Product Description

No Description Available.
Genre: Bluegrass
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 24-APR-1990

Track Listing

1. Two Highways
2. I'm Alone Again
3. Wild Bill Jones
4. Beaumont Rag
5. Heaven's Bright Shore
6. Love You in Vain
7. Here Comes Goodbye
8. As Lovely as You
9. Windy City Rag
10. Lord Don't Forsake Me
11. Teardrops Will Kiss the Morning Dew
12. Midnight Rider

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34976 in Music
• Brand: KRAUSS,ALISON
• Released on: 1992-02-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Alison Krauss's second Rounder effort builds on the promise of her debut, further honing her blend of traditional and contemporary, an artistic tactic that would have a huge impact on bluegrass and bluegrass audiences throughout the 1990s. Still only 17 when she waxed this one, Krauss handles old-time rags, gospel favorites, and modern country with equal flair and almost-annoying perfection. This was 1989 and her widespread critical acclaim had not yet translated into commercial acceptance, but Two Highways catches her at a time just before the polish began to sand away the rougher edges of her sound. Rough, however, is a relative term because, then as now, it's impossible for this phenom to ever sound anything but smooth. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Classic bluegrass from young Alison
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 was selected for inclusion on Now that I've found you A collection, the hugely successful compilation of Alison's music. If you are thinking of buying this album, you surely own that compilation already - and if not, you should buy that first. The final track is a cover of Gregg Allman's classic Midnight rider, here adapted to bluegrass - brilliantly.

You are not likely to know many (if any) of the first ten tracks but they are definitely worth a listen. They are a varied mix of ballads and up-tempo but the overall feel of the album is upbeat. Possibly the best is Heaven's bright shore though it is difficult to pick out highlights on an album of such quality.

If you already have Now that I've found you A collection and you want to explore Alison's early music further, this is for you.

The grass is growing bluer...
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.

Alison's most tradtional album
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.