Red Dirt Girl (CD - 2000)

Personnel includes: Emmylou Harris (vocals); Dave Matthews, Patty Griffin (vocals); Buddy Miller, Ethan Johns (guitar); Daryl Johnson (bass); Carlo Nuccio (drums); Bruce Springsteen, Patty Scialfa, Kate McGarrigle, Jill Cunniff.

RED DIRT GIRL won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Personnel: Emmylou Harris (acoustic guitar); Patti Scialfa (vocals); Malcolm Burn (guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, tambourine, drum programming); Ethan Johns (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandocello, omnichord, drums); Darryl Johnson (electric guitar, drums, percussion); Jill Cunniff, Buddy Miller (electric guitar); Kate McGarrigle (accordion, piano); Jim Watts, John Deaderick (Fender Rhodes piano); Carlo Nuccio (drums).

Recording information: Clouet Street Studio, New Orleans, LA (03/2000-04/2000); New Orleans, LA (03/2000-04/2000).

Photographer: Michael Wilson .

Unknown Contributor Role: Malcolm Burn.

Primarily known as an interpreter of artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan to Townes Van Zandt and David Olney, for RED DIRT GIRL Emmylou Harris composed most of the material herself, the first time she'd done this since 1985's BALLAD OF SALLY ROSE. This follow-up to 1995's splendid Daniel Lanois-produced WRECKING BALL finds her applying that album's same ethereal touch, thanks to Lanois protege Malcom Burn who helms this project's production.

Harris' inspiration ranges far and wide, and includes her late father (the aching "Bang the Drum Slowly"), the poet Carl Sandberg (a shimmering "Michelangelo"), and the film BOYS DON'T CRY (the folky title track). Although famous guests pop up throughout, their appearances are of an organic nature rather than some crass marketing ploy. The wah-wah guitar of Luscious Jackson's Jill Cuniff adds heft to the undulating electro beats of "I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now," while the harmonies provided by husband-and-wife team Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa add another dimension to the love lament "Tragedy." Elsewhere, Dave Matthews' vocals provide a hand-in-glove fit with Harris' angelic timbre on the swirling "My Antonia." minimize