Song:Two More Bottles Of Wine
Album:The Very Best Of Emmylou Harris: Heartcahes & Highways
Emmylou Harris has one of the alltime great voices of country music. She has had five number one country hit plus two as part of a duo or group. Two More Bottles Of Wine was her second number one hit in 1978. Emmylou took a very unconventional route to stardom. She was born Apr. 2, 1947 in Birmingham, AL and grew up in North Carolina and Woodbridge, VA. Her father was in the Marine Corps. While attending the University Of North Carolina at Greensboro on a drama scholarship, she decided to become a folksinger and moved to New York City. But by the late 60s, folk music wasn't popular anymore. She recorded an album in 1969 that went nowhere. She married songwriter Tom Slocum and split up after having a daughter. So she moved in with her parents in Maryland. Her big break came one night in 1971. She was performing with her trio and Chris Hillman of The Flying Burrito Brothers was in the audience. He introduced Emmylou to Gram Parsons who had just left the Burrito Brothers and was recording his solo album GP. She joined his band and made her name performing vocal harmonies with Parsons. After Parsons' 1973 death, Emmylou started her own band. She signed with Warner Bros.' Reprise label and she was introduced to Canadian producer Brian Ahern. He was best known for producing Anne Murray. Her 1975 debut album Pieces In The Sky did very well and had two top ten singles. It wasn't a typical Nashville country album. She then formed The Hot Band with guitar legend James Burton, pianist Glen Hardin, pedal steel guitarist Hank DeVito, bassist Emory Gordy Jr. and singer songwriter Rodney Crowell. Unlike other country artists, Emmylou's music was marketed to the album market though she did have some big country hits. Burton and Crowell left and were replaced by Albert Lee and Ricky Skaggs. Two More Bottles Of Wine is from the 1978 album Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town. It was Emmylou's second number one country music hit. The song was written by Delbert McClinton, best known for his hit single Giving It Up For Your Love. Emmylou Harris and Brian Ahern were married in 1977. In the 80s, Emmylou's music went in a traditional bluegrass direction. Her biggest success was the 1987 album she recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. Their cover of Phil Spector's To Know Him Is To Love Him topped the country charts. Since then, Emmylou Harris has continued to be one of the most respected performers in roots music. She still records for Warners' Nonesuch. And she's a grandma. This comp is a good intro to her music. Here's Emmylou Harris performing Two More Bottles Of Wine on Austin City Limits early 80s.
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