Album cover. Asylum (62275-2) (1999)
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Trio II is the second collaborative studio album by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Dolly Parton. It was released on February 9, 1999, by Asylum Records. Like the original Trio album, Trio II was produced by George Massenburg. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 62 on the all-genre Billboard 200. "High Sierra" was the only single to chart, peaking at number 90 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. "After the Gold Rush" won Best Country Collaboration with Vocals at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards while the album itself was nominated for Best Country Album. The album has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Track listing
- Lover's Return (A.P. Carter, Maybelle Carter, Sara Carter) 4:00
- High Sierra (Harley Allen) 4:21
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind (Dolly Parton) 3:16
- After the Gold Rush (Neil Young) 3:31
- The Blue Train (Jennifer Kimball, Tim Kimball) 4:57
- I Feel the Blues Lovin' In (Del McCoury) 4:31
- You'll Never Be the Sun (Donagh Long) 4:43
- He Rode All the Way to Texas (John Starling) 3:07
- Feels Like Home (Randy Newman) 4:47
- When We're Gone, Long Gone (Kieran Kane, James Paul O'Hara) 4:00
Background
The origins of Trio II began in 1993 when Linda and Emmylou were planning to record an album together featuring writers and singers that they loved, such as the McGarrigle sisters and Alison Krauss. Dolly was invited to sing with them on a few tracks, but she had been too busy. About six months later Dolly reached out to Linda and Emmylou to say that she wanted to do it. Linda felt like the album could be a second Trio project. Emmylou, remembering how hard it had been to arrange their busy schedules during the production of the Trio album and for its promotional campaign, strongly urged Linda to not commit to a second Trio album. They both felt that if Dolly was on the album, but not able to promote it, that they wouldn't be able to promote a full-blown Trio album without her. Emmylou also remembered the discrepancies in the three women's taste during the recording of the first album, but Linda loved what they had created the first time and wanted to repeat it, so she fought for that. When Linda spoke to Dolly again, Dolly made it clear she was only interested if it was a full Trio album. Against Emmylou's urgings, Linda gave in to Dolly's request because she loved their sound as a trio and thought it would be great for all three of them to promote the record together.
Dolly had given Linda her personal word of honor, but the night before recording was to commence Dolly sent a fax to Linda and Emmylou stating that there had been trouble with the production of the infomercial for her Beauty Confidence cosmetics line and she needed ten more days to work on it. When Dolly finally arrived, Linda and Emmylou had a private conversation with her. They asked her if she could really commit to three weeks of time at the end of the album for the promotional tour and stressed that the release date had to be solidified. Dolly again gave them her word, saying, "I get so many irons in the fire, sometimes I burn my own ass."
The recording of the album was well underway, with only Dolly's vocals still needing to be recorded, when she canceled again. Dolly eventually did record her vocals, with Linda and producer George Massenburg working around the clock to make the deadline for the album's fall release. With only two songs left to mix and the promotional campaign for Trio II about to begin, Dolly released Heartsongs: Live from Home in September 1994 and had plans to release her autobiography My Life and Other Unfinished Business in October, further hindering her ability to join Linda and Emmylou to promote a new Trio album. She told Linda and Emmylou that she felt Heartsongs would sell well and help the Trio record sales, but Linda and Emmylou did not agree. The decision was made to shelve the Trio album in favor of a solo album from Linda. Dolly's vocals were mixed out at her request. Linda released Feels Like Home in March 1995, featuring five tracks from Trio II (sans Dolly's vocals); "Lover's Return", "High Sierra", "After the Gold Rush", "The Blue Train", and "Feels Like Home".
Billboard noted in the October 24, 1998 issue that Asylum Records planned to release the Trio II album in early 1999, noting that the tracks had been "in the can for quite some time." A week later in the October 31 issue, Billboard reported that "Dolly Parton has temporarily shelved a second Trio album." Billboard officially announced the album in the January 9, 1999 issue with the headline "Asylum Ends Wait for Trio's 2nd Set."
Dolly had given Linda her personal word of honor, but the night before recording was to commence Dolly sent a fax to Linda and Emmylou stating that there had been trouble with the production of the infomercial for her Beauty Confidence cosmetics line and she needed ten more days to work on it. When Dolly finally arrived, Linda and Emmylou had a private conversation with her. They asked her if she could really commit to three weeks of time at the end of the album for the promotional tour and stressed that the release date had to be solidified. Dolly again gave them her word, saying, "I get so many irons in the fire, sometimes I burn my own ass."
The recording of the album was well underway, with only Dolly's vocals still needing to be recorded, when she canceled again. Dolly eventually did record her vocals, with Linda and producer George Massenburg working around the clock to make the deadline for the album's fall release. With only two songs left to mix and the promotional campaign for Trio II about to begin, Dolly released Heartsongs: Live from Home in September 1994 and had plans to release her autobiography My Life and Other Unfinished Business in October, further hindering her ability to join Linda and Emmylou to promote a new Trio album. She told Linda and Emmylou that she felt Heartsongs would sell well and help the Trio record sales, but Linda and Emmylou did not agree. The decision was made to shelve the Trio album in favor of a solo album from Linda. Dolly's vocals were mixed out at her request. Linda released Feels Like Home in March 1995, featuring five tracks from Trio II (sans Dolly's vocals); "Lover's Return", "High Sierra", "After the Gold Rush", "The Blue Train", and "Feels Like Home".
Billboard noted in the October 24, 1998 issue that Asylum Records planned to release the Trio II album in early 1999, noting that the tracks had been "in the can for quite some time." A week later in the October 31 issue, Billboard reported that "Dolly Parton has temporarily shelved a second Trio album." Billboard officially announced the album in the January 9, 1999 issue with the headline "Asylum Ends Wait for Trio's 2nd Set."
Recording
The album was recorded at The Site in San Rafael, Marin County, California.
Dolly had previously recorded "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" twice. She first recorded it with Chet Atkins in 1976 for his album The Best of Chet Atkins & Friends and he recorded a solo version for her 1982 album Heartbreak Express.
Dolly also recorded a version of "After the Gold Rush" for her 1996 album, Treasures, featuring harmony vocals by Alison Krauss and Suzanne Cox.
Dolly had previously recorded "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" twice. She first recorded it with Chet Atkins in 1976 for his album The Best of Chet Atkins & Friends and he recorded a solo version for her 1982 album Heartbreak Express.
Dolly also recorded a version of "After the Gold Rush" for her 1996 album, Treasures, featuring harmony vocals by Alison Krauss and Suzanne Cox.
Release and promotion
The album was released February 9, 1999, on CD and cassette.
Asylum Records president Evelyn Shriver told Billboard in the January 9, 1999 issue that the label had no plans to promote a single to country radio, but would instead be sending a single to adult contemporary stations. She also said they planned to ship the album to coffeehouses and women's bookstores. There were also plans to advertise the album with graffiti in women's restrooms. She said that the album would be heavily promote on television with appearances on morning and late night talk shows.
Asylum Records president Evelyn Shriver told Billboard in the January 9, 1999 issue that the label had no plans to promote a single to country radio, but would instead be sending a single to adult contemporary stations. She also said they planned to ship the album to coffeehouses and women's bookstores. There were also plans to advertise the album with graffiti in women's restrooms. She said that the album would be heavily promote on television with appearances on morning and late night talk shows.
Singles
Initially, there were no plans to release a single to country radio. "High Sierra" was issued to adult contemporary stations in January 1999 prior to the album's release and was also sent to country stations by mistake, where it received some airplay. It peaked at number 90 in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
In April 1999, following strong sales of the album, three singles were released to country radio simultaneously; "After the Gold Rush", "Feels Like Home" and "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind". Jim Shea directed a music video for "After the Gold Rush" at a synagogue in New York City on March 25. It premiered April 13 on Great American Country.
"Feels Like Home" received an additional promotional release in November 1999 in the form of a one-track CD single titled The Trio for the Holidays.
In April 1999, following strong sales of the album, three singles were released to country radio simultaneously; "After the Gold Rush", "Feels Like Home" and "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind". Jim Shea directed a music video for "After the Gold Rush" at a synagogue in New York City on March 25. It premiered April 13 on Great American Country.
"Feels Like Home" received an additional promotional release in November 1999 in the form of a one-track CD single titled The Trio for the Holidays.
Television appearances
Though scheduling conflicts would not allow for an extended concert tour, Dolly, Emmylou, and Linda did a short promotional tour to support the album. They reunited for the first time on the February 9, 1999 episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno where they were interviewed and performed "High Sierra". On February 11 they appeared on Today and were interviewed before performing "High Sierra". The following day the group appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show and were interviewed in addition to performing "When We're Gone, Long Gone". Two weeks later on February 26, they were interviewed on CBS This Morning and performed "High Sierra". A month later on March 24, they appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and performed "After the Gold Rush". The following day, Dolly was filling in as host for Kathie Lee Gifford on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. Linda and Emmylou joined her for an interview and to perform "After the Gold Rush". During this appearance Dolly makes mention of how she "screwed up" the album's original release back in 1994.
Critical reception
Billboard reviewed the album in the February 6, 1999 issue. The review said, "Trio II reprises the 1987 joint effort by these three stellar voices. The eternal appeal of such ethereal singing is best epitomized in the Carter Family's "Lover's Return", with its silvery guitar chimes wining around the Trio's sweet harmony singing. As the cliché goes, these three could make the Burbank phone book sing. The material is mostly up to such high standards, and George Massenburg's production is crystal clear and on target. Dolly Parton's pop-ish "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" is rendered forever country by Emmylou Harris' trilling lead vocal. Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush" takes on a genuine fairy-tale quality in this shimmering version. Harris' lead vocal gives Donagh Long's "You'll Never Be the Sun" an anthemic quality, as does Linda Ronstadt's lead on Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home". Album closer is the O'Kanes' lovely "When We're Gone, Long Gone"."
Tony Scherman gave the album a B+ in his review for Entertainment Weekly. He said that it "comes about 75 percent of the way...lacking the "burnished, heirloom quality of Trio," but is "very fine nonetheless." The Los Angeles Times gave the album 3.5 out of 4 stars, saying that the "inspired reading of the Neil Young stalwart "After the Gold Rush" brings harmonies of celestial loveliness to Young's elegy to a passing era. Harris' signature vocal purity is a perfect match for Donagh Long's stunningly pretty love song "You'll Never Be the Sun." And Ronstadt taps her formidable country-rock heritage in Jennifer Kimball and Tom Kimmel's "Blue Train" and Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home"." Patrick Carr of Rolling Stone gave the album 3 out of 5 stars and said that "at its best, this mutual-admiration society works with a vengeance approaching the heavenly."
Becky Byrkit of AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, calling the album "a gem along the beautiful lines of cubic zirconium, from the most well-intended and loving of real-deal songbird girlfriends."
Tony Scherman gave the album a B+ in his review for Entertainment Weekly. He said that it "comes about 75 percent of the way...lacking the "burnished, heirloom quality of Trio," but is "very fine nonetheless." The Los Angeles Times gave the album 3.5 out of 4 stars, saying that the "inspired reading of the Neil Young stalwart "After the Gold Rush" brings harmonies of celestial loveliness to Young's elegy to a passing era. Harris' signature vocal purity is a perfect match for Donagh Long's stunningly pretty love song "You'll Never Be the Sun." And Ronstadt taps her formidable country-rock heritage in Jennifer Kimball and Tom Kimmel's "Blue Train" and Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home"." Patrick Carr of Rolling Stone gave the album 3 out of 5 stars and said that "at its best, this mutual-admiration society works with a vengeance approaching the heavenly."
Becky Byrkit of AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, calling the album "a gem along the beautiful lines of cubic zirconium, from the most well-intended and loving of real-deal songbird girlfriends."
Billboard review, February 6, 1999.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number five on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated February 27, 1999. It peaked at number four on the chart dated March 6, its second week on the chart, where it remained for an additional week. The album charted for 37 weeks. It also peaked at number 62 on the Billboard 200. The album peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Country Albums chart. It peaked at number 66 in Australia on the ARIA Albums chart.
The album charted at number 29 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1999.
The album charted at number 29 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1999.
Accolades
The album was nominated for Best Country Album at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000 and "After the Gold Rush" won Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. The album was also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year at the 33rd Annual Country Music Association Awards in 1999. "After the Gold Rush" was nominated for Vocal Event of the Year at the 35th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2000 and Vocal Event of the Year at the 2000 CMT Music Awards (known as the Country Weekly presents the TNN Music Awards at the time). Its music video was nominated for Video Event of the Year at the 1999 CMT Video Awards.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 15, 2001, for shipment of 500,000 copies.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 15, 2001, for shipment of 500,000 copies.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
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Production
- John Brenes – production archivist
- Nathaniel Kunkel – recording
- George Massenburg – producer, recording, mixing
- Linda Ronstadt – string arrangement, mixing
- Gail Rosman – production assistant
- Doug Sax – mastering
- Kevin Scott – recording assistant
- Janet Stark – production assistant
- John Starling – associate producer
Other personnel
- Lynn Bradley – art direction, design
- Michael Hagewood – art administration
- Kosh – art direction, design
- Ira Koslow – Linda Ronstadt management