Red Dirt Girl

I'm an older music hound from way back, and I take music and musical ratings and reviews very seriously. Along with Dark Side of The Moon, OK Computer, The Suburbs, In The Court of the Crimson King, The Wall, and perhaps one or two other masterpiece albums, I rank both Red Dirt Girl and Wrecking Ball, Emmylou's previous album, as Top 10 all-time! That's not an exaggeration. This is a masterpiece for the ears. Every song is deep and meaningful and well constructed and lyrically poetic and musically stellar. I've listened to Red Dirt Girl and Wrecking Ball hundreds of times. And 30 years from now, they will still be masterpiece albums. Listen to Bang The Drum Slowly, and see if you can go 10 seconds without hitting the repeat button. I'll bet you can't. Masterful!

I've been listening to this album for 14 years now...I've worn out 2 actual cds and it sees regular play on my iPod. I own hundreds of albums, but if I was cast away on an abandoned island and told I could have the music of only one album with me...this might be it. It's gritty, filled with soul, haunting, beautiful and maybe the best of Emmylou's career.

What a gift Emmylou Harris is to American music. This is a great album from start to finish.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best well written albums. The tone and quality of her voice allows her to reign in country music royalty. She definatley sets the standard for all women in the industry. Emmylou still has it goin' on!!

One listen to the title song and you realize that you hearing not simply a singer-songwriter of tremendous depth and sensitivity, but a truly great artist. To capture in few brief minutes a life like Lillian's and transmit its pathos so completely is an achievement that leaves me stunned every time I hear "Red Dirt Girl."

She did a good job recording all of these songs. I like them because they have beautiful sounds and music in all the tracks. I like j'ai fait tout it is written in a different language and it is beautiful.

Recently re-discovered this and need to gush over it. Every song is beautiful in its own way-my favorite is the title cut. I've listened to Emmylou since her days with Gram and Red Dirt Girl is quite arguably her best.

Since co-writing "Boulder to Birmingham" - which is haunting still today, you always suspected Emmylou was an amazing writing talent if she took a respite to put them down. Have everything she has ever recorded, and this one is a favorite among favorites. Don't we all know a Lillian from our past?

I have listened to Emmylou's music from when I was very little. Still to this day, listening to these songs brings up so many memories and emotions from the pits of my intellect as it did when I first listened to them. That is the power of true music. And Harris not only accomplishes that evocation, but excels at it. I would place this collection of songs among the most highly praised and celebrated albums of the last 50 years. She is truly a wonder of a musician.

This red dirt girl in Alabama says, if you only have one Emmylou Harris album in your collection, this is THE ONE to have. There isn't a single bad track but if you want to start slowly, I would recommend I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now, Red Dirt Girl (a song that deserves 10 stars!), Bang the Drum Slowly (I miss you, Dad), J'ai fait tout, and My Antonia.