Bluebird

Emmylou Harris is one of those consistent talents incapable of recording anything less than a strong, competent album. Therefore it’s easy to overlook her extensive output and miss the peaks among the already high standards. A confident rocker such as “Heaven Only Knows” would be a stand-out on most performers’ albums, but here it coasts along like so much expected pleasure. John Hiatt’s “Icy Blue Heart” is such a towering achievement in his own hands that handed off to Emmylou the song leaves you speechless as the sentiments, and the vocal jump in the chorus, are without peer. Tom Rush’s classic “No Regrets,” the high point of his essential The Circle Game album, sits comfortably in the middle of this collection. Johnny Cash’s “I Still Miss Someone” nods towards Harris’ country roots. Harris’ own composition, “A River for Him,” shimmers with the grace and stillness of a winter’s night. Butch Hancock’s “If You Were a Bluebird” flirts with the Eddy Arnold standard “You Don’t Know Me” and adds a country flair.