Alison Krauss and Union Station: "Restless"

[EvanJ]

www2.allaccess.com/sounds/alisrest.ram

[EvanJ]

www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000681576

Krauss 'Runs Both Ways' On New Album

Alison Krauss and Union Station will strike while the iron is still hot with the Nov. 23 release of their next Rounder album, "Lonely Runs Both Ways." Krauss has reached a new peak in visibility this year, performing at the Grammys and the Oscars and garnering five nominations for the upcoming Country Music Association awards, at which she will also perform with Brad Paisley.

The new 15-track set finds Krauss and guitarist/vocalist Dan Tyminski, dobro player Jerry Douglas, banjo/guitarist/vocalist Ron Block and bassist/vocalist Barry Bales tackling such songs as Del McCoury's "Rain Please Go Away," Woodie Guthrie's "Pastures of Plenty" and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' "Wouldn't Be So Bad."

Krauss co-wrote "This Sad Song" with Alison Brown, while Block turns in "I Don't Have To Live This Way" and album closer "A Living Prayer." The set is rounded out by four tunes penned by Robert Lee Castleman, including opener "Gravity" and first single "Restless."

"Lonely Runs Both Ways" follows 2002's "Live," which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Bluegrass Albums chart, and the 2001 studio set "New Favorite," which hit No. 2 on the same tally.

Although a run of December tour dates is not yet confirmed, Krauss and Union Station will perform during release week on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and the following month on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Here is the track list for "Lonely Runs Both Ways":

"Gravity"
"Restless"
"Rain Please Go Away"
"Goodbye Is All We Have"
"Unionhouse Branch"
"Wouldn't Be So Bad"
"Pastures of Plenty"
"Crazy As Me"
"Borderline"
"Poor Old Heart"
"This Sad Song"
"Doesn't Have To Be This Way"
"I Don't Have To Live this Way"
"If I Didn't Know Any Better"
"A Living Prayer"

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

[gcook]

Sounds great! I can't wait!!!

[WhySoSerious?]

This song is good. Very good.

[Deleted]

I like this a lot. Parts of it remind me of "Leather And Lace" by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley.

[jazz]

She never disappoints me. I love her music! Can't wait to get the full album.

[reception]

It's New & Active this week with 91 plays, 15 stations, and 0 adds.

[EvanJ]

launch.yahoo.com/artist/videos.asp?artistID=1014692 has the video.

www.billboard.com/bb/feature/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000730657

Krauss + Union Station A Hit 'Both Ways'

By Jim Bessman

Thanks to a big year full of awards show wins and major TV exposure for Alison Krauss + Union Station, Rounder Records is understandably upbeat about the commercial prospects for "Lonely Runs Both Ways," the act's first studio album in three years.

Krauss is also enthusiastic about the album -- released Nov. 23 -- but for a different reason. "I'm just excited because it's done," says Krauss, a notoriously tardy production perfectionist. "We finished at the last second possible."

But she and the band made use of every moment of the 18-month on-and-off project. "It didn't feel complete until the last tracking session," she says.

Union Station guitarist Dan Tyminski's cover of Del McCoury's "Rain Please Go Away" helped "fill in the blanks" at the end, as did Krauss' version of Donna Hughes' "Poor Old Heart."

"That was the last tune we found for me," she notes. "Barry Bales heard one of her songs on the radio while driving around near his home in East Tennessee. He called her, and she sent a whole bunch of songs. We recorded it in a second."

Other songs came from Krauss' songwriter favorites Sidney and Suzanne Cox, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and Union Station banjoist Ron Block and dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas. Woody Guthrie's "Pastures of Plenty," with an arrangement patterned after bluegrass banjoist Dave Evans' version, provided Tyminski with another vocal showcase.

The lead single, the Robert Lee Castleman-penned "Restless," was the act's first No. 1 hit in Billboard: It recently topped the Hot Country Singles Sales chart. Krauss' only other brush with No. 1 came when she and Billy Dean added vocal parts to Kenny Rogers' chart-topping 2000 hit "Buy Me a Rose."

There's also "This Sad Song," which Krauss co-wrote years ago with former Union Station banjoist Alison Brown.

"We made that up in the back of a van when I was 17," says Krauss, who had signed with Rounder three years prior. "The guys have wanted to record it forever, but I said no and really fought to not have it on the record. I said I'd feel better if they put it under a different name so people wouldn't think it was me, or say I was a high-schooler [at the time]. But I guess it's OK if nobody listens to the lyrics closely."

Krauss' year has included winning Grammy Awards and, more recently, Country Music Association Awards, the latter for her hit duet with Brad Paisley, "Whiskey Lullaby."

There have also been TV performances, including the Academy Awards, CMT Flameworthy Music Awards, the PBS National Memorial Day Concert, the Ryder Cup opening ceremonies and the CMA Awards.

Krauss and the band recently performed on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and are scheduled to do so Dec. 10 on ABC's "Good Morning America." Appearances on CBS' "The Early Show" and PBS' Charlie Rose talk show also slated.

The first leg of a lengthy tour will kick off Dec. 1 in Evansville, Ind. After a few December dates, the tour will begin again in earnest Jan. 12 in Chatanooga, Tenn., according to Krauss' official Web site.

[dragoneyez]

Great song, AKUS never disappoints. Anyone have the mp3?

[reception]

It debuted this week at #44.

[drock89]

Got the album for Christmas. The only thing I wish is that Alison would do all the tracks. The best song on the disc is by far "Living Prayer". Great song and very true!!! I've loved AKUS since they did "Up! Close and Personal" with Shania. Great album! ;)

[MusicRules]

The best song on the disc is by far "Living Prayer".

I love this song too. It is by far my favorite.

I could be mistaken, but I thought I saw Allison smoking a few years ago. Please tell me I'm wrong! I can't imagine her voice in a few years if she smokes or still smokes.

[Zazie]

First of all, Alison's got a wicked sense of humor and I don't think she's like her image. At all. So smoking is probably the least of your worries.

Second, it's nice to find this board and see so many of the old R&R board posters. Hello, Tony and Evan and whoever else is here that I haven't found yet.

[Jeffster]

Hey Zazie, nice to see the king of the ACC boards over here. ;)

I don't spend much time in the country section here (too much chance of those dreaded spoilers you know I hate, haha), I'm more likely to be found in personal charts and off-topic sections.

Uh..I guess I better comment on the topic....I think I heard this song once, didn't reach out and grab me but maybe it'll grow on me if I hear it enough. I love Alison's voice.

[Deleted]

'RESTLESS' CHARTS

It's been almost 10 years since Alison Krauss + Union Station has been in the top 40 portion of Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. This week, "Restless" moves 48-39, giving the outfit its highest-charting title since "When You Say Nothing At All" peaked at No. 3 the week of June 10, 1995.

Away from Union Station, Krauss has seen the upper reaches of the chart in collaborations with Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Shenandoah.

-- Billboard

[WhySoSerious?]

The said:

'RESTLESS' CHARTS

It's been almost 10 years since Alison Krauss + Union Station has been in the top 40 portion of Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. This week, "Restless" moves 48-39, giving the outfit its highest-charting title since "When You Say Nothing At All" peaked at No. 3 the week of June 10, 1995.

Away from Union Station, Krauss has seen the upper reaches of the chart in collaborations with Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Shenandoah.

-- Billboard

This deserves huge success, and the fact that this is her first song in the Top 40 in 10 years that's not a collaboration is ridiculous.

[someguy]

That comes as a bit of a surprise to me - I always thought that "Baby, Now That I've Found You" was at least a top 40 hit. She's had so many songs since then (especially "The Lucky One") that deserved to be mainstream successes. This is great news that "Restless" has finally made the top 40.

[Zazie]

I had high hopes for Forget About It and Let Me Touch You For Awhile, but neither had a realistic chance -- I was just wishing. It is good news that Restless is in the top 40, though both spin and audience impressions are very low at the bottom end of the 40 this time of year.

I listened to some new country songs on AllAccess and then played Restless. Truth is, AKUS sounds completely different from everybody else on country radio, and I'm not convinced a lot of programmers will take the chance and expose their audience to more Alison.

Now if Restless climbs into the top 20, on the heels of Whiskey Lullaby, that will get AKUS some credibility with mainstream radio people. A little, anyway.

[dragoneyez]

That's awesome news, and country radio has really been missing out. Not charting one of the most original and talented country artists of the past two decades... damn. Just goes to show how stagnant and vain country radio has become.

[gcook]

Two of our local stations have added "Restless" which is the first Alison Krauss and Union Station single I can ever recall them adding.

[dragoneyez]

Any word on if AKUS is releasing a second single from Lonely Runs Both Ways?

[WhySoSerious?]

dragoneyez said:

Any word on if AKUS is releasing a second single from Lonely Runs Both Ways?

I hope they release "Gravity."

[bamafan2102]

I am hoping for Goodbye Is All We Have.

[someguy]

dragoneyez said:

Any word on if AKUS is releasing a second single from Lonely Runs Both Ways?

I see no reason not to after the tremendous success of "Restless".

[Zazie]

I'm hoping for Gravity too. I'll be amazed if she can return to the top 40, without an intervening duet with a big radio star to boost her visibility. Her music is just too different.

[drock89]

I think the most obvious follow-up to "Restless" is "Living Prayer". What an amazing song! :o

[MusicRules]

I think the most obvious follow-up to "Restless" is "Living Prayer". What an amazing song!

This is easily my favorite AKUS song, and I'm so glad it was written by Ron Block.  It's a jaw dropper to be sure.  Unfortunately, I don't see radio playing it.

[WhySoSerious?]

shaniagotchagood said:

I think the most obvious follow-up to "Restless" is "Living Prayer". What an amazing song!  :o

That one is good, but radio wouldn't play it at all.