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The Ballad of Sally Rose

{{Infobox album

| name = The Ballad of Sally Rose

| type = studio

| artist = Emmylou Harris

| cover = EmmylouHarrisTheBalladofSallyRose.jpg

| alt =

| released = February 25, 1985

| recorded = 1984

| venue =

| studio = Treasure Isle Recorders, Nashville, Tennessee

| genre = Country

| length = 36:12

| label = Warner Bros. Nashville

| producer = Paul Kennerley

| prev_title = White Shoes

| prev_year = 1983

| next_title = Thirteen

| next_year = 1986

| misc = {{Singles

| name = The Ballad of Sally Rose

| type = studio

| single1 = White Line

| single1date = February 1985

| single2 = Rhythm Guitar"

| single2date = June 1985

| single3 = Timberline"

| single3date = October 1985

}}

}}

The Ballad of Sally Rose is the eleventh studio album by American singer Emmylou Harris released in February 1985. It marked a significant departure for Harris for two reasons. First, all the songs were written by her and her then-husband Paul Kennerley, while her previous albums had consisted mostly of others' material. Secondly, it is a concept album, loosely based on Harris' relationship with Gram Parsons. The album tells the story of a character named Sally Rose, a singer whose lover and mentor, a hard-living, hard-drinking musician, is killed while on the road.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/03/10/more-than-a-hint-emmylou-harris-comes-out-in-ballad-of-sally/ |title=More Than A Hint Emmylou Harris Comes Out In 'Ballad Of Sally Rose' |author=Hurst, Jack |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 10, 1985 |access-date=May 11, 2011}} Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Gail Davies sing harmony on several of the songs. Many of the songs flow into one another to create a continuous momentum.

Prior to this album, only Harris' 1969 debut Gliding Bird had more than two of her own compositions, a feat she would not repeat until Red Dirt Girl in 2000. Harris has described the album as a "country opera".

Reception

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = Allmusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r92555|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]

}}

In a BBC Radio 2 programme recounting her career in 2006, Harris related how the album was a commercial "disaster" upon its release, its relative failure meaning that she would have to work "for money" again.

Two singles from the album performed disappointingly by Harris' standards, although the single "White Line" was a reasonable success, reaching No. 14 on the country charts.

The Ballad of Sally Rose was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1986/grammys.htm Rock on the Net: 26th Annual Grammy Awards]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Emmylou Harris and Paul Kennerley; except where indicatedEmmylou Harris The Ballad of Sally Rose liner notes

{{track listing

|title1=The Ballad of Sally Rose

|length1=2:48

|title2=Rhythm Guitar

|length2=3:18

|title3=I Think I Love Him" / Instrumental: "You Are My Flower

|writer3=Harris / A.P. Carter

|length3=1:07

|title4=Heart to Heart

|length4=2:31

|title5=Woman Walk the Line

|length5=4:08

|title6=Bad News

|length6=1:46

|title7=Timberline

|length7=2:51

|title8=Long Tall Sally Rose

|length8=1:32

|title9=White Line

|length9=3:46

|title10=Diamond in My Crown

|length10=2:55

|title11=The Sweetheart of the Rodeo

|length11=3:41

|title12=K-S-O-S"/instrumental medley: "Ring of Fire"/"Wildwood Flower"/"Six Days on the Road

|writer12=Harris, Kennerley; June Carter, Merle Kilgore, A.P. Carter, Earl Greene, Carl Montgomery

|length12=2:50

|title13=Sweet Chariot

|length13=2:58

}}

Personnel

Technical personnel

  • Donivan Cowart - Engineer
  • Tom Harding - Second Engineer
  • Emmylou Harris - Producer
  • Paul Kennerley - Producer
  • Keith Odle - Second Engineer

Charts

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

= Weekly charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1985)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|Billboard200|171|artist=Emmylou Harris|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 8, 2021}}
{{album chart|BillboardCountry|8|artist=Emmylou Harris|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 8, 2021}}

{{col-2}}

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1985)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1985/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 1985|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=June 8, 2021}}

| 24

{{col-end}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release history and formats for The Ballad of Sally Rose

!scope="col"| Region

!scope="col"| Date

!scope="col"| Format

!scope="col"| Label

!scope="col"| Ref.

scope="row"| North America

| February 25, 1985

| {{hlist|LP|CD|cassette}}

| Warner Bros. Records

| {{cite journal |last1=Harris |first1=Emmylou |title=The Ballad of Sally Rose (Liner Notes) |journal=Warner Bros. Records |date=February 25, 1985 |id=1-25205 (LP); 9-25205-2 (CD); 9-25205-4 (Cassette)}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Emmylou Harris}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballad Of Sally Rose}}

Ballad of Sally Rose, The

Ballad of Sally Rose, The

Category:Warner Records albums

Category:Rock operas