Roots (Everly Brothers album)

Infobox Album
Name = Roots
Type = studio
Artist = The Everly Brothers


Released = 1968
Recorded =
Genre = rock, country rock, close harmony
Length =
Label = Warner Bros.
Producer = Gordon Anderson, Lenny Waronker
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://wc01.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0ifexqt5ldte~T1 link]
*Rolling Stone [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theeverlybrothers/albums/album/219252/review/5942192/roots link]
Last album = "The Everly Brothers Sing"
(1967)
This album = "Roots"
(1968)
Next album = "Everly Brothers Show"
(1970)

"Roots" is a 1968 album by close harmony rock and roll duo The Everly Brothers. Originally on the Warner Bros. label, the album was re-released on CD in 1995 by Warner Bros. and in 2005 by Collectors' Choice Music. The album is a classic example of early country rock.

Critical reception

On its release, "Roots" was not a commercial success for The Everly Brothers,Unterberger, Richie. [http://www.richieunterberger.com/roots.html Liner notes] . Richie Unterberger official website. Accessed October 7 2007.] failing to widen their fanbase in spite of their excursion into the new field of country rock. [Escott, Colin. [http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=117# Everly Brothers] . Adapted from The The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s "Encyclopedia of Country Music', Oxford University Press. Hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Accessed October 7 2007.] At the time of its release, "Rolling Stone", which awarded the album 4 stars in its coverage of the band in "The Rolling Stone Album Guide", [Brackett, Nathan. (2004) "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide", 4th ed, Fireside. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. p 286.] described the album as "a showcase for the superb talent of the Everlys as they are today", asserting that anyone "interested in the so-called country revival now sweeping rock should pick up this album". [Ward, Edmundo. (May 31 1969) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theeverlybrothers/albums/album/219252/review/5942192/roots Roots] . 'Rolling Stone". Accessed October 7 2007.] In his reviews of the bands subsequent albums, critic Robert Christgau often utilized "Roots" as a touchstone, referring to it as "sweet", "thoughtful, even-tempered, and unique" and insisting that it was the last album the duo made as a "vital team" before they "lost it". [Christgau, Robert. [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1911&name=The+Everly+Brothers The Everly Brothers] . Accessed October 7 2007.] Today, the album is touted as "one of the finest early country-rock albums". [allmusicguide |id=10:0ifexqt5ldte~T1]

Track listing

#"The Introduction: The Everly Family (1952)" – 1:11
#"Mama Tried" (Merle Haggard) – 2:18
#"Less of Me" (Glen Campbell) – 3:03
#"Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 3:31
#"I Wonder If I Care as Much" (Everly, Everly) – 2:59
#"Ventura Boulevard" (Ron Elliott) – 2:50
#"Shady Grove" (Jackie Ertel, Venecia Everly, P.O. Wandz) – 2:31
#"Illinois" (Randy Newman) – 2:12
#"Living Too Close to the Ground" (Terry Slater) – 2:16
#"You Done Me Wrong" (George Jones, Ray Price) – 2:16
#"Turn Around" (Elliott) – 2:47
#"Sing Me Back Home" (Merle Haggard) – 5:18
#"Montage: Everly Family (1952)/Shady Grove/Kentucky" (Carl Davis, P.O. Wandz) – 2:43

Personnel

Performance

*Don Everly – guitar, vocals
*Phil Everly – guitar, vocals

Production

*Gordon Anderson – executive producer
*Frank Bez – photography, cover photo
*Perry Botkin, Jr. – arranger
*Nick DeCaro – string arrangements
*Ron Elliott – arranger
*Lee Herschberg – engineer, mastering
*Bill Inglot – mastering
*John Neil – engineer
*Andrew Sandoval – mastering
*Dave Schultz – mastering
*Mike Shields – engineer
*Ed Thrasher – art direction
*Richie Unterberger – liner notes
*Lenny Waronker – producer, concept
*Andrew Wickham – liner notes, concept

References