Theirs is a single collective voice that resonates with the beauty of angels upon high. As three of the four most superiorly talented female singers in the musical world (the fourth would have to be Alison Krauss), Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton have come together once again for an encore performance with the issue of Trio II, twelve years after Trio I was released. These three divas of country and pop music show absolutely no signs of age, rather Trio II is a superior effort that is destined to be an album for the ages.
   The song selection is eclectic and varied and designed to cater to the particular vocal stylings of each lady. Reaching back in the annals of country music the first offering on the album is the 1934 A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter penned "Lover's Return" with lead vocals by Ronstadt.
   "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" was written by Dolly and was recorded uptempo for the first Trio album, though it was cut from that effort and has never been released. Instead the tune was re-invented in a country mode and made the grade this time with Emmylou taking the lead.
   Taking a turn for the unexpected, Dolly suggested rocker Neil Young's classic tune "After The Gold Rush" with the arrangements done by Linda.
   With a quality smattering of tunes to flesh out the album, each song features a different member of Trio on lead. Closing out the album is the Kieran Kane and Jamie O'Hara penned "When We're Gone, Long Gone" which delivers an extra punch with the consideration of the albums dedication to bass player Roy Huskey Jr. who "served as the heartbeat of the band throughout the album's recording." Huskey died after a fight with cancer at age 40 in 1997. Emmylou fittingly takes lead on this final cut as Roy was a member of her famed backup band The Nash Ramblers. With the release of Trio II Emmylou, Linda and Dolly will hopefully come together again for a third issue of Trio one day, but let's pray we don't have to wait another twelve years!

-Charlton Wiggins