Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions

Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions
Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions
Studio album by Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris
Released	August 24, 1999
Recorded	1999, Tucson, Arizona
Studio	Arizona Inn and Jim Brady's Studio (Tucson, Arizona); Skyline Studios (New York City, New York); Studio Frisson (Montreal, Canada);
Genre	Country, folk
Length	52:47
Label	Asylum Nashville
Producer	Glyn Johns
Linda Ronstadt chronology
Emmylou Harris chronology

Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions is a 1999 duet album by American singer, songwriter, and producer Linda Ronstadt and singer, songwriter, and guitarist Emmylou Harris, who had previously collaborated on two albums with Dolly Parton.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
The A.V. Club	(favorable) ^[2]
Entertainment Weekly	A− ^[3]
Los Angeles Times	^[4]
People	(favorable) ^[5]
Q	^[6]
Robert Christgau	^[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[8]

The album was well received critically, and it made several year-end Top Ten lists. The disc was recorded at the Arizona Inn in Tucson, Arizona.

This album hit #6 on Billboard's Country albums chart and #73 on Billboard's main album chart. The two artists teamed for a concert tour in support of the disc in late 1999. It was nominated for several Grammy Awards.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Loving the Highway Man"	Andy Prieboy	3:30
2.	"Raise the Dead"	Emmylou Harris	3:18
3.	"For a Dancer"	Jackson Browne	4:43
4.	"Western Wall"	Rosanne Cash	2:35
5.	"1917"	David Olney	5:24
6.	"He Was Mine"	Paul Kennerley	3:19
7.	"Sweet Spot"	Emmylou Harris, Jill Cunniff	3:34
8.	"Sisters of Mercy"	Leonard Cohen	3:58
9.	"Falling Down"	Patty Griffin	3:15
10.	"Valerie"	Patti Scialfa	4:04
11.	"This Is to Mother You"	Sinéad O'Connor	3:16
12.	"All I Left Behind"	Emmylou Harris, Kate McGarrigle, Anna McGarrigle	3:23
13.	"Across the Border"	Bruce Springsteen	6:20
Total length:			52:47

Personnel

Linda Ronstadt – lead vocals (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13), harmony vocals (1, 2, 5, 9-12), backing vocals (7)
Emmylou Harris – lead vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10-12), harmony vocals (1-3, 6, 9, 11, 13), electric guitar (2), acoustic guitar (3, 4, 6, 9, 12), backing vocals (7)
Paul Wickens – accordion (5, 8, 13)
Andy Fairweather Low – electric guitar (1, 9, 13), bass guitar (1, 10), acoustic guitar (8), backing vocals (13)
Ethan Johns – acoustic guitar (1, 6), electric guitar (1, 6, 9, 11), drums (1, 3, 6, 7, 9-13), percussion (1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11), baritone guitar (2), slide guitar (2), mandocello (4), Spanish guitar (5), marxophone (5), bass guitar (6), guitars (7), Optigan (8), dulcimer (9), synth bass (11)
Greg Leisz – acoustic guitar (1, 5, 6, 8), electric guitar (1, 9, 10), mandola (2), Weissenborn guitar (4), pedal steel guitar (6, 13), mandolin (8, 11), bass guitar (9, 13), mandocello (12), backing vocals (13)
Bernie Leadon – electric guitar (2, 13), acoustic guitar (3, 6, 8), bass guitar (3), mandolin (4), synthesized acoustic bass (5), guitarrón (8), mandolin (8), electric 12-string guitar (10), mandocello (11, 13), 6-string bass (12), backing vocals (13)
Michel Pepin – bass guitar (12), cymbals (12)
Neil Young – harmonica (3, 13), harmony vocals (3, 13)
Samantha Rowe – cello (4)
Paul Kennerley – backing vocals (1), electric guitar (6)
Anna McGarrigle – backing vocals (5, 8), harmony vocals (12)
Kate McGarrigle – backing vocals (5, 8), harmony vocals (12)
Kate Aumonier – backing vocals (9)
Helen Watson – backing vocals (9)

Production

Glyn Johns – producer, engineer
George Massenburg – vocal recording for Linda Ronstadt (3, 6, 9)
John Nowland – vocal and harmonica recording for Neil Young and Emmylou Harris (3, 13)
James "Jumbo" Aumonier – assistant engineer
Michel Pepin – additional recording (12)
Jim Brady – technical support
Stephen Marcussen – mastering at A&M Studios (Hollywood, California)
Chris Walters – production coordinator
Meghann Ahern – production assistant
Alli Truch – art direction, design
Caroline Greyshock – photography

Chart performance

Chart (1999)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums	6
U.S. Billboard 200	73

Release history

Release history and formats for *Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions*
Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
North America	August 24, 1999	CD cassette	Asylum Records	^[9]

References

^ LaVeck, Theresa E.. Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions at AllMusic
^ The A.V. Club review
^ Entertainment Weekly review
^ "Adventurous, Rewarding Ride". Los Angeles Times. 1999-08-15. Archived from the original on 2017-10-14.
^ People review
^ Album reviews at CD Universe
^ Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 701. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone linda ronstadt album guide.
^ Harris, Emmylou; Ronstadt, Linda (August 24, 1999). "Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions (Liner Notes)". Asylum Records. 62408-2 (CD); 62408-4 (Cassette).

[1] LaVeck, Theresa E.. Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions at AllMusic

[2] The A.V. Club review

[3] Entertainment Weekly review

[4] "Adventurous, Rewarding Ride". Los Angeles Times. 1999-08-15. Archived from the original on 2017-10-14.

[5] People review

[6] Album reviews at CD Universe

[7] Robert Christgau Consumer Guide

[8] Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 701. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone linda ronstadt album guide.

[9] Harris, Emmylou; Ronstadt, Linda (August 24, 1999). "Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions (Liner Notes)". Asylum Records. 62408-2 (CD); 62408-4 (Cassette).

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