For several years, the iconic Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris have been quietly recording a remarkable collection of duets whenever the Grammy winning artists could steal away from their own illustrious careers. The extraordinary result is All the Roadrunning. The songs from their Nashville sessions, all originals, while undeniably modern, have the appeal of classics, whether country, Celtic flavored or gently soulful. All the Roadrunning is Knopfler & Harris making music and, as the lyric for "This is Us" puts it, making history.
Over the last seven years, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris quietly recorded an album by stealing "a few precious hours of studio time here and there," as the ex-Dire Straits singer/guitarist puts it. Good thing they kept it largely under wraps--expectations would have pushed through the clouds, especially as Knopfler conjured 10 of the 12 cuts, and Harris, who writes potently, but little, contributed two ("Love and Happiness," "Belle Starr"). Yet now that it's here, All the Roadrunning--while beautiful--seems somehow underwhelming, and without a true centerpiece. Anyone familiar with the artists' famous catalogues would expect the repertoire to be poetic and brooding, and that Harris's ethereal soprano would add light to Knopfler's dark Prozac rumblings. But the surprise is that the album is too tame, never breaks out of its midtempo groove, and never takes any big chances.

That said, there is much to like: The marital scrapbook romp of "This Is Us," the bluesy bickering of "Right Now," the wrenching poignancy of the 9/11-inspired ballad "If This Is Goodbye." Knopfler, ever the hypnotic guitarist, turns in some thrillingly droll and laconic vocals, and Harris brings the spirited coltishness of her early work to "Belle Starr." In the end, though, this is not so much a duet album as two famously melancholy musicians singing together--at times, strikingly so. --Alanna Nash

More Mark & Emmylou

Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler	Brothers in Arms Dire Straits	Screenplaying Mark Knopfler
Anthology: The Warner/Reprise Years Emmylou Harris	Pieces of the Sky Emmylou Harris	Wrecking Ball Emmylou Harris

Customer Rating:
Summary: best album of the decade
Comment: This album has staying power, is a thinking-person's album, sounds great, has terrific lyrics, is well thought out, and basically makes everything else I listen to sound downright crappy. Buy it and listen the heck outta it. I listen to all genres of rock. There is simply nothing better than this album. BTW if you don't like country music, which I don't, you will still like this album.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Timely music for troubled times
Comment: This CD doesn't have a bad track. On top of that, the first song, Beachcombing, is great to sing along with! I like to think I do a pretty good Mark Knopfler impression, and to be able to harmonize with Emmy Lou at the same time is awesome. Buy it!
Kirby Hall
Somewhere in the Wilds of Alaska (trashing Sarah Palin)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Pleasing sound
Comment: This is one of my most listened to cds. Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler...They just seem to fit together, each bringing their own compliment to the songs....A great cd

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Customer Rating:
Summary: ALL THE ROADRUNNING
Comment: I am very pleased with the product I received and will continue to do more in the future.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite albums of all time!
Comment: This is album is just plain wonderful. Each and every song is a gem. After getting this cd, I listened to it 5 times strait, and still can't get enough of it. I still have to listen to it once a week.

MK & EH voices are perfect together. I couldn't think of any better duet singers.

I really enjoy every track, but my ultimate favorites are:
"I Dug Up A Diamond"
"If This Is Goodbye"
"Belle Star"
"Donkey Town"

Hurry up and grab this, and the companion "live cd/dvd combo."

Happy listening!

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