Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems is the name of a 2007 box set of songs personally selected by Emmylou Harris: "I've selected not greatest hits, but personal favorites: that, with a few exceptions-have never appeared on any other compilations, but were important gems in the string of pearls that each album strives to become. Also included are special collaborations, unreleased live and demo tracks, as well as contributions to tribute projects, which I may now gather into this fold.”
Discs one and two serve as a retrospective of Emmylou's solo career, including at least one song from each of Emmylou's previous studio and live albums (and two cuts from her time with Gram Parsons). Discs three and four consist of collaborations with other performers, tribute album tracks, and unreleased material. Overall, 13 of the 78 tracks were previously unreleased. The DVD collects 9 videos filmed between 1975 and 2005, plus a public service announcement for Animal Rescue.
The 5 disc set (4 CDs & 1 DVD) are packaged in a multifold cardboard sleeve bound to mimic a photographic album. A 200-page liner notes and biography booklet, liberally graced with photos from throughout Emmylou's career, is also bound to mimic a photographic album. Both faux miniature photographic albums are housed in a CD sized cardboard slipcase.
previously unreleased material marked with * following song title- "Together Again" – with The Hot Band, featuring James Burton (1975)
- "Making Believe" – with The Hot Band, featuring Albert Lee (1977)
- "Blue Kentucky Girl" – from PBS' "Soundstage" (1978)
- "Satan's Jewel Crown" – from PBS' "Soundstage" (1978)
- "Mr. Sandman" – Promotional video (1981)
- "I Don't Have To Crawl" – Promotional video (1981)
- "I Ain't Living Long Like This" – with Spyboy (1998)
- "Love Hurts" – at the Grand Ole Opry, with Elvis Costello (2005)
- "Imagine" – from CMT's "Crossroads (200?)
- "PSA: Emmylou Harris On Animal Rescue"
Emmylou Harris – acoustic guitar, vocals, harmony vocals, 6-string bass, baritone electric guitarGram Parsons - vocals on 1-2; guitar on 1-3; background vocals on 1-3James Burton - lead electric guitar on 1-2; electric guitar on 1-6, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 4-8; gut-string guitar on 1-4; dobro on 1-4; rhythm guitar on 3-3Bernie Leadon - guitar on 1-2; synthesized acoustic guitar bass on 3-2; banjo on 4-7Herb Pedersen - guitar on 1-2; acoustic guitar on 1-5; background vocals on 1-5, 1-8Al Perkins - pedal steel on 1-2; banjo on 2-8; harmony vocals on 2-8; dobro on 2-9, 4-2, 4-3, 4-12, 4-13Byron Berline - mandoline on 1-2, 1-5; fiddle on 1-4, 1-6Glen D. Hardin - piano on 1-2, 1-6, 1-9, 4-5, 4-8, 4-9; electric piano on 1-4, 1-8, 1-10, 1-16; keyboards on 2-18Emory Gordy, Jr. - bass on 1-2, 1-6, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-14, 1-15, 1-16, 1-17, 1-19, 2-1, 3-3, 4-8, 4-9; background vocals on 1-6; Ernie Ball bass on 1-18, 2-5; vocals on 2-4; acoustic bass on 4-6, 4-7; double bass on 4-6Jock Bartley - electric guitar on 1-3Neil Flanz - pedal steel on 1-3Kyle Tullis - bass on 1-3N.D. Smart III - drums on 1-3Rick Cunha - acoustic guitar on 1-4Ray Pohlman - bass on 1-4Ron Tutt - drums on 1-4Ben Keith - pedal steel on 1-4Brian Ahern - high-strung guitar on 1-4; bass on 1-5, 1-7, 1-12, 1-21, finger-style acoustic guitar on 1-8; acoustic guitar on 1-9, 1-10, 1-19, 2-18; percussion on 1-10, 1-13; archtop guitar on 1-14, 1-15, 1-17; Adamas guitar on 1-15; gut-string guitar on 1-18; six-string bass on 1-18; tambourine on 1-18; Ernie Ball bass on 1-19; banjo on 2-18; Earthwood bass on 2-18; electric baritone guitar on 3-3; guitar on 4-8, 4-9Fayssoux Starling - background vocals on 1-4, 1-5, 1-7, 1-8; duet vocal on 1-10Amos Garrett - electric guitar on 1-5; lead guitar on 1-16Bill Payne - piano on 1-5, 1-21, 3-20; electric piano on 1-17; synthesizer on 1-21; organ on 3-3Nick DeCaro - string arrangement on 1-5, 4-6; accordion on 4-6; strings on 4-7Hank DeVito - pedal steel on 1-6, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-13, 1-18, 1-19, 2-1; steel guitar on 4-8, 4-9Rodney Crowell - rhythm guitar on 1-6; background vocals on 1-6; acoustic guitar on 1-8, 1-16, 1-19; guitar on 4-8, 4-9John Ware - drums on 1-6, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-13, 1-19, 1-20, 4-8, 4-9; percussion on 1-17, 1-18Mike Auldridge - dobro on 1-7; pedal steel on 3-21John Starling - acoustic guitar on 1-7, 4-13, 4-17; background vocals on 1-7; vocals on 4-2, 4-3; harmony vocals on 4-13Albert Lee - mandolin on 1-9, 1-14, 1-19, 3-5; electric guitar on 1-17, 2-1; backing vocals on 4-6; acoustic guitar on 4-7; guitar on 4-9Ricky Skaggs - viola on 1-10; fiddle on 1-10, 1-12, 1-15, 1-19; mandolin on 1-13, 1-14, 1-15, 1-17, 1-18, 2-18; harmony vocals on 1-14, 1-15, 1-19; lead vocals on 1-15; acoustic guitar on 1-15, 1-18Mickey Raphael - harmonica on 1-8, 1-11, 1-16, 1-18, 4-9Willie Nelson - duet vocal on 1-11Sharon White - harmony vocals on 1-12, 1-17, 1-19; background vocals on 1-13Cheryl White - harmony vocals on 1-12, 1-17, 1-19; background vocals on 1-13Lincoln Davis Jr - accordion on 1-13Tony Brown - piano on 1-13; electric piano on 1-19Mike Bowden - bass on 1-13, 1-20, 2-2Johnny Cash - harmony vocals on 1-14Tony Rice - harmony vocals on 1-14; acoustic guitar on 1-14; lead acoustic guitar on 1-17; guitar on 3-21Mac Rebbenack - piano on 1-16Lynn Langham - synthesizer on 1-16Hal Blaine - drums on 1-16Jerry Douglas - dobro on 1-17, 3-6Waylon Jennings - harmony vocals on 1-18Frank Reckard - lead guitar on 1-18, 1-20; mandolin on 2-2Don Johnson - keyboards on 1-20; harmony vocals on 1-20Barry Tashian - rhythm guitar on 1-20; duet vocals on 1-20Steve Fishell - pedal steel on 1-20, 4-1, 2-6; dobro on 2-2Wayne Goodwin - mandolin on 1-20; tenor sax on 1-20Jim Horn - recorder on 1-21Shane Keister - keyboards on 2-1, 2-2, 2-3Russ Kunkel - drums on 2-1Buddy Spicher - fiddle on 2-1Dolly Parton - background vocals on 2-1; vocals on 2-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-17Linda Ronstadt - background vocals on 2-1; harmony vocals on 3-2, 3-10; vocals on 2-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-17Carl Jackson - acoustic guitar on 2-2, 4-17; vocals on 2-4; baritone vocals on 2-5; lead acoustic guitar on 2-5, 4-2, 4-3, 4-13; harmony vocals on 4-2; duet vocal on 4-3, 4-13Steve Turner - drums on 2-2, 4-3; percussion on 2-2Mark O'Connor - fiddle on 2-2, 3-11, 3-15; viola on 2-3, 3-5; acoustic lead guitar on 3-5; mandola on 3-6Mary Ann Kennedy - harmony vocals on 2-2; vocal on 4-5; mandolin on 4-5Pam Rose - harmony vocals on 2-2; vocal on 4-5; acoustic guitar on 4-5Vince Gill - vocals on 2-4; tenor vocals on 2-5; mandolin on 2-5Richard Bennett - 6-string bass on 2-6; acoustic guitar on 2-7, 4-10, 4-12; mandocello on 2-10; electric guitar on 4-4, 4-11; guitars on 4-16Carl Marsh - synthesizer on 2-6David Pomeroy - bass on 2-6, 4-5, 4-15Billy Thomas - percussion on 2-6Chris Leuzinger - acoustic guitar on 2-7; electric guitar on 4-10; acoustic slide guitar on 4-11Bob Wray - bass on 2-7; 4-10Milton Sledge - drums on 2-7, 4-10; percussion on 2-7Kenny Malone - field drum on 2-7; drums on 3-7; percussion on 3-7Bobby Wood - keyboards on 2-7Liam O'Flynn - uilleann pipes & whistle on 2-7, 3-11Davy Spillane - uilleann pipes & whistle on 2-7, 3-11Mary Black - harmony vocals on 2-7; vocals on 3-11Iris Dement - harmony vocals on 2-7; vocals on 4-15Delores Keane - harmony vocals on 2-7; vocals on 3-11Jon Randall Stewart - harmony vocals on 2-8, 2-9, 4-10, 4-11; mandolin on 2-9; acoustic guitar on 4-12Sam Bush - mandolin on 2-8, 4-3, 4-2, 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, 4-13, 4-15; harmony vocals on 2-8, 2-9; fiddle on 2-9, 4-3, 4-13Roy Husky, Jr. - upright bass on 2-8, 2-9, 3-6; bass on 3-11, 4-3, 4-12; acoustic bass on 4-17Larry Atamanuik - drums on 2-8, 2-9, 4-12; harmony vocals on 2-8Cathy Chiavola - harmony vocals on 2-10David Hoffner - keyboards on 2-10; Wurlitzer electric piano on 4-12Joe Loesch - special effects on 2-10Daniel Lanois - mandolin on 2-11, 2-12; electric guitar on 2-11, 2-12; bass on 2-11; duet vocal on 2-11; acoustic guitar on 2-12; electric orchestra on 2-17; backing vocals on 2-17; guitar on 3-12; basspedals on 3-12Daryl Johnson - high harmony vocal on 2-11; tom tom on 2-11; vocals on 2-13; djembe on 2-13; bass guitar on 2-13, 2-15, 2-19, 4-1; bass pedals on 2-13; percussion on 2-13, 2-15, 4-1; harmony vocals on 2-15; organ on 3-12Brian Blade - drums on 2-11Steve Earle - finger picking acoustic guitar on 2-12; vocal on 3-9; guitar on 3-9; bass on 3-9; mandolin on 3-9; banjo on 3-9; harmonica on 3-9; harmonium on 3-9; Mini-Moog on 3-9; organ on 3-9Malcolm Burn - piano on 2-12, 2-15, 2-16; synth bass on 2-15; electric guitar on 2-15, 2-16; bass on 2-16; percussion on 2-16; drums on 2-16; Hammond B-2 organ on 2-17, 2-19; backing vocals on 2-17; Fender Rhodes on 2-19Tony Hall - shaker on 2-12; bass on 2-12, 2-17, 2-19Larry Mullen, Jr. - hand drum on 2-12; drum kit on 2-12Julie Miller - harmony vocals on 2-13; backing vocals on 2-19Brady Blade - vocals on 2-13; drums on 2-13, 2-19; percussion on 2-13, 2-17Buddy Miller - vocals on 2-13; lead electric guitar on 2-13; 12-string guitar on 2-13; mando guitar on 2-13; acoustic guitar on 2-19; electric guitar on 2-19, 4-1Ethan Johns - elbow on 2-15, 2-16; acoustic guitar on 2-16; drums on 2-19; Spanish guitar on 3-2; marksaphone on 3-2; percussion on 3-19; baritone guitar on 3-19; guitar on 4-14Kate McGarrigle - piano on 2-16; harmony vocals on 2-16, 2-18, 3-10; acoustic guitar on 2-18; banjo on 2-18, 3-10; backing vocals on 2-19, 3-2; vocal on 3-8Kevin Salem - electric guitar on 2-17Jane Siberry - backing vocals on 2-17Anna McGarrigle - keyboards on 2-18; accordion on 2-18, 3-10; harmony vocals on 2-18, 3-10; backing vocals on 3-2; vocal on 3-8Greg Leisz - acoustic guitar on 3-2; pedal steel on 3-18Wix - accordion on 3-2Dave Lewis - drums on 3-3David Campbell - string arrangements on 3-4Mark Casstevens - acoustic guitar on 3-4David Grisman - mandolin on 3-4, 4-17Alison Krauss - viola on 3-4, fiddle on 4-17Edgar Meyer - bowed bass on 3-4David Lindley - autoharp on 3-5Kenny Edwards - Ferrington acoustic bass on 3-5Jimmy Ibbotson - harmony vocals on 3-6Jeff Hanna - guitar on 3-6; harmony vocals on 3-6Bob Carpenter - accordion on 3-6; harmony vocals on 3-6Randy Scruggs - guitar on 3-6; acoustic guitar on 4-15; autoharp on 4-15; 5-string dobro on 4-15Jimmy Fadden - drums on 3-6Guy Clark - vocals on 3-7; guitar on 3-7Verlon Thompson - guitar on 3-7Marty Stuart - mandolin on 3-7Travis Clark - bass on 3-7Michele Pepin - vocal on 3-8; bass on 3-8, 3-10; electric guitar on 3-10; dobro on 3-10Eric "Roscoe" Ambel - guitar on 3-9; vocals on 3-9Kelley Looney - bass on 3-9Will Rigby - drums on 3-9; percussion on 3-9Ken Coomer - drums on 3-9Patrick Earle - percussion on 3-9John McColgan - drums on 3-10; percussion on 3-10Sylvain Clavet - percussion on 3-10Pat Crowley - accordion on 3-11Aaron Embry - piano on 3-12Victor Indrizzo - drums on 3-12David Rawlings - acoustic guitar on 3-13; harmony vocals on 3-13Gillian Welch - bass on 3-13; harmony vocals on 3-13Joey Miskulin - accordion on 3-13Patty Mitchell - harmony vocal on 3-16Kenny Vaughn - electric guitar on 3-16Pat Bergeson - tremolo guitar on 3-16; harmonica on 3-16Scott Neubert - acoustic guitar on 3-16Johnny Cox - pedal steel on 3-16Chris Nole - piano on 3-16Rob Price - bass on 3-16Bob Mummert - drums on 3-16Paul Kennerley - synthesizer on 3-17; electric guitar on 3-17; backing vocals on 4-6Sheryl Crow - vocals on 3-18; acoustic guitar on 3-18Jeff Trott - electric guitar on 3-18Tim Smith - bass on 3-18; baritone guitar on 3-18Greg Williams - drums on 3-18Chrissie Hynde - vocals on 3-19Adam Seymour - guitar on 3-19Andy Hobson - bass on 3-19Martin Chambers - drums on 3-19Benmont Tench - organ on 3-19Beck Hansen - vocal on 3-20; acoustic guitar on 3-20Smokey Hormel - guitar on 3-20Jay Dee Maness - pedal steel on 3-20Justin Meldal-Johnsen - bass on 3-20Joey Waronker - drums on 3-20Gabe Witcher - fiddle on 3-20Jonathan Edwards - guitar on 3-21; vocal on 3-21John Duffey - mandolin on 3-21Peter Bonta - piano on 3-21Lou Reid - electric bass on 3-21; vocal on 3-21Robbie Magruder - drums on 3-21Patty Griffin - vocals on 4-1; harmony vocals on 4-14Martie Maguire - mandolin on 4-1Emily Robison - Weissenborn on 4-1Glenn Worf - bass on 4-2, 4-4, 4-11, 4-13, 4-16Paul McInerney - drums on 4-2, 4-13Mark Knopfler - electric guitar on 4-4; vocals on 4-16; guitars on 4-16Guy Fletcher - acoustic guitar on 4-4; keyboards on 4-16Mike Henderson - mandolin on 4-4Geraint Watkins - Hammond B-3 organ on 4-4Chad Cromwell - drums on 4-4, 4-16Levon Helm - harmony vocals on 4-6, 4-7; backing vocals on 4-6; drums on 4-7Tim Gorman - backing vocals on 4-6; piano on 4-7Jody Payne - backing vocals on 4-6Donivan Cowart - backing vocals on 4-6George Jones - vocal on 4-9John Jarvis - piano on 4-10; Wurlitzer electric piano on 4-11Harry Stinson - drums on 4-11, 4-15Mary Chapin Carpenter - harmony vocals on 4-14Dan Dugmore - acoustic guitar on 4-16Jim Cox - keyboards on 4-16Danny Cummings - drums on 4-16Glen Duncan - fiddle on 4-16; mandolin on 4-16Jim Keltner - drums on 4-17