''Cowgirl's Prayer'' is the seventeenth studio album by American country artist Emmylou Harris, released on September 28, 1993 by

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...

. Coming immediately after 1992's live acoustic ''

At the Ryman ''At the Ryman'' is a 1992 live album by Emmylou Harris and her then-newly formed acoustic backing band, The Nash Ramblers, recorded at the one-time home of the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Nash Ramblers: * S ...

'' album, ''Cowgirl's Prayer'' is a collection of similarly subdued material (with a couple of rockers thrown in, notably "High Powered Love", the album's first single). Released at a time when older artists (i.e. anyone over 40) were being dropped from country radio playlists, the album received little airplay, despite positive reviews, and its relative commercial failure is said to have served as a catalyst for Harris' decision to change course with the harder edged sound of her subsequent work, beginning with 1995's rockish ''

Wrecking Ball A wrecking ball is a heavy steel ball, usually hung from a crane, that is used for demolishing large buildings. It was most commonly in use during the 1950s and 1960s. Several wrecking companies claim to have invented the wrecking ball. An e ...

'', thus rendering ''Cowgirl's Prayer'' Harris' last mainstream country album. Despite the lack of radio airplay, accompanying videos for the album's three singles, "High Powered Love", the Cajun-themed "Crescent City", and Jesse Winchester's "Thanks to You", received considerable exposure on CMT.

Track listing

Personnel

*Richard Aspinwall – assistant engineer *Larry Atamanuik – percussion, drums *Sam Bacco – percussion *Grace Bahng – cello * Richard Bennett – acoustic, tremolo, electric guitar, percussion, tambourine, producer, mandocello, hi-string guitar *Mike Brignardello – bass *Lori Brooks – harmony vocals *

Sam Bush Charles Samuel Bush (born April 13, 1952) is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Reviva ...

– fiddle *Kathy Chiavola – handclapping, harmony vocals *

Ashley Cleveland Ashley Cleveland (born February 2, 1957) is an American singer/songwriter best known as a background vocalist and gospel singer. Ashley Cleveland was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has been married to Kenny Greenberg since April 27, 1991, a ...

– handclapping, harmony vocals *Suzanne Cox – background vocals * Emory Gordy, Jr. – string arrangements *Emmylou Harris – acoustic guitar, harmony vocals *Connie Heard – violin *John Heiden – design *David Hoffner – Hammond organ * Roy Huskey, Jr. – acoustic bass *

Kieran Kane Kieran Kane (born October 7, 1949) is an American country music artist, as well as the owner of Dead Reckoning Records, an independent record label. Between 1986 and 1990, he and Jamie O'Hara comprised The O'Kanes, a duo which charted seven s ...

– gut string guitar * Mary Ann Kennedy – harmony vocals *Jana King – harmony vocals *

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...

– background vocals *Chris Leuzinger – acoustic and electric guitar *Sam Levine – clarinet, flute *Joe Loesch – special effects *Robin Lynch – art direction *Edgar Meyer – double bass *Mark Miller – engineer, mixing *

Al Perkins Al Perkins (born January 18, 1944) is an American guitarist known primarily for his steel guitar work. The Gibson guitar company called Perkins "the world's most influential dobro player" and began producing an "Al Perkins Signature" Dobro in 2 ...

– pedal steel, steel guitar *

Jon Randall Jon Randall Stewart (born February 17, 1969) is an American producer, songwriter, and musician. His career began as a guitarist for Emmylou Harris' Nash Ramblers with whom he won his first Grammy for their ''Live at the Ryman'' album in 1992. B ...

– harmony vocals *Allen Reynolds – producer *

Pam Rose Pam Rose is an American country music songwriter. In her career, she has been a member of the groups Calamity Jane and Kennedy Rose, both times pairing with fellow songwriter Mary Ann Kennedy. Rose's co-writing credits include the Grammy Award- ...

– harmony vocals *Milton Sledge – percussion, drums *Jay Spell – piano, accordion *Tim White – photography *Hurshel Wiginton – harmony vocals *Kris Wilkinson – viola *Dennis Wilson – harmony vocals *Bobby Wood – organ, electric piano *Bob Wray – bass *

Trisha Yearwood Patricia Lynn Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is an American singer, actress, author and television personality. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single " She's in Love with the Boy," which became a number one hit on the ''Billboard'' c ...

– handclapping, harmony vocals

Chart performance

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Emmylou Harris albums 1993 albums Albums produced by Allen Reynolds Albums produced by Richard Bennett (guitarist) Warner Records albums