Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town
Emmylou Harris · 1978
36 min · 10 tracks · country music
A seamless blend of country, folk, and Americana that evokes a sense of yearning and nostalgia.
Top tracks — play these first
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Easy From Now On Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Two More Bottles of Wine — This track showcases Harris's ability to weave storytelling with catchy melodies, becoming a signature song that captures the essence of heartbreak and resilience.
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Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight — With its vivid imagery and emotive narrative, this song highlights Harris's storytelling prowess while blending traditional country sounds with a contemporary flair.
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Defying Gravity — This track stands out for its introspective lyrics and soaring vocals, representing a moment of self-empowerment that resonates deeply within the album's themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production, balancing emotional depth with engaging arrangements.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a gentle acoustic guitar and builds gradually, introducing strings by the second track.
- Several songs feature prominent harmonies, particularly in the choruses, which enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- The album's pacing fluctuates between mid-tempo tracks and slower ballads, creating a sense of ebb and flow throughout.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- heartfelt storytelling with warmth
- steady mid-tempo reflective moments
- for a cozy evening
- captivating narratives in order
- melodic tunes for road trips
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer immediate gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Established her commercial appeal with a hit single, solidifying her reputation.
- Themes
- Louisiana landscapes· heartbreak narratives· small-town struggles
- Career context
- Released in 1978, Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town was Emmylou Harris's fourth studio album, following her critically acclaimed record, Luxury Liner. At this point in her career, she was solidifying her status as a leading voice in country music and expanding her artistic vision by incorporating diverse influences from folk and rock.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Lucinda Williams· Gillian Welch· Alison Krauss
Tracklist
- 1 Easy From Now On Start here 3:07
- 2 Two More Bottles of Wine 3:11
- 3 To Daddy 2:51
- 4 My Songbird 3:11
- 5 Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight 4:22
- 6 Defying Gravity 4:18
- 7 I Ain't Living Long Like This 4:09
- 8 One Paper Kid 3:00
- 9 Green Rolling Hills 3:40
- 10 Burn That Candle 4:25
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
Explores similar themes of longing and nostalgia with rich storytelling and a blend of country and folk.
Revival
Gillian Welch
Shares an acoustic intimacy and heartfelt narratives that evoke rural American landscapes and emotions.
Music from Big Pink
The Band
Combines Americana roots with storytelling that reflects small-town life and emotional depth.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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