Katana VentraIP

The Ballad of Sally Rose

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.[1] 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.

The Ballad of Sally Rose

February 25, 1985

1984

Treasure Isle Recorders, Nashville, Tennessee

36:12

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".

Steve Cash - Harmonica

- Backing Vocals

Barbara Cowart

Gail Davies - Backing Vocals

- Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Pedal Steel, Dobro

Hank DeVito

- Electric Slide Guitar

Philip Donnelly

Bessyl Duhon - Accordion

Ray Flacke - Electric Guitar

- Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals

Vince Gill

- Acoustic Guitar, Bass, String Arrangements

Emory Gordy Jr.

Emmylou Harris - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals

John Jarvis - Keyboards

- Electric Guitar

Waylon Jennings

- Keyboards

Shane Keister

- Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar

Paul Kennerley

- Drums

Russ Kunkel

- Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin

Albert Lee

- Drums, Percussion

Larrie Londin

- Backing Vocals

Dolly Parton

Tom Roady - Percussion

- Backing Vocals

Linda Ronstadt

Gary Scruggs - Harmonica

- Fiddle

Buddy Spicher

Barry Tashian - Acoustic Guitar

Bobby Thompson - Acoustic Guitar, Banjo

Donivan Cowart - Engineer

Tom Harding - Second Engineer

Emmylou Harris - Producer

Paul Kennerley - Producer

Keith Odle - Second Engineer