Alison Krauss & Union Station: Bluegrass Perfection

Trivia of the day: Anyone know where Union Station got their name? (Living in Nashville, I know this stuff, LOL)

 

OK, I give up. I dont know.

Mike

(You can wait and see if anyone else knows if you want.)

Heres one for you:

How did the bluegrass group The Seldome Scene get their name?

Mike

 

"Ding ding ding ding ding!!!

WE HAVE A WINNER!!

John Duffy was in the The Country Gentlemen full time, but he didnt like all the touring. He quit to go back to his regular job in the Washington DC area. Washington had a thriving bluegrass music scene back then...and still does...and he knew several great musicians who also had full time "regular" jobs but loved to pick.

He talked Mike Auldrige, Ben Eldridge, John Starling, and Tom Gray into forming a "one night a week" band that would never...or rarely... leave the D.C. area.

Someone at some point said something like..."well, with this bunch they'll be seldom seen for sure"!...resulting in the name Seldom Scene.

And the rest is history, as they say.

Please stop by the hospitality tent for your prize!

Mike

 

Doyle Lawson has several excellent bluegrass gospel records out.

 

Ha! I was wondering the same thing!

Mike

 

Where Union Station got their name

The old historic Union (train) Station on Broadway in Nashville, of course, LOL.

http://www.historicnashville.org/unionstation/trains.html

The original architecture is well preserved and renovated and beautiful & it has become a luxury lodging and restaurant, etc. And, it is one of Nashville's many landmarks.

 

AKUS has been one of my favorites for a long time. My favorite song she has ever done was a gospel # called "Jewels". It sends a chill up my spine when i hear it.

 

I listen to all kinds of music except Rap, My favorite Bluegrass performers have always been Flatt & Scruggs , The Dillards , and Alison Krauss.... I recently saw a Gospel Bluegrass Group (Mother, Father, 2 sons, and 2 daughters) As I was listening to them I thought the girls at times sounded similar to Allison Kraus... and the music was up beat and lively like the Dillards... but all the lyrics were in Praise of Jesus. The Franz Family

I just ordered their 3 tapes from thier website... cant wait to get them.

 

Thanks, Bethlehem for informing me about the Ftanz Family. Their demo's on the wesite sounded great. I am going to order one of their cd's as soon as i decde which one to order.
They seem to be people that love Jesus.
whn people love Jesus and Bluegrass they are automaticaly my friend.

 

I just received the 3 Franz Family Tapes day before yesterday... I've listened to them all and I would Recommend "The Franz Family LIVE" first... Theres 11 songs and I like them all... most of the songs are upbeat Bluegrass with lots of Harmony vocals and Full Instrument sounds, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, Upright Bass and Dobro... the Standout song to me is "In the Palm of Your hand" (sang by Audra Franz) which is also an Allison Kraus Song.

Second I would recommend "Wayfaring Stranger" Theres a nice mix of fast and slow songs.. a couple instrumental songs...It was recorded in 2003 so Everyones Voices are more mature and the music playing abilitys of all the Family is showcased more. To me the Standout songs on this tape are " Why are you Hungry" , "Since Jesus Came into my Heart" (Accapallo) , "Nothing Can Hold me Here" , and "Wayfaring Stranger" .... Emmit also wrote the instrumental "Shortcut Home" which is a really good showcase of everyone playing different instruments... I also have the advantage of seeing them perform all the Above songs in concert so I can picture in my mind each of them doing thier parts. I was very close to them as the performed.. and it looked as if at times they would look at each other with a smirk or a wink as if to try to make each other laugh ( Remember Tim Conway, Harvey Corman and Carol Burnette makeing each other laugh while doing skits.. thats what it reminded me of) .... Anyway Both albums "Live" and "Wayfaring Stranger" are excellent albums...

3rd "Across the Miles" has 14 songs... recorded in 1998... all the kids voices are noticebly younger... The songs are good and the singing is good but once youve heard thier voices on the later tapes I prefer the Fuller Sound of the more mature voices, Fuller sound of the Instrumentation and more involvenmt in the backup Harmony of everyone. The Standout song on this tape is "Glorybound Train". I wouldnt discourage getting this tape but if you were only getting one or two, to check them out, I would get the first 2 I mentioned.

They also have a new tape/Cd coming out soon... I dont know anything about it though.

 

There is a group out of Mi. called Sound Doctrine. Lead by Gary Duty, great progressive bluegrass. The strength of the music is in the words....Bro Duty writes with a unique play on words that is absolutely uncanny. Maybe I should just say gifted.
My favorite is "The Door". I think he also had a no. #1 gospet hit..."The Blood is Still There" about 10 yrs ago. They have a web page, I just don't know the address.
Thanks ------Bart

 

Bumping this up - Today, I bought an AK & US CD at Cracker Barrel & It is Great!

Plus it's got one of my favorites: "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow"

Just letting the AK & US fans know - this CD is ONLY available at Cracker Barrels - Nowhere else!

And if you are an unfortunate soul who does not have a Cracker Barrel close by or even know what a Cracker Barrel is, here is their web site, LOL:

http://www.crackerbarrel.com


AK CD is HERE