About Mark Knopfler

• Biography
• Interview

About Emmylou Harris

• Biography
• Interview

Editorial Reviews

Although these two low-key musical legends only released their first full-length collaboration -- the burnished and brisk All the Roadrunning -- earlier in 2006, they've actually been playing off each other for a number of years. That's abundantly evident on this live collection, which was recorded at the Los Angeles stop of the brief, critically acclaimed tour they mounted in support of the disc. Real Live Roadrunning borrows tunes from that set -- reshaped, naturally enough, by Knopfler's preternaturally improvisational playing -- as the foundation for a veritable tower of song that's both imposing and inviting. The 14-cut CD allows the principals to shine both together and alone, which makes for a lovely flow. Emmylou Harris, in typically sweet voice, excels on a crystalline version of her classic "Red Dirt Girl," while a languid, nine-minute take on the Dire Straits classic "Romeo and Juliet" spotlights Mark Knopfler's ability to revisit his own back pages and find new passages again and again. The teamwork, however, is the fuel that really sends Roadrunning into high gear, as on the sentimental "This Is Us" and the earthy boot-scooter "Red Staggerwing," underscored by some fabulous fiddling from Stuart Duncan. Making the package complete is a complementary DVD, capturing the pair's 17-song set before a sold-out crowd at L.A.'s Gibson Amphitheatre. Carole King put it best when she sang, "You gotta have friends" -- a vibe Knopfler and Harris channel so effortlessly that Real Live Roadrunning makes the listener feel like part of the inner circle as well. David Sprague, Barnes & Noble

Customer Reviews

• Listener Rating:
• Ratings: 2Reviews: 1