Two Highways

 (14 customer reviews)

This was Alison's second album but the first on which her band gets title billing. The musicians were Alison Krauss (fiddle), Mike Harman (banjo), Jeff White (guitar), John Pennell (bass), Jerry Douglas (dobro) and Brent Truitt (mandolin). Jerry and Brent were not members of Union station but were brought in as guests on the recordings. Alison was just 17 when these tracks were recorded but she was already the supreme performer. Jeff White sings lead on Wild Bill Jones, As lovely as you, Lord don't forsake me and Midnight rider, with Alison and Mike providing harmony vocals. Beaumont rag and Windy city rag are instrumentals. On all other tracks, Alison sings lead vocal, with Jeff and Mike providing harmony vocals.The last two tracks will be the most familiar. Teardrops will kiss the morning dew was originally recorded by the Osborne brothers, an excellent bluegrass outfit, and was also covered by Billie Jo Spears. Both those versions are somewhat obscure, but Alison's own version...Read more

Allison Krauss and Union Station really hit a bluegrass stride with this album. A traditional sounding collection of songs displays a well suited female bluegrass lead vocal. Allison sometimes gets a little "high lonsome" sounding (Bill Monroe meets Emmylou Harris). Recent recordings show her maturing style as she has softened and diversified her vocals, but this is a tremendous collection that you will be glad to share with purists and even folks that might sit long enough to listen to some good ole time music. With good performances on Guitar, Bass, Violin and Dobro - I think a mandolin snuck into the mix more than once. Musicians will want to play along with this recording to get their chops in shape. Your toes will be taping and a smile will spread across your face.

This c.d. has more of the old-time bluegrass style than Alison's later releases. She sings her heart out in this, and I love it. It's this pure approach that makes it my favorite of all her albums.