Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris - All The Roadrunning

While the CD has flown "Under The Radar," All The Roadrunning by Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler is a fine exercise in "Americana Music" that all fans of good music should pay attention to.

Somewhere in the late 1990s Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris thought that teaming up for a duets album would be fun. Over the course of seven years or so, the two legendary artists cut and pasted the songs of All The Roadrunning together. The album mixes Knopfler's Aussie-rock with Harris' earthy folk-country stylings, something that shouldn't work on many levels. However, the two superstars not only make All the Roadrunning work but they make it a fine slice of Americana music.

Leading off the record is "Beachcombing," and the folksy vibe it showcases immediately sets the tone for the rest of the record. With some stirring mandolins mixing with Knopfler's guitars, the melancholic melody of "I Dug Up A Diamond" sets up metaphoric lyrics that discuss finding "A diamond in a deep, dark mine." The lyrics are meant to discuss that the best things are sometimes found in the strangest of places.

The first single "This Is Us" features the trademark guitar sounds from Knopfler underneath the playful story of memories (like a virtual scrapbook) sung by both Mark and Emmylou. While this song failed to find an audience at country radio, Adult rock (Triple A) stations liked it enough to make it a hit.

With mysterious soundscapes, "Rollin' On" showcases a family that is 'going through the motions' and by the tone of the melody and vocals, it seems to me that they're doing it 'for the kids' or to appease others that the couple knows, something that happens too often in this world. Emmylou's ethereal vocals shine on the 'true' duet "Love And Happiness." As one of two songs written by Harris (This one with Kimmie Rhodes), this song proves that, when she chooses to, Emmylou can write a great song. It also is a song that brilliantly recalls the traditional country ballads of George and Tammy and Johnny and June.

After a couple of playful twangy tracks ("Red Staggewing" and "Donkey Town") Emmylou's other self-penned track is the enchanting "Belle Starr." Recalling her glorious early work, the song is full of shimmering acoustical music (highlighted by Knopfler's dobro-like acoustic slide guitar). Emmylou sings "I'll be your Belle Starr, you can be my Jessie James" in the chorus of the song. "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" is a sweet song that showcases a man who is pleased that his relationship with his wife/girlfriend has brought him more than he could have ever imagined.

The title track, "All The Roadrunning," features more of Knopfler's fine guitar picking (only this time, it's acoustic) along with some absolutely stunning fiddle work. The melody is so beautiful and calming that you almost forget that Emmylou and Mark sing some wonderful lyrics over it. The album closing track, "If This Is Goodbye" is a stunning and wonderful tribute to those who perished on Flight 93 (or "United 93") on September 11, 2001.

With 12 beautiful, often mid-tempo, tracks, All The Roadrunning is a fine collaboration between two of the most gifted artists of a generation of gifted artists. While some may find Knopfler's and Harris' vocals too 'different' to make a record like this work, it is exactly that 'difference' that makes All The Roadrunning work. This is a great record and one that may very well end up on my "Best of 2006" list.

Song List:

1. Beachcombing
2. I Dug Up A Diamond
3. This Is Us
4. Red Staggerwing
5. Rollin' On
6. Love And Happiness
7. Right Now
8. Donkey Town
9. Belle Starr
10. Beyond My Wildest Dreams
11. All The Roadrunning
12. If This Is Goodbye