Alison Krauss returns from a long hiatus with a splendid collection of covers that convey songs from a wide musical angle that brings them into the focused world of Country music with her album, Windy City. Alison Krauss, the most awarded female artist in GRAMMY history, lives up to her reputation with Windy City, a must add to you collection.
The familiarity of the material allows the listener to appreciate Krauss’ ability to shape a melody and her gift for making the music she singers her own. Krauss’ take on the ten cover tracks take from a wide range of genres and singers, and filters them through a unifying vocal style, her arrangements give the album an even flow throughout, she also avoids any comparisons to the original versions by doing so, to good effect.
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About the Album
Two Brenda Lee covers are included, “Losing You” and “All Alone Am I.”) Krauss does a wonderful version of Willie Nelson’s “I Never Cared For You,” and the fiddle-driven Bill Monroe classic, “Poison Love.” She also includes more obvious covers, like “You Don’t Know Me” and “It’s Goodbye and So Long to You.” The more unconventional choice is Roger Miller’s, “River in the Rain,” which she presents in a building arrangements that climaxes with Krauss’ strong vocal presence being the centerpiece to this gem of an arrangement. Windy City is a beautifully curated collection of classic songs produced by Nashville Veteran Buddy Cannon.
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Favorite Song
Our favorite song was Roger Miller’s “River in The Rain.” Although we have to be honest, it was hard to pick just one. Krauss’ vocal delivery of the melody is hauntingly beautiful. With her angelic voice and an arrangement that is supportive, while keeping Krauss as the focus. The pedal steel and the string section builds a cushion for Krauss. The arrangement has a perfect arc, building to Krauss’ upper register, which she delivers flawlessly, while still keeping the overall mood and texture set by the arrangement, simply beautiful. This version seems to find a special connection between Krauss’ voice and Miller’s melody. “River in the Rain” was written for Big River, a Broadway musical based on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. The musical won seven Tony Awards, including one for Roger Miller’s score.
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In Conclusion
Windy City solidifies Krauss as one of the finest interpretive singers in the history of Country music. This is an exquisite collection of covers, and each will join the elite category of interpretations as the definitive version of the songs. This is a strong album and Country fans will delight in it.
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