After 18 years, this title is finally available on CD, and many thanks to the folks at Eminent! The sounds is crytal clear and nearly every track is a perfect gem. "Racing in the Streets" gets the most poignant reading it will ever get, with an understated arrangement that lets Emmylou's voice be the star. "Buckaroo" (with Emmylou on lead guitar) segues flawlessly into "Love's Gonna Live Here" for an upbeat end to a classic live set. The two bonus tracks are vintage Emmylou, without the "just tacked-on" feel that many bonus tracks can have. Nice booklet included, with full lyrics, liner notes and some comments from members of the Hot Band. Overall, an absolutely winning package, and well worth the wait!

After eighteen years of vinyl only, LAST DATE has finally been issued on CD. Thank goodness and thanks to the brilliant staff at Eminent Records. This is ultimate Emmylou Harris, and an extraordinary Hot Band lineup. The record was set to illustrated Harris' vision of country music, in the honky-tonk fashion. What makes LAST DATE is extraordinary is her incredible set of songs. "I'm Moving On" a #5 hit, is terrific. Harris' fifth #1 hit was "On Our Last Date", a gorgeous ballad. Her wonderful interpretation of Don Everly "So Sad" was a top thirty hit. She pays a tribute to her mentor Gram Parsons by recording extraordinary interpretations of "Return Of The Grievous Angel", "Juanita", and "Devil In Disguise". There's also a brilliant version of "We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning" they had sung together on GP. "Long May You Run" shines brilliantly, it's one of the album's highlights. That song is my favorite. There's a passionate performance of Bruce Springsteen's "Racing In The Street". There's infinite energy on Carl Perkins "Restless". Harris pays tribute to Merle Haggard on "It's Not Love" bringing her usual magic on the track. Harris plays lead guitar on "Buckaroo" part of the "Buckaroo/Love's Gonna Live Here" Medley, sensationally. The two bonus tracks "Another Pot O' Tea", and "Maybe Tonight", were the B-Sides of the album's two biggest singles. This reissue format is perfect, let's hope it is soon applied to EVANGELINE and THIRTEEN. LAST DATE is not to be missed. This is a marvelous album, one of the best by this incredible musician. Emmylou Harris once again proves that she is the most talented and important performer in the music world.

Emmylou Harris' dynamic live album Last Date was compiled from tapes of gigs in various Californian honkytonks in the early 1980's with her legendary Hot Band. Emmylou put together a diverse list of cover tunes to express her vision of what country music could and should be - a combination of both new and old influences.
The program:
Hank Snow's - 'I'm Movin' On'
Merle Haggard's - 'It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)'
The Everly Brothers' - 'So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)'
Gram Parson's - 'Return Of The Greivous Angel'
Carl Perkin's - 'Restless'
Bruce Springsteen's - 'Racing In The Street'
Neil Young's - 'Long May You Run'
Gram Parson's - 'We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning'
The Flying Burrito Brothers' - 'Juanita'
Gram Parson's - 'Devil In Disguise'
Conway Twitty's - '(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date'
A Buck Owens Medley - 'Buckaroo' & 'Love's Gonna Live Here'
Two bonus tracks close the album perfectly - 'Another Pot Of Tea' & 'Maybe Tonight'.
Twenty years on, the remastered re-issue of Last Date is a classic in the Harris catalogue and a reminder of just how innovative and important west coast honkytonk is in country music.

Wow, how could it get any better than this? Emmylou's great, great voice, terrific selection of both old rock n' roll and contemporary pop songs and the absolute red-hot, Hot Band. I'd give it eight stars if I could. This is one you won't grow tired of. Just put it on the disc player, hit the repeat button and enjoy.

What is arguably her finest album finally makes it to CD. Not a bad track on the disk and two bonus tracks are alao excellent. The remastering is excellent (in my opinion). Heres hoping we won't have to wait as long for "Thirteen" and "Evangeline".