CD-Charts Position 11
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Heartaches and Highways - The Very Best of Emmylou Harris

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: Emmylou Harris

Release Date July 18, 2005
I always had a problem with Country as a youngster, growing up as I did in a working class English town and hooked on Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Sabbath. Though I could listen to Johnny Cash, some of the female country stars of the time (Tammy Wynette etc) really grated on me.

I bought this collection on a whim while working out in California a couple of years ago. This was the first time I really listened to her as a recording artist in her own right, though I was familiar with her work with Gram Parsons and her excellent backing vocals on Dylan's Desire.

I must say that this album blew me away. Her voice is totally exquisite and it is little wonder that her talents been in such demand over the years. Though The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 12
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Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: The Byrds

Release Date June 02, 2008
This concert, which came out of Roger McGuinn's personal archives, demonstrates what a great band the Byrds were 'live' in 1971, and is far superior to any of the studio recordings made by the McGuinn, White, Battin and Parsons version of the band.

As a previous reviewer implied, the sound isn't perfect and the vocals are a bit up front, but the sheer quality of the content far outweighs any minor production/mastering flaws.

I am very happy that this has finally seen the light of day and it once again shows just how great Clarence White's guitar playing was before his sad passing.

The album features 18 great tracks from all periods of the Byrds and is a great investment for any Byrds fan. Whilst to some it may ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 13
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Copperhead Road

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: Steve Earle

Release Date March 20, 1999
Steve Earle music is best described as country-rock. The skull and cross bones that form the cover of Copperhead Road album warn of what is to come, a heavy mix of potent music shot through with the reflections of an wild young man who is older than his years. Inserts show a relaxed Earle, fag in mouth, black shades and dressed in denim.

A strong start with 'Copperhead Road' on which you can apparently 'smell the whisky burnin'; 'The Devil's Right Hand' refers to a pistol and though the song has a strange lyrical resonace it isn't until 'Johnny Come Lately' (on which the Pogues play) when the album begins to rock..

'Johnny Come Lately' tells the story of a soldier off to Vietnam who hopes to return to his girl in London and take ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 14
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Transcendental Blues

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: Steve Earle

Release Date April 19, 2004
Nick Hornby's 31 Songs mentions this album. Many of the other people I listen to refernece Steve Earle, so I bought it and listened and loved it. Why not 5 stars? Nobody is perfect but this is a thumping good album and a great introduction for me to Steve Earle - I will be buying more!

CD-Charts Position 15
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After the Gold Rush

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: Neil Young

Release Date July 31, 1987
After the Goldrush the song itself. Is a brilliant song, only 3 verses. The third verse is the most important with regard Mother Nature. I would advise people to read Arthur C Clarkes story called Childhoods End. Verse 3 of the Neil Young song puts that story into 5 lines:-
"Well I dreamed I saw the silver spaceships lying In the yellow haze of the sun
There were children Crying and Colours flying All around the Chosen ones
All in a dream all in a dream, the loading had begun
Flying Mother Natures silver seed to a new home in the Sun
Flying Mother Natures silver seed, to a new home."
A truly inspirational song and an album which shows great versatility and lasting power. Along with Harvest my favourite Neil Young Albums.

CD-Charts Position 16
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Love On The Inside

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: Sugarland

Release Date July 21, 2008
Would like to second the above reviewer in that this really lives up to my expectation! Its fantastic, as has been said they have injected a lot more 'country' into this album and it has some superb songs. If you have been on Mars for the last few years and havent heard Sugarland and Jenifer Nettles unbelievable voice then its time you did!!

My favorites are 'It Happens', 'We Run', 'Love' and 'Already Gone',... and the last two tracks which are live bonus tracks, 'Life in a Northern Town' where Little Big Town lend a hand in a beautiful song, and perhaps saving the best until last, my pick of the album 'Come on Get Higher' is a fantastic acoustic song where Jennifers amazing voice is the perfect combination for the beautiful lyrics in this song.
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CD-Charts Position 17
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The Fantastic Expedition Of Dillard & Clark/Through The Morning Through The Night

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: Dillard & Clark

Release Date April 26, 1999
Gene Clark and the Byrds were really the catalyst for country music being taken more seriously than it had during the 60a.His first solo album was made with the Gosdin Brothers-who were not to see any chart action until Vern Gosdin in the next decade.
With Sweetheart of the Rodeo the Byrds went headlong into country music and probably invented country rock as urban met rural
The 2 albums as Dillard & Clark were not among the biggest sellers but are always going to sound better than the Eagles who are more a rock band.
This is the real deal

CD-Charts Position 18
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Evil Urges

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: My Morning Jacket

Release Date June 09, 2008
My morning Jacket never fail me. I wasn't impressed with Evil Urges on the first couple of listens, I suppose it wasn't what I was expecting if I'm honest but with each listen it grew on me. I now love it with the exception of one song, Highly Suspicious. It's got a nice soul sound in places, sometimes to my ears sounds a little Lenny Kravitz/Prince like on some of the songs. Yeah, Great Album and Great live band if you get a chance to see them. Worth a buy!

CD-Charts Position 19
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The Guilded Palace Of Sin & Burritos Deluxe

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: The Flying Burrito Brothers

Release Date March 24, 1997
The Byrds underwent many line-up changes but the line-up that recorded the classic Sweethearts of the rodeo album didn't last long even by Byrds' standards. Two of its key members, Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, quit and formed the Flying Burrito Brothers. This twofer contains their first two albums.

The first album, Gilded Palace of Sin, is regarded as a landmark album in the evolution of country-rock, almost as important as Sweethearts of the rodeo. Despite the label country rock, this album actually contains a few soulful ballads. On this album, the group comprised Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, Sneeky Pete Kleinow and Chris Ethridge. Most of the songs are originals, though the album also includes brilliant covers of Dark end of the street and Do right woman.
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CD-Charts Position 20
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The Shepherd's Dog

CD-Charts > Music > Country Rock
by: Iron and Wine

Release Date September 24, 2007
South Carolina-born, Texas-based Sam Beam's third studio album as Iron And Wine is one which has split his fanbase right through the middle. Described by some fans as comperable to 'when Dylan went electric', The Shepherd's Dog is the sound of an artist evolving, expanding, creating and refusing to be defined by his previous work - and it's wonderful. Always interesting, this piece of work gathers folk influences ranging from the late 60s/early 70s (Simon & Garfunkel, Tim Buckley, Nick Drake) to the contemporary (Elliott Smith) and combines them with a vision of the unlimited and unconstrained, both in terms of structure and instrumentation, resulting in a dizzying dozen tracks of intriguing artistry inspired by, according to Sam Beam, "political confusion".

Highlights ... Read More: