Duets
Before raising her profile as a solo artist, Emmylou Harris established herself as the harmony queen of contemporary music, from her partnership withGram Parsonsthrough sessions with the likes ofBob Dylan.Duetsshowcases her ability to bring out the best in other singers, though its grab-bag selection doesn't necessarily showcase Harris at her best. Released to capitalize on the success of her initialTrioproject withDolly PartonandLinda Ronstadt, it compiles her collaborations with a variety of artists from the late Parsons (their riveting rendition of "Love Hurts") toSouthern Pacific("Thing About You," aTom Pettyobscurity) toGeorge Jones("All Fall Down," an album highlight) toDon Williams(their hit duet ofTownes Van Zandt's "If I Needed You"). From the sublime (Roy Orbison,Willie Nelson) to the irrelevant (John Denver,Earl T. Conley), the collection is more of a marketplace filler than a cohesive artistic statement.--Don McLeese