Boulder to Birmingham
Encyclopedia
Boulder to Birmingham is a track from the 1975 album Pieces of the Sky
by Emmylou Harris
. The song was written by Harris and Bill Danoff
. It has served as something of a signature tune for the artist and recounts her feelings of grief in the years following the death of country rock star and mentor Gram Parsons
. Early in her career, Harris toured with Gram Parsons and sang on his 1973 album GP
. The song is known for its chorus "I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham/I would hold my life in his saving grace/I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham/If I thought I could see, I could see your face."
Danoff recorded the song with his group, the Starland Vocal Band
, on their self-titled debut album. A version of the song was a hit in New Zealand for The Hollies
, reaching number ten there, and later appeared on their album A Crazy Steal
.
Pieces of the Sky
Pieces of the Sky is an album by Emmylou Harris, released in February 1975. It was effectively her debut.Although she had released the obscure folk-styled Gliding Bird five years earlier, Pieces of the Sky was the album that really launched the career of Emmylou Harris, and is widely considered to...
by Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
. The song was written by Harris and Bill Danoff
Bill Danoff
Bill Danoff is an American songwriter and singer. His best known song as a performer is "Afternoon Delight", which Danoff performed as a member of the Starland Vocal Band...
. It has served as something of a signature tune for the artist and recounts her feelings of grief in the years following the death of country rock star and mentor Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
. Early in her career, Harris toured with Gram Parsons and sang on his 1973 album GP
GP (album)
GP is American singer-songwriter Gram Parsons' debut solo album. It was originally released in a gatefold sleeve in 1973. GP received critical acclaim upon release, but failed to reach the Billboard charts...
. The song is known for its chorus "I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham/I would hold my life in his saving grace/I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham/If I thought I could see, I could see your face."
Danoff recorded the song with his group, the Starland Vocal Band
Starland Vocal Band
Starland Vocal Band were an American pop band, known primarily for "Afternoon Delight", one of the biggest-selling singles in 1976.-Career:The group began as 'Fat City', a husband/wife duo of Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert. The band was also composed of Jon Carroll and Margot Chapman...
, on their self-titled debut album. A version of the song was a hit in New Zealand for The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
, reaching number ten there, and later appeared on their album A Crazy Steal
A Crazy Steal
A Crazy Steal is a 1978 album by English rock/pop group, The Hollies. It included their version of Emmylou Harris' "Boulder to Birmingham", which had been released two years prior, reaching number 10 on the charts in New Zealand...
.
External links
- Emmylou Harris Official Site
- Emmylou Harris - Sweetheart of the Rodeo – An excellent biography by Bill DeYoung containing a background to the song.