along the way. Some of the most affecting material here may be the least well-known - though not for long: John Wesley Routh's celtic/country "Shores Of White Sands" and trucker-poet Mark Germino's heartrending story-song, "Broken Man's Lament." Harris has chosen these songs with conceptual care. Like much of the gently uplifting All I Intended To Be, the stories may be bittersweet, the characters may be downtrodden, but somehow a sense of redemption always vanquishes regret. The shared history of all the artists involved deepens the feeling of hard-won wisdom that informs All I Intended To Be. Producer Brian Ahern was behind the boards for such early Harris classics as Elite Hotel, Pieces of the Sky and Blue Kentucky Girl. The players and guest stars are not only a veritable who's-who from the worlds of country, bluegrass and folk, but they have each intersected with Harris throughout her four-decade career as a recording artist. They include Dolly Parton, singers Pam Rose and Maryann Kennedy, dobro player (and longtime Seldom Scene member) Mike Auldredge, keyboardists Glenn D. Hardin (of Harris's Hot Band and Elvis Presley's legendary TCB combo) and Bill Payne (of Little Feat). Two songs - the June Carter tribute, "How She Could Sing The Wildwood Flower" and the breathtakingly beautiful "Sailing Round the Room" - were co-written by and performed with Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Singer-songwriter Karen Brooks, whose own eighties-era version of "Shores of White Sands" was the inspiration and thematic jumping-off point for this entire album, contributes backing vocals throughout; Randy Sharp, Brooks' singing partner, did the vocal arranging. (Harris won a 2005 Best Country Vocal Performance Grammy for her rendition of Sharp's "The Connection.") Harris's own songs, like the heartache ballad "Gold" and the elegiac "Not Enough," blend seamlessly with work by Patty Griffin ("Moon Song"), Merle Haggard ("Kern River") and Billy Joe Shaver ("Old Five and Dimers," from which the album title is taken). Harris revives what is arguably Tracy Chapman's most eloquent song, "Fast Car" notwithstanding - "All That You Have Is Your Soul," a cautionary tale with a simple but profound prayer of a chorus. Displaying the maturity, elegance and ease that distinguished All The Road Running, her best-selling 2006 collaboration with Mark Knopfler. Harris has created a riveting emotional and spiritual journey. All That I Intended To Be is everything a listener and fan could hope for.
Tracks:
"All I Intend To Be" (13 tracks; 56 min.) came as somewhat of a surprise to me, as Emmylou reaches back into more of her traditional country roots than she has done in the last 15 years. This becomes somewhat apparent on the opener "Shores of White Sand", even more so on "Moon Song", and the most of all on songs like "Old Five and Dimers Like Me' and ""Kern River", which are not for me,but that's just my personal taste. There are 2 songs co-written and featuring Kate and Ann McGarrigle that are quite enjoyable. Emmylou Harris brings another 4 songs written by her, and they are mostly tremendous. Apart from the music, Emmylou's voice remains as warm and as rich, and in fact seems to be getting better still.
Hard to believe that Emmylou turned 61 this year. While I have to admit that "All I Intend To Be' is not my favorite Emmylou Harris album, this is a nice album nevertheless. If Emmylou tours anywhere close to Cincinnati behind this album, you can bet I will be there. I've seen her a number of times of the years, and she is outstanding live.
On her second Nonesuch disc, Emmylou Harris assembles an extraordinary cast of veteran musicians and fellow singers, all of them longtime friends, for a set that indeed showcases this Nashville icon, and 2008 CMA Hall of Fame inductee, as all she has intended to be - a singularly expressive vocalist, a brilliant interpreter of other people's songs, a graceful and confident songwriter. In particular, the album displays Harris's ability to bring new life to songs that may have been overlooked, forgotten or lost along the way. Some of the most affecting material here may be the least well-known - though not for long: John Wesley Routh's celtic/country "Shores Of White Sands" and trucker-poet Mark Germino's heartrending story-song, "Broken Man's Lament." Harris has chosen these songs with conceptual care. Like much of the gently uplifting All I Intended To Be, the stories may be bittersweet, the characters may be downtrodden, but somehow a sense of redemption always vanquishes regret. The shared history of all the artists involved deepens the feeling of hard-won wisdom that informs All I Intended To Be. Producer Brian Ahern was behind the boards for such early Harris classics as Elite Hotel, Pieces of the Sky and Blue Kentucky Girl. The players and guest stars are not only a veritable who's-who from the worlds of country, bluegrass and folk, but they have each intersected with Harris throughout her four-decade career as a recording artist. They include Dolly Parton, singers Pam Rose and Maryann Kennedy, dobro player (and longtime Seldom Scene member) Mike Auldredge, keyboardists Glenn D. Hardin (of Harris's Hot Band and Elvis Presley's legendary TCB combo) and Bill Payne (of Little Feat). Two songs - the June Carter tribute, "How She Could Sing The Wildwood Flower" and the breathtakingly beautiful "Sailing Round the Room" - were co-written by and performed with Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Singer-songwriter Karen Brooks, whose own eighties-era version of "Shores of White Sands" was the inspiration and thematic jumping-off point for this entire album, contributes backing vocals throughout; Randy Sharp, Brooks' singing partner, did the vocal arranging. (Harris won a 2005 Best Country Vocal Performance Grammy for her rendition of Sharp's "The Connection.") Harris's own songs, like the heartache ballad "Gold" and the elegiac "Not Enough," blend seamlessly with work by Patty Griffin ("Moon Song"), Merle Haggard ("Kern River") and Billy Joe Shaver ("Old Five and Dimers," from which the album title is taken). Harris revives what is arguably Tracy Chapman's most eloquent song, "Fast Car" notwithstanding - "All That You Have Is Your Soul," a cautionary tale with a simple but profound prayer of a chorus. Displaying the maturity, elegance and ease that distinguished All The Road Running, her best-selling 2006 collaboration with Mark Knopfler. Harris has created a riveting emotional and spiritual journey. All That I Intended To Be is everything a listener and fan could hope for.
Tracks:
Shores of White Sand Hold On Moon Song Broken Man's Lament Gold How She Could Sing the Wildwood All That You Have is Your Soul Take That Ride Old Five and Dimers Like Me Kern River Not Enough Sailing Round the Room Beyond the Great Divide
Customer Reviews:
3.5 Stars... Emmylou looks back, and then moves forward
I've always had a great admiration for Emmylou Harris as an artist but I couldn't really call myself a true fan of hers, that is until the release of her 1995 album "Wrecking Ball" in which she transcends the previous limits of country music into something new altogether. I've loved every one of her albums since then, and it's been a long five years since her previous studio album "Stumble Unto Grace".
"All I Intend To Be" (13 tracks; 56 min.) came as somewhat of a surprise to me, as Emmylou reaches back into more of her traditional country roots than she has done in the last 15 years. This becomes somewhat apparent on the opener "Shores of White Sand", even more so on "Moon Song", and the most of all on songs like "Old Five and Dimers Like Me' and ""Kern River", which are not for me,but that's just my personal taste. There are 2 songs co-written and featuring Kate and Ann McGarrigle that are quite enjoyable. Emmylou Harris brings another 4 songs written by her, and they are mostly tremendous. Apart from the music, Emmylou's voice remains as warm and as rich, and in fact seems to be getting better still.
Hard to believe that Emmylou turned 61 this year. While I have to admit that "All I Intend To Be' is not my favorite Emmylou Harris album, this is a nice album nevertheless. If Emmylou tours anywhere close to Cincinnati behind this album, you can bet I will be there. I've seen her a number of times of the years, and she is outstanding live.
2008-10-01
50something
Emmylou sounds like she is experiencing life that has past and looking ahead toward her future. Only her future is not of this world. The things that used to be important, such as children, love, and possessions are no longer needed. The only thing she needs now is her soul. And this lady will never lose that! Great album for the old souls among us...
2008-09-16
Beautiful sounds....
There aren't a lot of pieces of music that give you a sense of release but at the same time capture and hold your soul till they're done. Pieces like "How she could sing the wildwood flower" and "sailing round the room" are of that rare kind, they take you away. This cd is priceless. 2008-09-11
buyer beware
product never arrived. seller never responded to email. amazon won't support guarantee. only gave 1 star because i couldn't give no stars. 2008-09-08
I love this album!
This is the first time in my entire life (and I'm pretty old) I've purchased an album and liked every song! Highly recommend this album. 2008-09-08
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