Portraits [Box] (CD - 1996)

Personnel includes: Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons (vocals, acoustic guitar); Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Earl Thomas Conley, Linda Ronstadt, Don Everly (vocals); Bernie Leadon (guitar, dobro, banjo); Ricky Skaggs (guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, viola); Vince Gill (guitar, mandolin); Rodney Crowell, Ry Cooder, Robbie Robertson, Waylon Jennings, Bonnie Raitt, T-Bone Burnett (guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle); Levon Helm (mandolin, drums); Charlie Daniels (fiddle); Mark O'Connor (viola); Jo-El Sonnier (accordion); Kate McGarrigle, Flaco Jimenez (accordion); Jai Winding (piano); Holly Dunn, Nicolette Larson, Anna McGarrigle (background vocals).

Producers include: Brian Ahern, Gram Parsons, Robbie Robertson, Glyn Johns, Don Williams.

Compilation producer: Gregg Geller.

Recorded between 1973 and 1992. Includes a 24-page booklet with liner notes by Colin Escott.

Personnel: Emmylou Harris (vocals, acoustic guitar); Brian Ahern (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, banjo, tambourine, percussion); Herb Pedersen (guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, banjo, background vocals); Al Perkins (guitar, acoustic guitar, dobro, banjo, background vocals); Steve Fishell (guitar, acoustic guitar, dobro, percussion); Hank DeVito (guitar, acoustic guitar); Danny Pendleton, Jimmy Day, Ben Keith (guitar); Bernie Leadon (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dobro, banjo); Barry Tashian (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, background vocals); Albert Lee (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, piano, background vocals); Vince Gill (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Richard Bennett (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion); Rodney Crowell (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Paul Kennerley (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Ricky Skaggs (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, viola, background vocals); Bobby Thompson (acoustic guitar, banjo); Jon Randall Stewart (acoustic guitar, mandolin, background vocals); David Lindley (acoustic guitar, mandolin); Tony Rice, Carl Jackson (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Chris Leuzinger, Dave Kirby, Barry Burton, Gram Parsons, Bruce Archer, Trevor Veitch, Rick Cunha, Robbie Robertson, Ry Cooder, Byrd Burton (acoustic guitar); Frank Reckard (electric guitar, background vocals); Gerry McGee, Ernie Ball, James Burton, Jesse Ed Davis , Mike Henderson, Amos Garrett, Philip Donnelly, Ray Flacke, T Bone Burnett, Waylon Jennings, Bonnie Raitt (electric guitar); Jerry Douglas , Mike Auldridge (dobro); Bryan Bowers (autoharp); Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle, background vocals); Wayne Goodwin, Byron Berline (mandolin, fiddle); Levon Helm (mandolin, drums, background vocals); Kieran Kane (mandolin); Buddy Spicher (fiddle, viola); Stuart Duncan, Charlie Daniels (fiddle); Mark O'Connor (viola); Gary Scruggs, Steve Cash, Terry McMillan, Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Jo-El Sonnier (accordion, triangle); Kate McGarrigle (accordion, background vocals); Flaco Jiménez, Garth Hudson, Nick DeCaro, Bessyl Duhon (accordion); Bill Payne (piano, electric piano, harmonium, organ); Don Johnson (piano, electric piano, keyboards, background vocals); Glen D. Hardin (piano, electric piano, synthesizer); Bobby Wood, Charles Cochran (piano, electric piano); Tom Gorman, Emory Gordy, Jai Winding, Pete Wasner, Tim Gorman (piano); Shane Keister, John Jarvis (keyboards); Carl Marsh (synthesizer); Kenny Malone (drums, congas); Larry Atamanuik (drums, percussion, background vocals); Larrie Londin, Billy Thomas (drums, percussion); Richard Manuel (drums, background vocals); Don Heffington, Ed Greene, David Jimenez, Dave Lewis , N.D. Smart II, Ron Tutt, Russ Kunkel, John Ware (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); Victor Battista, Dolly Parton, Donivan Cowart, Fayssoux Starling, Roy M. "Junior" Husky, Gail Davies, Dianne Brooks, Sharon Hicks, Holly Dunn, Cheryl Warren, Jonathan Edwards, Mary Ann Kennedy, Melba Montgomery, Nicolette Larson, Pamela Rose, Anna McGarrigle, Rick Danko, The Whites, Linda Ronstadt (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Craig Safan; Emory Gordy; Glen D. Hardin; Nick DeCaro.

Photographers: Peter Nash; David Gahr; Tom Wilkes; Ed Thrasher; Torbjorn Calvero; Caroline Greyshock; Don Miller.

Unknown Contributor Roles: David Gahr; Caroline Greyshock.

Portraits is a three-disc, 61-track box set covering Emmylou Harris' entire career for Reprise and Warner Records, which spans from 1974 to 1992. Not only does the box select highlights from classic albums like Luxury Liner, Roses in the Snow, and Blue Kentucky Girl, but it also features her early duets with Gram Parsons and selections from the Trio album she recorded with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. Portraits doesn't dwell too long on unreleased material -- there are only five unearthed tracks on the entire set -- preferring to sketch out a full overview of her career. While there might be a few favorite tracks missing, the box nevertheless fulfills its goals quite nicely -- anyone looking for a comprehensive compilation of Emmylou's career will not be disappointed. ~ Thom Owens minimize