Emmylou Harris: Angel In Disguise

by Jim Brown, Fox Music Books (Manufactured by)

First authoritative look at the life and music of this seminal artist, Emmylou Harris. From her early collaborations with country rock legend Gram Parsons, through her work with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, to her current reign as the queen of alternative country music, Emmylou Harris has lived a remarkable life on the cutting edge of contemporary music. Born in Birmingham and raised in Virginia, she debuted as a folk artist in Greenwich Village, playing alongside Jerry Jeff Walker and David Bromberg, before collaborating with Gram Parsons, forging the country rock sound. With the release of her album, Wrecking Ball, produced by Daniel Lanois, she became a leader of the alternative country music movement. Her critically acclaimed album, Stumble into Grace, was released in late 2003 and nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Genres: Music, Biography

230 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2004

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Jim Brown is a music critic and celebrity biographer whose publications include Country Women in music, Shania Twain: Up and Away, and Emmylou Harris: Angel in Disguise. He is a long-standing member of the West Coast singer-songwriter community.

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you've read Rolling Stone interviews and liner notes, you've already read the book.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

mediocre writer. and not much new or more complete.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I finished this. It was disappointing. The writing is pedestrian and there are numerous errors of fact. I doubt it was proofread, e.g."Guilded Palace of Sin."

[Denise Ballentine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having come late to the table in discovering the soulful, heart-felt music of Emmylou Harris, I was excited to read this. I was sorely disappointed. This tome is so dry and abysmally written that I found myself skimming and skipping chunks of it (something that is close to anathema to me). This is mostly a recounting of her musical career with a few facts about her personal life thrown in. David Dawidoff, in his excellent bookIn the Country of Country did a much better job introducing her to me in just one short chapter. I wish HE would write her biography.

[Rhonda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Other than the subject matter itself this book was a real struggle for me to read. At 216 pages long it was so abysmally written and reported that it took me over 3 months to force myself through it. Ugh.

I can't believe someone hasn't yet written a better biography of Emmylou Harris. She's worked and recorded with more talent in the music business than just about anyone.

[EDIT: Wow. Just saw that this book has an avg 4* review rating here at GoodReads. Maybe I was reading something else.... ]

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

She may not be an angel but her voice is angelic