2020 Album Draft- Round 3- Pick 8: Run-Sew- Read selects- Alison Krauss & The Cox Family: I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.
Run- Sew- Read’s blog can be found at- https://run-sew-read.com/
This album is a 1994 collaboration that I ‘discovered’ in the early 2000s, when I was trying to decide whether to buy the soundtrack from ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou’. I like some bluegrass, and I like a smaller amount of gospel, but I don’t actually own or listen to much at all from those genres. This album by Alison and The Cox Family is a very pleasant blend of the two, that captivated me from the beginning, and still gets regular play in my house. It has a great calming feel to it. The album includes a few well-known songs, such as Where No One Stands Alone’, and ‘Loves Me Like A Rock’. But it’s the other, lesser known songs that are my favorites.
There are several talented vocalists on this album, who trade off at lead. My favorite vocal combination is Suzanne Cox and Alison Krauss. Their voices blend beautifully to my ears.
There is one sad song, that I used to skip at first, and then it grew to become one of my favorites; although it still brings on the tears. It is ‘Far Side Bank of Jordan’. Willard Cox’s voice and delivery is literal and believable, as one side of a conversation between a couple about when one of them dies. See why it’s sad? The rest of the voices make lovely harmonies for the chorus. Johnny Cash and others have performed this song, but Willard’s version is my preferred, and the one I heard first.
My favorite songs on the album are: Will There Be Any Stars, Remind Me Dear Lord, I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, I’d Rather Have Jesus, Far Side Bank of Jordan, and Jewels. All but two of those are Suzanne and/or Alison on vocals.
slicethelife 
While the name Alison Krauss rang a bell because of her 2007 collaboration album with Robert Plant, I pretty much know nothing about bluegrass. Based on listening into some of the tunes on this record, it does sound pretty. I’m a huge fan of vocals and harmony singing!
I’ve always liked the Krauss tracks I’ve heard, but I don’t know where to start with her catalog. Anyone have additional recommendations?
She’s been so prolific, it’s really hard to boil her songs down to a few suggestions. (Only two other people have won more Grammys than Alison.) Her songs with her band Union Station are nice, and the album ‘Raising Sand’ where she collaborated with Robert Plant is incredibly good, imo. The song, ‘Please Read the Letter’ was the hit from her album with Plant. I’m so sad to have missed out on that tour. They did a live version of Battle of Evermore. On the country side, she did a duet with Brad Paisley called ‘Whiskey Lullaby’, and a Christmas duet with Alan Jackson called ‘The Angels Cried’. I’m sure I’ve overlooked a lot.
PS I should probably suggest a couple of specific songs with Union Station, since there are a lot to weed through; many of which don’t feature her voice. My faves are the ones where her voice is prominent. Two of those are ‘The Lucky One’ and ‘Let Me Touch You For Awhile’.
What a cool pick. I dont have this but I can imagine how good it is (the track sounds good to me). Krauss just has so much music in her. The only problem I have with bluegrass is once I start listening I get lost in it for a while. Usually a long while. Again very good pick (of the beaten track) and perfect listening for a morning (where I’m at).
Thanks! I know what you mean about getting drawn into a bluegrass rabbit hole. I only like the most mainstream sounding bluegrass, so there’s always a point where I can stop and pull myself away. 😀
Just listened to the album. Yeah it’s solid stuff. Funny one of the first bluegrass albums i got had a Paul Simon cut on it ‘Red Rubber Ball’
Didnt know there was mainstream bluegrass. Like I said, I’m in the groove now. Thanks.
Here’s one for ya. ‘The Mountain’ Del McCoury and Steve Earle.
I can’t define exactly what I mean by mainstream, but I suppose it is music that is easy for non-bluegrass fans to listen to. Some bluegrass is very bluegrass, and you really have to love bluegrass to appreciate it, imo. I will look up that McCoury – Earle collaboration. Thanks for the tip.
Steve and McCoury- The Mountain is excellent.
I’ve heard that album, CB. Good stuff!
Our buddy Levon Helm does a good cover of the title song.
Just listened to it. I’ve heard a few tunes from that album it’s from and they are good.
TT. That Billy Strings is great. Very cool that the tradition is living on. We are in good hands.
What a smorg of music Hans is putting together.
If you youtube Billy and his crew at the Opry singing “Dust in a Baggie,” my friend and her daughter, who is a bluegrass groupie, were in the audience.
I sampled The Mountain, and it’s great (as if those artists could be anything but). I also love the album cover. That’s one I would have loved to have in vinyl album size.
Earle has the great covers. I forget the artists name but he’has a great style.
Apologize for this but it’s kinda your fault. JD Crowe and the New South and The Bluegrass Album Band. Fantastic. The Run-Sew-Read Bluegrass Festival.
Wow, my own namesake bluegrass festival. I shall definitely have to sample all of the music.
That is one Steve Earle tour I have missed- but they didn’t come anywhere close for that one and then Steve and Del had a falling out..
Have you heard of Billy Strings? He is an up-and-coming bluegrass guitar player.
I don’t think I’ve heard him. I’ll look him up. Thanks!
He was born and raised near Lansing, a few hours from here.
Billy Strings is great! What a strong voice. I’m glad to know of him.
Bill Monroe is King!….. off topic but one of the kids killed at Kent State was also named Alison Krause.
Monroe, Scruggs, you got it. I have a ton of this great music. Krauss is carrying the torch proudly. She is the real deal. I’m getting all the genres covered so I’ll be doing a lot of visiting.
Wow, kudos to you on going with something unusual! I know her name but besides one or two tracks from her collaboration with Plant, don’t know much of her music… just listening to the video that was attached… sounding quite nice!
Thanks! It felt like we were all building a great pool of rock music, and here I went and wee’d in it. :p I’m glad to break out with something different though. Surely there will be more picks that surprise us all.
right now I’m thinking my next pick will be a lot more obscure than my last, Sgt. Pepper (but then again it would be a challenge to get one MORE obscure than that!) It’s a great event Hans has put together here, I think we’re all remembering some fine stuff we’d forgotten and maybe learning some new ones.
whoops, think I wrote that wrong…meant to say “LESS obscure” than Beatles
I am glad everyone is enjoying this- so am I.
You had to grab Sgt Pepper before someone else did. 🙂 You’ve peaked my curiosity about what you’ll pick next. This draft has certainly been interesting and fun. It has me digging deep into my collection, and my memory. I’m looking forward to seeing lots more interesting picks.
I was into Alison Krauss and Union Station back on maybe their second album- had read about them somewhere. My dad was big into Bluegrass- he liked her too. Surprise pick- but a good one.
Seems I remember hearing a collaboration with Alison and Randy Crowell, but not for sure. I like the mellow, relaxing atmosphere the selection you chose generates. Nice pic, Diana!
Rodney has done work with Miss Emmylou Harris- not sure about Alison…
Thank you!
You’re welcome.
Pic = pick
Cool. Impressed by someone picking someone I’ve never heard of. I know Krauss but not the Cox Family.
I’ve had some Union Station cds given to me by a family member who knew some Union Station members. I’ve always liked her voice so I need to check this one out… Good pick…we have some diversity going on.
I am still waiting for someone to take some Norwegian Death Metal..
Union Station is a collection of the best of the best, imo.