Album of the Day

Emmylou Harris' talent was evident when she was singing in the shadow of Gram Parsons, and grew undeniable as her solo career progressed. Her second album, ELITE HOTEL, was released this month in 1975, and shows that Emmylou has a great ear as well as a great voice; the songs here offer an engaging mix of Parsons' cosmic Americana, pop-rock (a wonderful take on The Beatles “Here, There And Everywhere”) and country standards from decades past (“Sweet Dreams” and “Together Again,” both No.1 Country singles). Harris and producer Brian Ahern assembled a pretty hot band for these sessions, including James Burton, Byron Berline and former Eagle Bernie Leadon – not to mention Rodney Crowell and Jo-El Sonnier, who appear on the two bonus tracks of the Expanded & Remastered Edition of ELITE HOTEL.