RELEASED 26.1.20145
1. Feelin Single Seein Double 3.10 2. One of These Days 3.38 3. Sweet Dreams 4.24 4. Return of the Grievous Angel 4.22 5. Bluebird Wine 4.19 6. Pancho and Lefty 5.23 7. The Bottle Let Me Down 4.23 8. Country Boy 7.14 9. Sin City 4.22 10. Wheels 3.20 11. (You Never Can Tell) C est La Vie 4.14 12. Ooh Las Vegas 4.04 13. Together Again 4.09 14. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) 3.30
By this stage in her career, Emmylou was already an established artist in her own right. Two of her three extant studio albums, Pieces Of The Sky (February, 1975) and Elite Hotel (December 1975), had been bona fide hits on the US Country Music charts, reaching numbers 7 and 1 respectively. Previously, during the early 1970s, Emmylou had worked extensively alongside Gram Parsons and featured heavily on his two seminal Country-Rock solo-albums; G.P. (January 1973) and Grievous Angel (released posthumously in January 1974). Although there has been much speculation about the nature of Emmylou s close personal relationship with Gram, there is no doubt regarding the musical debt she has openly acknowledged. Indeed, gracing the fine 14-song set preserved here, are no less than four cuts written, or co-written, by Parsons: Return Of The Grievous Angel, Ooh Las Vegas (both originally on Grievous Angel ), Sin City and Wheels (both co-written with Chris Hillman and originally released on Gram s debut album with the Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace of Sin in 1969). Emmylou had formed The Hot Band at the behest of her label, Warner Brothers, in early 1975. Their live debut was a short 3-night residency at San Francisco s Boarding House, beginning 3rd April 1975. Guitarist James Burton and pianist Glen D. Hardin had both worked with Gram Parsons - as had bassist Emory Gordy - but were best known as members of Elvis Presley s band. On drums was John Ware, and Rodney Crowell performed something of a Parsons role by being Emmylou s onstage vocal partner, as well as playing guitar. By the time of this live recording, James Burton had fallen ill and was replaced by British guitarist Albert Lee, who had been playing R&B, country music and rock & roll since 1959. Emmylou s latest studio album, concurrent with this broadcast, was Elite Hotel and this record is extensively featured with great live versions of Feelin Single Seein Double, One of These Days, Sweet Dreams, Sin City, Wheels, Ooh Las Vegas, Together Again and Jambalaya. Interpretations of Bluebird Wine and The Bottle Let Me Down from Pieces Of The Sky are also showcased, while Townes Van Zandt s Pancho & Lefty and the Chuck Berry classic, (You Never Can Tell) C est La Vie, would have to wait until 1977 s Luxury Liner to see studio versions laid down. Finally, Albert Lee s Country Boy is included, originally from Heads, Hands and Feet s eponymous second album in 1971, but, as many would conclude, in a somewhat superior arrangement here.