NOW WHERE DID THAT SONG COME FROM ?
by Neville Bond
We all know where to find Emmylou songs - her own albums and many contributions on those of a plethora of other artists. Yet there are others on what me could call "Various artist compilations" that have only seen the light of day in this way. You won't easil;y find these by looking through the alphabetically sorted artist list in your record store as they can't be filed anywhere between John Anderson and Neil Young.
In order of appearance these songs are :-
This first appeared in the film Roadie, the soundtrack album being issued by Warner in 1980 as 2BS 3441 in 2LP format. Warner also produced a sampler LP numbered PRO A 861 and there was also a single WBS 49262.
Perhaps the easiest way to find the song is to obtain Emmylou's album "Duets" from 1988 (a rarity from Australasia) or from 1990 everywhere else.
Emmylou's former husband Paul Kennerly wrote THE LEGEND OF JESSE JAMES, a saga of an American folk hero. The album was issued by A & M in 1980 as SP 3718 . In addition, a sampler entitled SELECTIONS FROM THE LEGEND OF JESSE JAMES was also issued as SP 17135 PLP. A single, containing "Wish We Were Back in Missouri " was also issued being numbered 2290-S
This song, by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band , was issued on A CHRISTMAS TRADITION by Warner in 1987, being numbered 1-25630 LP
Emmylou does not get any credit on the album for her contribution but the serious collector would probably have this in his/her collection because "Light of the Stable" is also featured.
This was recorded for the film PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES, the soundtrack being released by M C A in 1987 as MCA 6223. A single release was also made on MCA 53236.
These songs emanated from a 1988 television documentary concerning Woodie Guthrie and Leadbelly called A VISION SHARED. An album was produced by Columbia in 1988 numbered OC 44034 which included Emmylou singing a solo "Hobo's Lullaby".
However, the original video contained two songs with Arlo Guthrie, these being "Hobo's Lullaby" and "Deportee", together with one verse of "This Land is You Land". "Deportee" has never found its way onto a record or cd but the other two appear on the promotional version of the album, which is numbered CAS 1261
These songs were recorded for the 1991 BBC documentary series BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME and featured Emmylou as part of a trio with Mary Black & Dolores Keane. The BBC produced the album, numbered 844 on two cds or three lps. Sadly, the second song did not make it to the small screen but is available for posterity on vinyl and plastic.
"Sonny" was also released as a single, on vinyl and cd.
This song was recorded for the album "J D Crowe and the New South" (Rounder 0044) but the version released did not include Emmylou's vocals. This was rectified by Rounder in its 1992 album THE STAINED GLASS HOUR, CD 11563
TIL THEIR EYES SHINE was an album produced by Columbia in 1992 numbered CK 52412-2 in aid of the Voiceless Victims programme of the Institute for Intercultural Understanding.. A promotional cd was also issued, entitled DREAMLAND (CSK 4897). Although this did not include "Child of Mine", it did include "Dreamland" in which Emmylou makes a contibution.
In 1992, Disney produced COUNTRY MUSIC FOR KIDS , 60837 2, which features this song.
This song is called "No Regrets" on the album , which is EDITH PIAF TRIBUTE . The recording appears to emanate from France and the album was first issued by Ab-disque AB0281-2 .
This duet with the late Roy Acuff was broadcast from the 29th Annual Grammy Awards and found its way onto a cd GRAMMY'S GREATEST COUNTRY MOMENTS, VOLUME 2 , issued by Atlantic in 1994 as 82585-2
This song was recorded for the 1994 TNN production "Merle Haggard: An American Story" and found its way on to an album, again called MAMA'S HUNGRY EYES which came from Arista in the same year (07822 18760-2)
Emmylou has stated her admiration for Mary Black many times and this duet was issued by the Great Britain based Grapevine label as ABSOLUTE IRISH, AICD 001, in 1995. It was something of a problematical song to capture for the collector as it was only available from the British newsagents, W H Smith. However, the problem was later resolved by its inclusion in Mary's album "LOOKING BACK", issued in the USA by Curb (D2-77715) and by Arcade in Holland (9902243)
This song finds Emmylou playing her guitar as accompaniment to daughter Meghann Ahern's singing. It was released locally in Nashville in 1996 under the auspices of Hillsboro High School as Burro Tracks LOOKING AT THE STARS
This duet with Jim Lauderdale seems to have been recorded for a 1996 televsion documentary entitled AMERICA'S MUSIC: THE ROOTS OF COUNTRY. Curb produced a cd of the same title which included to song (D2 77865). It later reappeared on Jim Lauderdale's album "PERSIMMONS" (Upstart 035).
This song is from the original score of the motion picture SLINGBLADE and the soundtrack was issued on in 1996 by Island Records (314-524 388-2)
The tune is hummed by Emmylou and only lasts for one minute nineteen seconds. But it's a good one minute nineteen seconds.
This is one for the future and should appear on the album THE SONGS OF JIMMIE RODGERS: A TRIBUTE ALBUM, probably on Bob Dylan's Egyptian label
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