By STEVE MORSE The Boston Globe
Date: 08/09/98 22:30

Funny how the best-laid plans for a sabbatical can go up in smoke. Emmylou Harris had thought of pulling back to write some new songs but admits with a knowing laugh, "This year didn't translate to actual time off."

Instead, it translated to another Lilith Fair appearance and to a live album, "Spyboy," which condenses and celebrates a 25-year career. It's a career that spills across country, rock, bluegrass and the ambient soul of her previous album, "Wrecking Ball," recorded with New Orleans producer-mystic Daniel Lanois. The album won a Grammy last year for Best Contemporary Folk Performance, even though Harris is as much rock and country as she is folk.

The live record "Spyboy" (a New Orleans term for the person who scouts out the route of the parade) is not just a retrospective of her career but a gem of execution, which shouldn't be surprising given her reputation for standout concerts. Recorded at the end of a European tour (and due for release Tuesday), it features guitarist Buddy Miller (who opened a bunch of dates for Steve Earle this year) and a New Orleans rhythm section of drummer Brady Blake and bassist Daryl Johnson. They normally tour with Lanois.

Harris had thought of just recording a previously uncut Lanois tune, "The Maker," but one thing led to another, and the live album was born. It also serves as a mini-tribute to her '70s mentor Gram Parsons, since Harris sings his picaresque "Wheels" and aching "Love Hurts," which was written by Boudleaux Bryant but stamped with definitive, blue-eyed soul by Parsons. (Other exemplary tracks include "Tulsa Queen" and "Boulder to Birmingham.")

"What Gram gave me musically was such a gift," says the Alabama-born Harris, who was discovered singing in a Washington club by Parsons. He then sang and toured with her for just under two years before dying from a heroin overdose.

"People assume we were personally involved," Harris says. "But we were just involved as friends and collaborators."

At the moment, Harris is also coordinating a tribute album to Parsons, whose country twang echoed Hank Williams and also influenced the Rolling Stones. Such acts as Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, Beck, Chrissie Hynde and the Cowboy Junkies are all slated to appear on the tribute, which will be issued next year.

She's also pleased to be on the Lilith Fair tour again.

"The only thing we have in common is double-X chromosomes. Otherwise, the cross section of music is incredible. This year I'm playing a 50-minute set. Last year I played 35. So, I got a raise!"