Trio II

Recorded in the mid-1990s but delayed for several years due to label disputes and scheduling, Trio II (1998) serves as the long-awaited sequel to the 1987 landmark collaboration between Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt. While the first album was a commercial juggernaut with a more contemporary country-pop sheen, Trio II is a more somber, roots-oriented affair. Produced by George Massenburg, the record highlights the trio's ability to transform diverse material - ranging from the Carter Family to Neil Young - into cohesive chamber folk. The album won a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for 'After the Gold Rush,' which famously reimagined the track with a haunting, celestial vocal arrangement. Critics, including those at AllMusic, praised the album for its vocal chemistry, noting that the delay in release did nothing to diminish the timeless quality of their harmonies. It stands as a vital document of the Americana movement, bridging the gap between traditional Appalachian music and modern singer-songwriter sensibilities.