Roots (album)

Roots is a 1968 album by close harmony rock and roll duo The Everly Brothers. Originally on the Warner Bros. label, the album was re-released on CD in 1995 by Warner Bros. and in 2005 by Collectors' Choice Music. The album is a classic example of early country rock.

Critical reception
On its release, Roots was not a commercial success for The Everly Brothers, failing to widen their fanbase in spite of their excursion into the new field of country rock. At the time of its release, Rolling Stone, which awarded the album 4 stars in its coverage of the band in The Rolling Stone Album Guide, described the album as "a showcase for the superb talent of the Everlys as they are today", asserting that anyone "interested in the so-called country revival now sweeping rock should pick up this album". In his reviews of the bands subsequent albums, critic Robert Christgau often utilized Roots as a touchstone, referring to it as "sweet", "thoughtful, even-tempered, and unique" and insisting that it was the last album the duo made as a "vital team" before they "lost it". Today, the album is touted as "one of the finest early country-rock albums".

Track listing

 * 1) "The Introduction: The Everly Family (1952)" – 1:11
 * 2) "Mama Tried" (Merle Haggard) – 2:18
 * 3) "Less of Me" (Glen Campbell) – 3:03
 * 4) "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 3:31
 * 5) "I Wonder If I Care as Much" (Everly, Everly) – 2:59
 * 6) "Ventura Boulevard" (Ron Elliott) – 2:50
 * 7) "Shady Grove" (Jackie Ertel, Venecia Everly, P.O. Wandz) – 2:31
 * 8) "Illinois" (Randy Newman) – 2:12
 * 9) "Living Too Close to the Ground" (Terry Slater) – 2:16
 * 10) "You Done Me Wrong" (George Jones, Ray Price) – 2:16
 * 11) "Turn Around" (Elliott) – 2:47
 * 12) "Sing Me Back Home" (Merle Haggard) – 5:18
 * 13) "Montage: Everly Family (1952)/Shady Grove/Kentucky" (Carl Davis, P.O. Wandz) – 2:43

Performance

 * Don Everly – guitar, vocals
 * Phil Everly – guitar, vocals

Production

 * Gordon Anderson – executive producer
 * Frank Bez – photography, cover photo
 * Perry Botkin, Jr. – arranger
 * Nick DeCaro – string arrangements
 * Ron Elliott – arranger
 * Lee Herschberg – engineer, mastering
 * Bill Inglot – mastering
 * John Neil – engineer
 * Andrew Sandoval – mastering
 * Dave Schultz – mastering
 * Mike Shields – engineer
 * Ed Thrasher – art direction
 * Richie Unterberger – liner notes
 * Lenny Waronker – producer, concept
 * Andrew Wickham – liner notes, concept