Album cover. Warner Bros. (9 25491-2) (1987)
|
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris
Trio Warner Bros. (9 25491-2) March 2, 1987
|
Background
Longtime friends and admirers of one another, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt first attempted to record an album together in the mid-1970s, but scheduling conflicts and other difficulties (including the fact that the three women all recorded for different record labels) prevented its release.
Some of the fruits of those aborted 1970s recording sessions did make it onto the women's respective solo albums. "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" was included on Emmylou's 1979 album Blue Kentucky Girl. "Mr. Sandman" and "Evangeline" appeared on Emmylou's 1981 album Evangeline and "My Blue Tears" was included on Linda's 1982 album Get Closer. "Palms of Victory," another track from the aborted 1970s sessions, was included on the Emmylou's 2007 box set Songbird: Rare Tracks and Forgotten Gems.
Dolly and Linda also recorded a version of the traditional ballad "I Never Will Marry", which appeared on Linda's 1977 album Simple Dreams, though that was recorded separately from these sessions, as was Linda's cover of "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)", from Heart Like a Wheel, on which she was joined by Emmylou. During this time, Linda and Emmylou also covered a number of Dolly's compositions — Emmylou covered "Coat of Many Colors" and "To Daddy", and Linda recorded "I Will Always Love You"—for inclusion on their various solo albums during the mid- to late-1970s. Dolly, in turn, covered Emmylou's "Boulder to Birmingham", including it on her 1976 album All I Can Do.
Finally, a collaboration effort came to fruition, being produced by George Massenburg.
Some of the fruits of those aborted 1970s recording sessions did make it onto the women's respective solo albums. "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" was included on Emmylou's 1979 album Blue Kentucky Girl. "Mr. Sandman" and "Evangeline" appeared on Emmylou's 1981 album Evangeline and "My Blue Tears" was included on Linda's 1982 album Get Closer. "Palms of Victory," another track from the aborted 1970s sessions, was included on the Emmylou's 2007 box set Songbird: Rare Tracks and Forgotten Gems.
Dolly and Linda also recorded a version of the traditional ballad "I Never Will Marry", which appeared on Linda's 1977 album Simple Dreams, though that was recorded separately from these sessions, as was Linda's cover of "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)", from Heart Like a Wheel, on which she was joined by Emmylou. During this time, Linda and Emmylou also covered a number of Dolly's compositions — Emmylou covered "Coat of Many Colors" and "To Daddy", and Linda recorded "I Will Always Love You"—for inclusion on their various solo albums during the mid- to late-1970s. Dolly, in turn, covered Emmylou's "Boulder to Birmingham", including it on her 1976 album All I Can Do.
Finally, a collaboration effort came to fruition, being produced by George Massenburg.
Recording
The album was recorded from January to November 1986 at The Complex in West Los Angeles. Additional recording took place at Woodland Studios in Nashville and Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood.
Dolly had previously recorded "The Pain of Loving You" with Porter Wagoner for their 1971 album Two of a Kind. She recored the song again with The Grascals for their 2011 album Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin. Dolly had previously recorded "Making Plans" with Porter Wagoner for their 1980 album Porter & Dolly. She record it again in 2000 with Johnny Russell (one of its writers) for his album Actin' Naturally. Dolly recorded "Rosewood Casket" again for the 2016 compilation On Top of Old Smoky: New Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music. She recorded "Father Along" for her 1999 album Precious Memories.
Dolly had previously recorded "The Pain of Loving You" with Porter Wagoner for their 1971 album Two of a Kind. She recored the song again with The Grascals for their 2011 album Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin. Dolly had previously recorded "Making Plans" with Porter Wagoner for their 1980 album Porter & Dolly. She record it again in 2000 with Johnny Russell (one of its writers) for his album Actin' Naturally. Dolly recorded "Rosewood Casket" again for the 2016 compilation On Top of Old Smoky: New Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music. She recorded "Father Along" for her 1999 album Precious Memories.
Release and promotion
The album was released March 2, 1987, on CD, LP, cassette, and 8-track.
Singles
"To Know Him Is to Love Him" was released as the album's first single on January 26, 1987. It debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated February 21. It peaked at number one on the chart dated May 16, its thirteenth week on the chart. The single charted for 19 weeks. The song also peaked at number one in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart and number 54 in Australia on the Kent Music Report. A music video directed by George Lucas (yes, THAT George Lucas) was released to accompany the single.
The second single, "Telling Me Lies", was released on May 11, 1987. It debuted at number 65 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated May 30. It peaked at number three on the chart dated August 8, its eleventh week on the chart. It charted for 18 weeks. It also peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The single peaked at number six in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
The album's third single, "Those Memories of You", was released on August 31, 1987. It debuted at number 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated September 26. It peaked at number five on the chart dated December 12, its twelfth week on the chart. The single charted for 22 weeks. The song also peaked at number one in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. The single was accompanied by the release of a music video directed by White Copeman.
"Wildflowers" was released at the fourth single on March 14, 1988. It debuted at number on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated March 26. It peaked at number six on the chart dated June 11, its twelfth week on the chart. It charted for 18 weeks. The single peaked at number eight in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
The second single, "Telling Me Lies", was released on May 11, 1987. It debuted at number 65 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated May 30. It peaked at number three on the chart dated August 8, its eleventh week on the chart. It charted for 18 weeks. It also peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The single peaked at number six in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
The album's third single, "Those Memories of You", was released on August 31, 1987. It debuted at number 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated September 26. It peaked at number five on the chart dated December 12, its twelfth week on the chart. The single charted for 22 weeks. The song also peaked at number one in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart. The single was accompanied by the release of a music video directed by White Copeman.
"Wildflowers" was released at the fourth single on March 14, 1988. It debuted at number on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated March 26. It peaked at number six on the chart dated June 11, its twelfth week on the chart. It charted for 18 weeks. The single peaked at number eight in Canada on the RPM Country Singles chart.
Critical reception
Billboard published a review in the issue dated March 14, 1987, which said, "If the "new traditionalists" in country music still have a body of work to draw from, it's largely because these three celestial songbirds kept it alive and vibrant throughout the adulterated '70s. But the members of the trio are not resting on their reputations here; their album is stunningly beautiful on every cut. Crossover is certain and will most likely be instantaneous, fueled by Ronstadt's current ride atop the Hot 100–in a duet with James Ingram–with "Somewhere Out There"."
In the March 14, 1987 issue of Cashbox, a review was published that said, "The long-awaited collaboration of three of country/pop’s greatest voices is an unqualified success. The near-perfect song selection gives the three ample room to develop subtleties and nuance that in places is heart rending (listen to "Telling Me Lies"). These three singular voices blend together in seamless harmony, floating over the sweetest country melodies and poignant understated lyrics. Augmented by an assemblage of some of the best sidemen available, including Albert Lee and Mark O’Connor among them."
Mark Deming of AllMusic rated the album 4.5 out of 5 stars. He called the album "a truly inspired idea." He said that the most pleasing part of the record is "when the three harmonize, with their distinct but equally impressive voices melding into a whole that's more than the sum of its parts." The review closed by saying that "Trio is that rare example of an all-star collaborative effort that truly shows everyone involved to their best advantage, and it ranks with the best of all three headliners' work."
In the March 14, 1987 issue of Cashbox, a review was published that said, "The long-awaited collaboration of three of country/pop’s greatest voices is an unqualified success. The near-perfect song selection gives the three ample room to develop subtleties and nuance that in places is heart rending (listen to "Telling Me Lies"). These three singular voices blend together in seamless harmony, floating over the sweetest country melodies and poignant understated lyrics. Augmented by an assemblage of some of the best sidemen available, including Albert Lee and Mark O’Connor among them."
Mark Deming of AllMusic rated the album 4.5 out of 5 stars. He called the album "a truly inspired idea." He said that the most pleasing part of the record is "when the three harmonize, with their distinct but equally impressive voices melding into a whole that's more than the sum of its parts." The review closed by saying that "Trio is that rare example of an all-star collaborative effort that truly shows everyone involved to their best advantage, and it ranks with the best of all three headliners' work."
Billboard review, March 14, 1987.
|
Cashbox review, March 14, 1987.
|
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated March 28, 1987. It peaked at number one on the chart dated May 2, its sixth week on the chart, where it remained for four additional weeks. The album charted for 84 weeks. It also peaked at number six on the Billboard 200. The album peaked at number four in Canada on the RPM Top Albums chart. It also peaked at number four in Australia on the Kent Music Report. The album saw success in Sweden also, where it peaked at number 29 on the Sverigetopplistan Swedish Albums chart. It peaked at number 60 on the UK Albums chart.
The album charted at number 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1987, and number 20 on the chart for 1988. It also charted at number 62 on the Billboard 200 year-end chart for 1987.
The album charted at number 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums year-end chart for 1987, and number 20 on the chart for 1988. It also charted at number 62 on the Billboard 200 year-end chart for 1987.
Accolades
The album won Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988 and was also nominated for Album of the Year. It won Album of the Year at the 23rd Academy of Country Music Awards in 1988. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 21st Annual Country Music Association Awards in 1987 and won Vocal Event of the Year at the 22nd Annual Country Music Association in 1988. The album won Vocal Collaboration of the Year and Album of the Year at the 1988 CMT Music Awards (known as the Music City News Awards at the time). In December 2020, Trio was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The album was simultaneously certified Gold and Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of American on July 14, 1987, for shipment of 1,000,000 copies. The album was certified Gold by Recorded Music New Zealand on August 9, 1987, for shipment of 7,500 copies.
The album was simultaneously certified Gold and Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of American on July 14, 1987, for shipment of 1,000,000 copies. The album was certified Gold by Recorded Music New Zealand on August 9, 1987, for shipment of 7,500 copies.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Performance
|
|
Production
- Robert Blakeman – photography
- David Campbell – orchestration, conducting
- Liza Edwards – production consultant
- George Massenburg – producer, recording
- Herb Pedersen – vocal arrangements
- Sharon Rice – engineering assistant
- Doug Sax – analog mastering, digital mastering
- John Starling – musical consultant
- Charles Veal – concertmaster
Other personnel
- Andy Engal – illustration
- Kosh – art direction, design
- Ron Larson – art direction, design
- Manuel – costume design