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Best Country Duet?
So, I’ve been trying to make a list of the best country duets. I realized this is a near-impossible task: is there any genre that has more duets than country? Maybe hip hop, but that’s a different kind of duet.
For the moment, my criteria are only the quality of the voices and the appeal of the harmonies. The harmony is a tough one, because sometimes the easiest ones to sing can be beautiful, so I’m not trying to judge on harmonic complexity only.
This is in no way an exhaustive list, but perhaps the beginning of an ongoing conversation. I’d like to hear others’ lists.
Here’s my top five:
5. NQ Arbuckle and Carolyn Mark, “When I Come Back.”
This one was tough, a toss-up between it and “Officer Down.” Their voices work really well together through their whole duet album. But I like the angst of the lyrics behind NQ’s growls in this one and the kind of urgent feel of the arrangement.
4. George Jones and Melba Montgomery, “We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds.”
I love the throaty twang of her voice.
3. Steve Earle and Siobhan Kennedy, “Poison Lovers.”
I don’t know why I love this one so much, but I play it all the time. I like the way Earle sings in the last chorus, changing the harmony, and letting these little grunts and sighs into his voice.
2. Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris, “Greenville.”
Well. These two voices. Amazing harmonies. Nothing else to say.
1. Louvin Brothers, “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby.”
Anyone care to dispute this one?
For the moment, my criteria are only the quality of the voices and the appeal of the harmonies. The harmony is a tough one, because sometimes the easiest ones to sing can be beautiful, so I’m not trying to judge on harmonic complexity only.
This is in no way an exhaustive list, but perhaps the beginning of an ongoing conversation. I’d like to hear others’ lists.
Here’s my top five:
5. NQ Arbuckle and Carolyn Mark, “When I Come Back.”
This one was tough, a toss-up between it and “Officer Down.” Their voices work really well together through their whole duet album. But I like the angst of the lyrics behind NQ’s growls in this one and the kind of urgent feel of the arrangement.
4. George Jones and Melba Montgomery, “We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds.”
I love the throaty twang of her voice.
3. Steve Earle and Siobhan Kennedy, “Poison Lovers.”
I don’t know why I love this one so much, but I play it all the time. I like the way Earle sings in the last chorus, changing the harmony, and letting these little grunts and sighs into his voice.
2. Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris, “Greenville.”
Well. These two voices. Amazing harmonies. Nothing else to say.
1. Louvin Brothers, “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby.”
Anyone care to dispute this one?
Views: 4196
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by chris sweeney on
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It is extremely difficult to beat the beautiful harmonies of Emmylou Harris and Herb Pederson on the Louvin Bros. "If I Could Only Win Your Love" from Emmylou's 1975 debut album Pieces Of The Sky.
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Permalink Reply by Patsy Raney on -
agree with ya on that.
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Permalink Reply by Jim Moulton on -
good one!!
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Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on -
Anything by the Louvin Brothers, or the entire Roots album by the Everly Brothers. Anything by Waylon and Willie or Walyon and Johnny Cash doing "There Ain't No Good Chain Gang." Get the Kris Kristofferson/Rita Coolidge albums and anything by Loretta and Conway or George and Tammy. Sorry for not being more specific.
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Permalink Reply by steviedal on -
For me there's one clear winner :
I'm Still In Love With You by Steve Earle and Iris Dement
available on Steve's great album The Mountain at all good record emporiums near you.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Edward Cote on -
I agree--that is one hell of a duet, from one of Steve Earle's last great albums. (Train A-Comin', I Feel Alright, El Corazon, and The Mountain--we may never see a quadrumvirate quite like that again.)
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Permalink Reply by Rupert Lindsay on -
There can never be a "best" but these are some of my favorites:
Johnny Cash & June Carter - Jackson
Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn - Wild Mountain Berries
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton - Move It On Home
Ernest Tubb& Loretta Lynn - Sweet Thang
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Permalink Reply by Arlene on -
Here are ten of my favorites-- some of which aren't really "duets" but "just" songs with strong harmony vocal parts :
Love Hurts- Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris
The Battle- Ryan Adams & Caitlin Cary
Throw Me a Rope/The Way it Will Be- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Last To Know- Chris Mills & Deanna Varagona
Chalk- Buddy Miller & Patty Griffin
I'd Do The Same For You- Charlie Sexton & Shannon McNally
Rex's Blues- Jay Farrar & Kelly Willis
My Heart Echoes- Teddy Thompson & Iris DeMint
Conversations About A Friend- Thad Cockrell & Caitlin Cary
Oh My Sweet Carolina- Ryan Adams & Emmylou Harris
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Permalink Reply by Patsy Raney on
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dude, agree once again! I think we're on the same track..... I love Buddy and Julie.... just wish she was still touring with him...
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Permalink Reply by Rocky Loma on -
Good Job with Poison Lovers.
Not the best, but one of my faves is "Jailhouse Tears" by Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams.
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Permalink Reply by Kurt B Reighley on -
I'd definitely second Johnny & June doin' "Jackson."
Lately I can't get enough of Tift Merritt doing "One Paper Kid" w/ John Howie, Jr., from her EP w/ Two Dollar Pistols. Rex Hobart's cover of "Golden Ring" w/ Kelly Hogan is pretty killer, too, but the minute you add Hogan to any duet - even her goofball reading of "I'm A Little Bit Country, I'm A Little Bit Rock & Roll" w/ John Wesley Harding - you've got potential greatness on your hands.
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Permalink Reply by Skot Nelson on -
I feel a need to throw an honourary nod to Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton on Islands in the Stream. It's greatness may be in dispute; it's legendary status can't be denied. I spent many hours in my parents K-Car listening to that song on cassette.
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