The World Famous Ultimate Twang: Classic Album Review-"Trio"

Classic Album Review-”Trio”

What an album to end the week with. Three multi talented performers collaborating on an album of mainly country and bluegrass style music, with just a touch of pop thrown in, for good measure. The three performers are Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt. The album is “Trio”. Released in February, 1987, the album was an immediate success, selling over three million copies, reaching the pop album top ten, while topping the country album chart for five weeks. It would also spawn four top ten singles, including one number one hit, “To Know Him Is To Love Him”.

A song written by Dolly and Porter Wagoner, titled “The Pain Of Loving You”, opens things on this collection. Almost immediately, you are hit by how incredible the pairing of these three incredible voices really is. Emmylou Harris takes the lead on this one.

It’s Dolly Parton’s turn for the lead on “Making Plans”, a previous hit for her and Wagoner. Performed in a slower tempo than the hit single, this cut is an outstanding melding of the three great vocalists, along with a bluegrass-inspired arrangement.

“To Know Him Is To Love Him” was written by Phil Spector, and was a 1958 pop hit for The Teddy Bears (of which Spector was part of). Here, Emmylou Harris is back in the forefront, with flawless vocals on a number one single. It’s one of those songs that personally does nothing for me, but that being said, this version is one of the best you will hear of this classic.

The ladies pull one from the collection of the legendary Mississippi Blue Yodeler, Jimmie Rodgers, next. “Hobo’s Meditation” features Linda Ronstadt in the lead, and her vocals were in peak form, during this recording. The vocals, both lead and harmonies are enhanced by the minimal acoustic backing. One of the best cuts on the disc.

“Wildflowers” was one of four top ten singles from the album. Dolly Parton leads on this track, and it’s very reminiscent of her early work. I’d call it a throwback to what she was cutting on her first solo albums.

Side one wraps with “Telling Me Lies”, another of the top ten singles from the album, and featuring Linda Ronstadt in the lead, again. This song features a slicker, more lush arrangement than the rest of the disc, but I think it works for this track. Along with “I’ve Had Enough”, it’s about as far as the album will stray from the acoustic style that is heard on most of the disc.

Side two opens with Emmylou Harris back in the lead, but with Linda Ronstadt providing strong harmonies on “My Companion”. The track also features some outstanding instrumental work from Albert Lee on mandolin.

“Those Memories Of You” was yet another top ten hit from the album, and my personal favorite of the disc. We hear Dolly Parton in the lead on this track. The excellent guitar work on this track, comes from the same Albert Lee, whose mandolin was featured on the previous track.

“I’ve Had Enough” features Linda Ronstadt on lead; weakest track on the disc. The song, to me, feels too out of place with the rest of the album; perhaps because of the clarinet and flute, but also because the song has too much of a pop feel to it, and unlike “To Know Him Is To Love Him”, doesn’t lend itself well to a different genre.

“Rosewood Casket” has been around since country music has been sung. Typical of early country music, it’s a grim tale of a lover who’s passed. However, great harmonies can be heard on this track. If you like songs about caskets, you’ll love this track.

“Farther Along”, like “Rosewood Casket”, is a traditional song, whose origins have been lost over time.

One of the highlights of the album, it’s a beautiful way to wrap the album, as all three are given a turn to lead on vocals on this gospel-ish tune.

It would have been completely shocking to have found this album unavailable; I’m happy to say that it is, both in CD and MP3 form. Plus, there are several used vinyl copies floating around the web, as well.

They had been trying to make this album since the 1970’s, but were unable to make it happen, until 1986. The wait was well worth it. It’s one of the highlights of 1980’s country music; certainly an album that is well deserving of being labeled “a classic”. It’s an easy 5 out of 5. Do you agree?