Maps of Music

Light of the Stable (1979)

Where the lyrics of Light of the Stable take you, and where it was really made.

The cover was reused from the record sleeve of a 1975 single, not made for this album.

Place unknown

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Light of the Stable: first Christmas album by Emmylou Harris
Originally released in 1979 by Warner Bros. Records
Spanish-language sources describe it as her seventh studio album
Later editions carried different covers and labels
1992 Warner release: remastered version of the original with a different album cover
Latest edition: 2004, released by Rhino Records
2004 edition: three newly recorded tracks plus remastered versions of the ten original tracks
Listed in the discography as an X-mas album

The title song featured harmony vocals from Neil Young, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt

Cover came from the record sleeve of the original 45-rpm single version of "Light of the Stable" released in 1975

Born April 2, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama; American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader and activist.
Regarded as a leading artist of the country rock genre in the 1970s and of Americana in the 1990s.
Began in the Greenwich Village folk scene in the late 1960s; first album Gliding Bird (1970) under the name "Emmy Lou Harris".
Discovered by Gram Parsons in 1971; sang harmony on his GP (1973) and worked with him on Grievous Angel before his death in 1973.
Breakthrough with Pieces of the Sky (1975); five US country number-one singles by 1980.
Trio (1987) with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt became her best-selling album; At the Ryman (1992) renewed interest in the Ryman Auditorium.
Wrecking Ball (1995), produced by Daniel Lanois, is seen as a turning point toward Americana.
Estimated over 15 million records sold; 13 Grammy Awards; inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.
Founded the dog rescue Bonaparte's Retreat in Nashville; organizes the Concerts for a Landmine-Free World benefit tour since 1999.

AllMusic: Mark Deming gives the album 4 out of 5 stars and writes that Harris was born to make a great Christmas album
The Austin Chronicle: Jim Caligiuri gives the album 4 stars and says Harris's versions of Christmas classics are unequaled

Rolling Stone: Gavin Edwards lists the album at No. 19 in its 40 Essential Christmas Albums list
Edwards writes that Harris has always sung like an angel and played that part on this 1979 album
Backing vocals from Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Neil Young are named as the other golden-throated singers on the record

Discogs user note argues the original release was 1980, not 1979, and says an earlier release happened in Europe
The title song's harmony vocals came from Neil Young, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt
The 2004 edition added three newly recorded tracks, including Man Is an Island by the McGarrigle sisters
The Silent Night arrangement is credited to Brian Ahern