Greatest Hits: A Dozen Roses

Collectively, Chris Hillman and Herb Petersen brought over 40 years’ worth of musical experience to the Desert Rose Band. Along with relative newcomer John Jorgenson, they scored a sustained run of country radio hits, most of which are gathered on A Dozen Roses. During their late-‘80s/early-‘90s prime, the DRB combined Hillman and Petersen’s seasoned skills as singers and multi-instrumentalists with Jorgenson’s prowess as a bold yet tasteful lead guitarist. The band’s material matched grown-up lyrical insights with a blend of Bakersfield honkytonk and bluegrass motifs. Tracks like “Love Reunited,” “Summer Wind” and “Story of Love” showcase the group’s sharply-tailored harmonies and sure feel for upbeat melodies. Hillman invokes his storied past with the Byrds and the Flying Burritos Brothers on folk-rocking numbers like “She Don’t Love Nobody.” Other tunes, most notably “Hello Trouble,” offer a tip of the hat to the hard country sounds of yesteryear. Throughout, DRB pedal steel player Jay Dee Maness adds sparkle with his dancing counterpoint lines.