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Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Happy Birthday Alison Krauss


Born on this day 1971 in Decatur, Illinois. Alison Maria Krauss got her recording debut alongside her brother Viktor, appearing on the 1985 independent album 'Different Strokes'.


from 'Different Strokes'.


In 1985 she also signed to Rounder Records and would release her debut album, 'Too Late To Cry' in 1987. Listen to 'Foolish Heart' Here. Union Station were her back-up band.

Her first band, 'Two Highways' album with Union Station credited on the cover followed in 1989. The album earned them their first of many Grammy Nominations (41 up until 2012) for Best Bluegrass Recording despite not charting.



Apparently the deal with Rounder Records meant that she would alternate between solo album and band album and so her 1990 release, 'I've Got That Old Feeling' finally broke the charts and stalled at #61. The title track was also the first song that she ever filmed a video for. She also received the first of her 27 Grammy's as the album was nominated and won Best Bluegrass Recording.


Released in 1992, 'Everytime You Say Goodbye' would bring another Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album of the Year. A year later Alison would become the youngest member at the time of The Grand Ole Opry and the first Bluegrass artist for almost three decades to join the cast. 

1994 saw her collaborate with The Cox Family on with the album 'I Know Who Holds Tomorrow', and yet another Grammy came her way.



This 1995 Collection would become one of Alison's biggest hits and biggest sellers. The title track, 'Baby, Now That I've Found You', won a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and 'When You Say Nothing At All' would win her a CMA Award for Single of the Year.


'So Long So Wrong' would also win a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, though some critics thought it was quite "Untraditional". Two other tracks from the album would win a Grammy, 'Looking in the Eyes of Love' (Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal) and 'Little Liza Jane' (Best Country Instrumental Performance).


The 1999 album 'Forget About It' contained a whole bunch of beautiful songs: the Title Track, 'Stay', and 'Ghost in This House'.

2001 saw the release of the ninth studio album by Alison Krauss and Union Station. Jerry Douglas had joined the band full time after the departure of Adam Steffy in 1998. Douglas had played in the studio with band sice 1987.


'New Favourite' would win a Grammy for Best Bluegrass album and 'The Lucky One' would win two Grammy Awards (Best Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Country Song).


A live CD/DVD would follow in 2002 filmed at Louisville Palace over two nights in April the same year. The show saw them at their best performing a wide range of music from previous releases.



'Lonely Runs Both Ways' released in 2004 is probably my favourite of all the albums released thus far. As per usual it won a truck load of Grammy Awards and the song 'A Living Prayer' got the nod for a CMA Award (Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year). Also checkout 'Restless', 'Goodbye is all We Have', and 'My Poor Old Heart'.



Another collection was released in 2007 that contained Duets with the likes of Sting, Brad Paisley, James Taylor and a cracking single alongside John Waite of 'Missing You'.

2007 also so one of the most bizzarest collaborations that Alison Krauss has ever been involved with, a team-up with Robert Plant! I can remember thinking when I first heard about this project that there was no way on earth it was ever going to work. After hearing 'Raising Sand' for the first time I had to eat my own words!


Some of the live performances were pretty outstanding as well. 

In 2009 there was another compilation, 'Essential Alison Krauss' that contained songs hand picked by Alison herself. Then in 2011 the first Alison Krauss and Union Station album for 7 years!!


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