On the heels of
Trio,
Emmylou Harris' smash studio collaboration with
Dolly Parton and
Linda Ronstadt, comes the compilation
Duets, which collects previously released performances recorded in conjunction with
Neil Young,
Willie Nelson and others. Obviously intended to cash in on the success of
Trio, the record is by no means an essential addition to the
Harris oeuvre: virtually everything included is readily available on other albums, and the selections are erratic at best. By and large,
Harris' finest material is her solo work, although the power of "Love Hurts," recorded during her all-too-brief period with
Gram Parsons, remains undeniable. ~ Jason Ankeny