Album cover. Asylum (62275-2) (1999)
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Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Dolly Parton
Trio II Asylum (62275-2) February 9, 1999
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Background
A dozen years after the release of their Platinum, Grammy-winning Trio album, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt returned with another in the same vein. The songs were recorded in 1994, but label disputes and conflicting schedules prevented their release at the time. Eventually, Linda remixed five of the album's ten tracks (sans Dolly's vocals) to include on her 1995 album Feels Like Home; "Lover's Return", "High Sierra", "After the Gold Rush", "The Blue Train", and "Feels Like Home".
In 1998, after Dolly and Emmylou had parted ways with their respective labels, they decided to release the album as originally recorded. Childhood photos of Dolly, Emmylou, and Linda were used for the album's cover when a photo shoot proved impossible due to their busy schedules.
In 1998, after Dolly and Emmylou had parted ways with their respective labels, they decided to release the album as originally recorded. Childhood photos of Dolly, Emmylou, and Linda were used for the album's cover when a photo shoot proved impossible due to their busy schedules.
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 solo version of "After the Gold Rush" for her 1996 album Treasures.
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 solo version of "After the Gold Rush" for her 1996 album Treasures.
Release and promotion
The album was released February 9, 1999, on CD and cassette.
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.
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.
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. The trio made appearances on CBS This Morning, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Today, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The Rosie O'Donnell Show.
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