Putting these three ladies together sounds like a record executive's dream or nightmare. Collaborative albums by solo music stars end up too often in disastrous ego clashes, but thankfully these three great singers have always been each other's fan, and had been trying to record an album together since the 70's. Their hectic schedule of the time did not allow it, as they were each having their own superstar careers going on, but in the end producer George Massenburg managed to get them all together in the studio some time in 1986. Now that's a chance you don't want to blow, and Massenburg certainly didn't. He put together a backing band by crack musicians that nevertheless stick to providing sympathetic backing without trying to upstage the stars. As for the three singers, their voices complement each other perfectly: Ronstadt has the strongest voice and really shines in her solo spots. Harris handles her solo spots well but also crucially provides the best support (she has elevated records by Gram Parsons and Bob Dylan just by singing backup in them, no wonder everybody asks her to guest in their albums). Dolly Parton as an entertainer often eclipses herself as a singer, but what she lacks in the vocal department she makes up for with her earnest and passionate delivery - perfect for those broken-hearted country songs. No wonder she gets top billing in this album, as she's not just an American sweetheart but also the only pure country singer of the three - although well acquainted with country music nuances, Ronstand started out as a pop artist, and Harris as a folk one.
And this is an unabashedly, 100% pure, old-timey country record. The ladies' photo shoot (both front and inner sleeve) makes it clear they are going for that retro country feel, and they've nailed it completely. This is mostly evident in the traditional songs like "Rosewood Casket", the hymn "Farther Along", and Jimmy Rodger's "Hobo's Meditation" (written in 1932, during The Great Depression). They somehow falter when they try Phil Spector's "To Know Him Is To Love Him", which was released as lead single. Heavenly harmonies, to be sure, but the result is just too bland for my taste. The real highlights here are Dolly Parton's own composition "Wildflowers" (with her on lead vocal, of course) and Linda Thompson's "Telling Me Lies" with a classy orchestral arrangement and Linda Ronstand on lead vocal. The 4th and last single off the album is "Those Memories Of You", a relatively new song in classic Hank Williams-style. Lead vocal by Parton, great harmonies, nice fiddle and mandolin. "Making Plans" is a classic country tearjerker that suits Parton's style perfectly. Once again great harmonies, with the violin giving it a slightly Celtic colour. The rest of the songs are also faultlessly executed, old-fashioned country ballads. The harmonies are pitch-perfect: each voice is different, and comes in slightly before or after the other so that it's very distinctive, yet they blend together seamlessly. I guess the only downside (for me) is the choice of material: If you're going to make an album of classic country, you'd better throw in a couple of lively honky tonk tunes too, not just a string of forlorn ballads about love and heartbreak. Otherwise I'm inclined to get bored, no matter how good the playing and singing is. Nevertheless, if you love this style of song, it doesn't get much better than this.
**** for Making Plans, Wildflowers, Telling Me Lies, Those Memories Of You
*** for The Pain Of Loving You, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Hobo's Meditation, My Dear Companion, I've Had Enough, Rosewood Casket, Farther Along
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