Thirteen

Released in 1986, Thirteen is Emmylou Harris’s thirteenth studio album and serves as a pivotal moment in the 'New Traditionalist' movement. Following the experimental and slicker production of 'The Ballad of Sally Rose,' Harris returned to a more straightforward, acoustic-focused interpretive style. Produced by Emory Gordy Jr., the record eschews the dominant 1980s pop-country trends in favor of bluegrass, Cajun, and traditional country influences. The tracklist is a curated journey through the Great American Songbook of country music, featuring covers of Merle Haggard, Bruce Springsteen, and the Louvin Brothers. Notably, the album features 'Lacassine Special,' a nod to her interest in Cajun music, and 'Your Long Journey,' a Doc Watson cover that highlights her ability to harmonize with haunting precision. Critically, it is viewed as a solid, if safe, entry that reaffirmed her status as the premier curator of American roots music during a decade of sonic transition.