Alison Krauss - "Steel Rails"

[mobar0129]

good song my father want me to sing it and i will

[TheTater1984]

if there was ever angels...allison is it. if her voice doesnt give you goosebumps then your just not human

[muzzlepuncher7]

Once again the sweetest voiced angel to ever come out of Champaign Illinois. Oh by far the cutest, too !

[dadeeo44]

This has become my favorite bluegrass song. When I first heard it, I also played it several times in a row, its just exceptional! The harmonies and musical arrangement are perfect , and Krauss's voice... well, this has to be on the playlist in heaven!

[larryshomeemail]

Thanks, I have now played this 16 times in a row. I remember coming home from High School and flipping on CMT trying to catch this video.

[Fiddlemama]

she was like, 18, here...maybe 17?  1989

[karen88]

what year?

[sharonb314]

Looked for this and today hit pay dirt. Thank you.

[GoodPuppyDog]

Adam Steffey is in his own band The Box Cars and still plays with the Dan Tyminski Band. I saw him perform at the recent Wayne Henderson Festival playing a new Wayne Henderson Mandolin. Great Player....

[1pupblacky]

@GoodPuppyDog i wondered what happened to adam. i know he played with the dixie chicks.he was the bomb. he used to speak to the audience when allison was young. i miss his great mandolin . it took me awhile to accept jerry douglas. steffey--the best mandolin i have ever heard. what a loss for akus and union station.

[1pupblacky]

where is adam steffey? what a talented mandolin player--and a great loss to akus.

[martystuart1000]

a gem of a railroad song

[caseynicholemusic]

How can anyone dislike this awesome song? People don't know real music. Its better than the garbage now days.

[gzyyy6]

looking back you never get to the morrow Father is on  that straight road ahead blessing****s

[pa42501]

I think you may have the songwriter wrong on this one. Sidney Cox from Cotton Valley, Louisiana wrote it. He is a friend of mine and my late husband's. Also when Sidney wrote it, James did the Dobro in the demo tape. Sidney did sell it to Allison. Sidney and his family used to tour with Allison, back in the day. The were just known as the Cox Family. You may want to check in to this.

[TheMikefromQuebec]

First time I heard this was in 1984 when I first got CMT. It was great then, and its just as good today. What a voice.

[Rcksaltnnails]

Awwww, back when she was real and beautiful.

[oklbb101]

Ok so I see a lot of questions in comments. Allison recorded this is 1992 and she was 18 I believe. This song is still known as the song that brought her to a new level. Steel rails was written by Louisa Branscomb and has been recorded in multiple countries. If ya have anymore questions please ask! Oh and Adam Steffey played the mandolin for this song until he left the band. Oh lol this song is definitely bluegrass by all accounts not country. It was a newer sound for the time but it came to be

[frontierdriver]

@oklbb101 Actually, this is on her 1990 album, I've Got That Old Feeling. She was 19 when the album came out.

[sharonb314]

looked for this for years. Could hear her in my mind singing it.

[dickcoach]

good song

[jobe69]

She Never Stopped Playing Bluegrass

[hancock1475]

One of her best songs is THAT MAKE ONE OF US.

[coorsisd13574]

who would have thought this young lady would grow up to accomplish all she has. talented and beutiful.

[Crazy4Dolly]

She is AMAZING !! LOVE HER

[tobiasmerriman]

Whoa 80s, classic song by a great band. LoL @ her hair and canadian tuxedo....

[jgwimmer]

Her voice was unique even before she and Union Station hit it big.....she's just a dream come true.....and my all time favorite female bluegrass performer.

[lefty6141465]

love ya alison

[smokes2468]

Her eyes are so nice

[WildBillTurkey]

This is so pretty it makes me ache. Thanks for posting this piece of Heaven from so long ago...

[VicDeHaven]

@WildBillTurkey @WildBillTurkey Thank you Wild Bill. I haven't been in here in quite a while and I'm amazed at the response this video has received.

I hope they never take it down for some dumb copyright infraction.

This video is a rare item these days.

If I can ever find the video (in my archives) that I originally uploaded, I'll see if I can upload it again to improve the resolution now that YouTube is hosting better quality videos here. Vic DeHaven

[nbrooksl]

yes!! a piece of heaven!!

[mygrassisblue100]

This was the first video I ever saw of Alison Kruass. I have been a fan since 1986 when I saw it.

[blackforest1313]

This is the first Alison Krause video I saw and heard. What avoice.

[rofaz1]

I sure wish I was married to this DOLL,can you imagine laying in bed with her while she sings? AbsolutE heaven!

[rp12121]

She looks so young and so cute in this video. I wonder how old was she at the time. 18?

[rp12121]

I love Alison. She is great. The only thing I wish she sang more bluegrass songs like this one. This is not to say that her more recent works are not great but I just love her bluegrass songs.

[janaddict]

This is definitely my fav. AK you're the best, voice of an angel.

[Norgrim1]

i got to meet the lady that wrote this song. Also got to see her and a friend of mine play this live..amazing

[TheKebmeister]

Not to argue, kkllkklklk...but Dan Tyminski plays mandolin for AKUS sometimes, and that is one bad dude....Dan is an absolutely incredible musician. And yes, she is a porcelein doll, and yes, the sweetest voice in music.....

[ColdFusionGames]

This is more country than Bluegrass, but still nice.

[msdiediedie]

@ColdFusionGames Yes, it's country. Very good song though.

[ColdFusionGames]

@msdiediedie: Yeah, she's a great singer.

[gurlsingerfan]

I would say more "newgrass" than bluegrass, because it is a string band song, no percussion...this was the first Alison Krauss song I heard so many years ago, and I realized after the first hearing of it that the nature of bluegrass/country had changed for good and I was seeing one of the great legendary performers. I have been a fan since.

[TheArkansashunter]

A Porcelain Doll come to life.

[kllklklklklklklklklk]

As much as I like the sound of AKUS now, I miss the mandolin guy here that used to be on the albums. The mandolin is missing from her music now...: (

[Anewday1979]

Oh the BEAUTY of "The Cox Family", Evelyn if you see this post, I LOVE and miss you!!!!

-Royce : )

[okbuilder]

She is such an angel. Sweetest voice in music and ever so sexy.....

[richintalent]

weeping....

[TaintedLProductions]

I love Allison Krauss. She is one of my biggest influences ever. I admire her and her music so much. :-)

[RBCHB]

A voice as sweet as a bottle of homemade wine and the looks to match! Seems she just keeps getting better looking as time goes by.

What a beautiful woman and a GREAT singer.

[1pupblacky]

@RBCHB can you send me the recipe for homemade concord grape wine?

[ellejennifer]

about common as an angel, you're a treasure AK

[tcpennington]

This is one of the greatest songs ever written. Speaking from experience living a railroad life the words in this song are so true.

[harness2222]

who is the dobro player in this song?

[COOP0003]

might it be Sidney Cox?

[grassliker]

It does look like Sidney Cox in the video, as well as his sis Suzanne singing harmony, but Jerry Douglas actually played on the recording.

[Buanand]

What a wonderful song. Glad I discovered AK years ago before she made a record with Robert Plant. :^ \

[rsager8970]

From when TNN was worth a darn.

[starr522]

What a voice and performer. Common girl but sexy as hell. She and Union Station brought Bluegrass back, But Damn, Whiskey Lulabye. What a classic. Bill Anderson wrote it and Rick Scroder ( I know I didn t spell that right ) directed it. Great piece of work for all involved.

[sgcdub]

Love the classic feel to her/their older material. Granted, it all sounds great but music like this really brings your imagination into play. You can almost imagine yourself on the train looking out at the landscape and daydreaming.

[jugmongers]

Howdy! I'll tell you what, blonde or what not .. Alison is the best! Bluegrass or newgrass, it don't make no difference to me. All the best to all her fans, - Judd Jugmonger

[TwoHighways]

what a badass for lack of a better term : )

[Enochcainx256]

There probably is a better term, but yes, I agree.

[hfd55]

wow

[woodscritter]

I've seen it written that Alison was originally signed to a recording contract solely as a fiddler, with no consideration to vocals.

Wouldn't we be poorer if someone hadn't opened that door!

[painthorseowner]

she was only 18 when this song/album came out!

[jambiskywalker]

She was so cute!

[gzyyy6]

shes great GODBLESS*****************S

[convictcharlie]

until people have seen her live can not believe a voice like that really comes out of a person she amazes me like no other

[muntasernorwaigi]

all the other people are stars ,,,,just ,,only you that ,,,the beatiful moon of our sky ,,,,,shining in our life for every ,,,,,,,dear great //// Alison Krauss

[brad6100]

I love the old Pullman car!! Bluegrass lives!

[dscottkerr]

I liked her so much better at this time, than i do now.... She seemed more genuine then. I think her success has spoiled her. She was best before she went "mainstream".

[mackae1]

dont know that i would consider her mainstream. shes still very down to earth & humble. she has brought bluegrass to the masses, thank god. but, she has also grown & expanded and is bringing new music that also deserves to be heard. i saw her just last week at the opry & she sang 4 traditional gospel songs with the whites & was just as pure then as ever.

[edmunk]

Absolutely. She has one of the most beutiful voices on this planet. She could have picked any style of music to sing but lucky for us all she chose the best.

[reddragonready]

I heard that on WSM! Wasn't she awesome!!! You were one lucky person to have been there live!

[fishin764]

Alison Is a Favorite Of Mine Another One Is Rhonda Vincent & The Next Is: Alisha Nugent These Are The Three Blue Grass Ladys I like Very WELL ! These Are On The TOP OF MY LIST , Not in Order Either

[kinyo71]

bluegrass sucks and so does everyone who thinks its good

[CSXEngineer33]

One of my favorite songs to listen to when im headed to work, i couldnt imagine life not running locomotives.

[traveller9852000]

First heard this while staying with friends in the USA in 92 or 93. It blew me away and have been an Alison lover ever since.

[mtnroads]

I met her at a festival in West Virginia - she is a very nice person.

[mackae1]

sooo cute

[lapushxwolfxgirl]

Alison Krauss has a wonderful voic Bluegrass or no and besides I'm sure this song can be taken as country

[jscmoto34]

Awesome! Man I remember this. Love it!! Thanks sooo much!

[edzntn]

This song is so pretty.

[lilfiddler789]

I love Alison Krauss...she's definitely been my mentor, and I am sure gonna learn this song!

[mareverte]

Man, what happened here? This is what I think about when I think of bluegrass...I feel like she's made the proverbial shift into prima donna bluegrass/country...love this song!

[comrabure]

she looks diffrent here she has perm lol

[comrabure]

great song!

[shankydevil54]

this song and video is just way too short.

[VicDeHaven]

shankydevil54, Just play it over and over as I do :-)))

[jrdill1929]

She is the best. Thank you.

[geek113377]

@VicDeHaven yep, so many times I've thought that youtube needs a loop button.

[jloverb]

she's timeless. i love her voice! her first songs and her songs now are so amazing, i have like, every cd she's ever made

[kim101234]

i love this 2 death i love her voice ..

[luckypenny482]

sometimes, when in the presence of such heavenly talent, all you can do is smile and let the tears flow.

[highonbluegrass]

It was nice to hear that there are people other than me out there who appreciated Alison BEFORE!!

Thanks for posting this video...it's the first song I learned to sing so that I could play music with my dad. (except for Blue Moon of Kentucky @ age 3...which sounded like Blue Moon of Tentucky when I said it)

[ivalwaysbncrazy]

I was in college and came home, heard this on TNN and freaked out. I ran in the livingroom and LOVED her from the first time I heard this in fall 1990. I told my mom I wanted that "cassette" for christmas. I love all the songs on that first record she did.

[VicDeHaven]

I'm very glad that everyone is enjoying this post so much.

It has been quite a while since I checked my YouTube page and I am realy impressed by the number of views that it has received.

Vic DeHaven Yeah, this IS STILL my favorite AK video.

[mackae1]

just as pretty then as now

[f18nightdog]

i love this song

[VicDeHaven]

It's rare for me to visit my own You Tube page any more so I was quite surprised, and pleased, to see that I have made over 26,000 people happy with this clip. It's one of my most treasured. Anything that AK does is fine with me but this clip was my first intro to her and every time I see it I go back to being a love-struck teenager. AND the music is great too. I loved her voice best in ths video.

I certainly hope you all enjoy this video too. Vic DeHaven

[jrdill1929]

Thanks for posting. It is a wonderful song and she has a beautiful voice.

[grackle67]

Still remember seeing this video for the first time and falling in love with that voice...I didn't find out who it was till years later when Now that I have found you was released. Great to see this video once again!

[lux179]

i'm crazy about this song!!! i love this singer!!

[jrdill1929]

ditto

[BigDAS]

Allison, like so many other performers who came from simple roots, finally succumbed to the demands of modern show business. Her rustic talent has become a marketable commodity and must, by the laws of business, change to suit the will of the sellers.

[iamdanaj]

I like now and then Alison - - she is evolving like we all do... I have been a fan since around 94.....love the new collaberation with Robert Plant... how more honest do you want?

[willowwasp2007]

the more you grow the better you get. Just loved this one and can't wait to hear more.

[ctjayhawker]

I think Clarissa's point was the one I'm about to make. A lot of us like "then" ALison better than "now" Alison. Not that she's not still super-talented and super-hot. But I prefer her older stuff; it seems more honest, like she was singing for the love of it, instead of in a manner calculated to sell albums. And I definitely prefer the pre-"major" weight loss Alison (like she was ever fat!). But that's the paradigm these days; if you're not a stick, you're chubby and unattractive. Hogwash.

[stacywv]

What does it matter if she lost weight? I strongly disagree that her style changed as a means to sell albums...let's remember how young she was when she started...it's only natural that her sound would evolve and she would change it up from the age of 14 to the age of 36. But her weight has no bearing on anything. If someone would've flipped that comment around and said that they preferred her back when she was skinny instead of chubby like she is now, they would've been lamblasted.

[ctjayhawker]

No disagreement that a singer's voice and style will evolve over time and such. But if you listen to all her works, in chronological order, you can see--or hear, rather--a pretty significant stylistic difference between Every Time You Say Goodbye and So Long So Wrong. Still some actual "bluegrass" on there, and subsequent albums, but the overall style has changed, and the traditional numbers are usually led by bandmates, and not by Alison.

Just an observation.

[stacywv]

I'm not disagreeing that the style has changed...but then, so has the staff. My argument lies in the reasoning that the band changed in order to sell more albums. I think they just began exploring more creative sounds. And "Sawin' On the Strings" sounds fairly bluegrass (or new grass, moreso) to me, as does "Take Me For Longing." Both of those tunes came well after So Long, So Wrong and are led in vocal by Alison. From the getgo, AKUS' goal was to make music they enjoy, bluegrass or not.

[bluegrasslovely]

I totally agree with you. I've been listening to Alison Krauss since day one, and have always been a great fan. Even though I've got a slight emotional attachment to her early career, I don't think you can say her sound is dictated by money. I think the music she produces today is only a natural progression and a maturing of her tastes in music, it's like nobody elses, it's unique and tasteful. Why reject it because it's not pure bluegrass? And to me So long So wrong is an album of pure magic.

[clarissa883]

i love this song i dont know why i do but there is just something about it and i love how young alison's voice sounds compared to know !!!!! Love to sing it and i want to figure out how to play fiddle to it someday!!!

[calebw1]

Saw Alison perform in 1988. Then, a 14 YO fiddle prodigy, touring with young Alison Brown- best known for banjo work-the blond guitarist here. She was friends with the "Cox Family" back when, one member of which is seen here in the sequence out in a field; she's the woman you might almost mistake for Alison. She's certainly been packaged dramatically in recent times from the major weight-loss and maybe even surgery to the toning down of her very piercing voice. Love this song! Love the voice.

[kaysandesses]

"She's certainly been packaged dramatically in recent times from the major weight-loss and maybe even surgery to the toning down of her very piercing voice. "

I think it's due to maturing as a person and an artist, no surgery, etc. required...

[gnathaniel]

Wow Alison Krauss looks so different nowdays. Her voice has always been superb. As flexible as Dolly Parton, as pure as Karen Carpenter.

[kaysandesses]

"Wow Alison Krauss looks so different nowdays."

I think she's even more pretty now. Maybe that's cause I'm getting a little older too...

[felix192]

wow we have the same taste

[Bigdaddybugh]

Bluegrass...

[Bigdaddybugh]

Perfect harmony...

[musicianforjesus]

I saw them live in August and I'll never forget it.

[sqqqsme]

Alison is always so feminine. I love it.

[VicDeHaven]

This self proclaimed monster dude apparently has nothing better to do than spam some of my videos with this useless (in the face of the grassroote revolution for Ron Paul) anti Ron Paul tripe.

We can tell that Dr. Paul is on his way to stardom when trash like the ipomonster start slinging mud at him.

[Nadine91273]

Allison looks so cute here. I like the curly hair.

[variasveces]

oops. pardon my spelling.

[variasveces]

I have never seen them live, but I have seen live videos. They are one of those very rare bands who sound as good live as they do on a recording. Look for their guest appearance on "Evening at Pops": The addition of the full Boston Pops orchestra behind them is sublime experience. AKUS is a very fine group of musicinans.

[benbilter]

It is amazing to see AKUS live. They will blow you away. I recommend it to everyone.

[kaysandesses]

They are certainly best appreciated live. Two plus hours of perfection.

[faggio1234567890]

WOW

[RemeberLoughall]

Beauty and talent.

[Pelter1]

I thought JD played the Dobro on this tune?

[SCT02006]

Looks like Sidney Cox on dobro (and Suzanne Cox, vocals and Allison Brown, guitar)

[tomnorman457]

Indeed, that's him! He's been with her from the beginning.

[tomnorman457]

I just pulled out my CD. The CD, "I've Got That Old Feeling", was produced by Bil VornDick and Jerry Douglas. On that song it lists JD on dobro, Stuart Duncan on mandolin, Jeff White on guitar, Dave Pomeroy on bass, and Suzanne Cox on harmony vocals. Great CD by the way.

[kaysandesses]

I don't know what the liner notes say but that sure isn't JD on dobro in the video and that looks an awful lot like Adam Steffey on mandolin and Barry Bales on bass. ????

[tomnorman457]

You are right. That isn't JD playing the dobro in the video. That does look like Barry on bass. I'm not familiar with Adam Steffey.

My guess is the video was made after the recording was made, and the actual musicians on the recording are those listed in the liner notes.

[kaysandesses]

" I'm not familiar with Adam Steffey."

Steffey was a member of AKUS for quite a few years. He left about the same time JD became a "regular".

"My guess is the video was made after the recording was made"

I agree. Yesterday I looked at their bios on their website and it said Bales joined in 1990. I noticed the release date was 01/01/90.

Have you ever seen AKUS live?

[tomnorman457]

Thanks for the info on Adam. Sadly, I have never seen AKUS live, but it's something that I will do someday. I'll have to look at her tour dates and take in at least one (if not more) live show.

The closest I've been to a live AKUS show has been through her DVDs. Have you seen the DVD with AKUS and Shania Twain?

[kaysandesses]

It's imperative that you see them live. Never a missed cue, note, or pitch.

[SCT02006]

Looks like Sidney Cox on dobro

[bluegrasslovely]

Stuart Duncan on mandolin, really ?! wow, I didn't know he played so well ! I've been listening to this song and album since it came out, but I never had the full credits so I had no idea. It's such a random video clip, with all the wrong people. It's quite confusing, when I watched it just then the mandolin solo sounded like something Adam Steffey really would have played! weird.

[smcghee58]

Stuart Duncan played mandolin during the recording of the studio album. Adam Steffey is playing in the video. (Likewise, Jerry Douglas played dobro in the studio [and co-produced this album], while Sidney Cox (of the Cox Family) plays dobro in the video. Late in the video, Sidney's sister Suzanne Cox can be seen to the right of Alison. Alison Brown is playing guitar along with Tim Stafford, both members of Union Station at this point in time. Barry Bales is on bass.

[bluegrasslovely]

Thanks for the info ! I had sort of guessed that she'd made the clip as a sort of after thought with her current band after the release of the album.

I had of course recognised Jerry Douglas on dobro, he's one of the main features of this album which I love. I also adore the excellent choice of songs and beautifully emotional vocals from Alison when she still had that subtle vibrato in her voice that went straight to the heart ... No matter how many times I listen to it, I never get bored !

[smcghee58]

Glad to help...but if I'd read some of the earlier posts I wouldn't have duplicated a lot of what others already said! In Alison's early career, studio players for the most part helped with her solo efforts, of which this album was her second. One I mentioned earlier - Stuart Duncan - is with Alison and Robert Plant, part of the band supporting them on the Raising Sands tour. You gotta love bluegrass people...they stick together!

[bluegrasslovely]

seems like I've met my match as an all time Alison Krauss fan ! I fell in love with her voice age 4 when I first heard Too late to cry ...

I've checked out a few of the recently posted lives of her present tour and was pleased to see Stuart Duncan was part of the trip, as you say, bluegrass is really one big sharing family !

There's a video on here of her at the american music shop, her & Stuart Duncan play twin fiddle on New Fool I think, or some other song from Every Time you say Goodbye ...

[woodrowgypsy]

ahh, this made my day. I LOVE alison and especially some of her earlier stuff, I've never seen this video. Thanks to whoever posted it and it's neat that musicfreak's mom wrote this! I just adore Alison, i think she might be an angel.... :)

[VicDeHaven]

Your suspicions are confrimed. She IS an angel

Roma Downey has lots of company in this one.

I too like her earlier stuff best.

You can hear the Smoky Mountains in her voice.

This vid was posted to one of the music vid newsgroups on the Usenet. Next time I run across that original post I'll be sure to give him credit here.

To see another precocious Bluegrass player check out her protege Sierra Hull with her mandolin. Watch Sierra's little fingers fly!

[richintalent]

weeping... weeping...

[MColaizzo]

sounds like angles singing

[MusicFreak3993]

I love Alison; her early stuff especially. And guess what, my mom wrote this song. Alison recorded it after hearing it on a Boot Hill album about 16 years ago I guess. She recorded it making it a huge hit. I love you Alison. Keep on going girl

[VicDeHaven]

Thanks a bunch MusicFreak3993 for giving us this piece of history behind Alison's "Steel Rails".

I NEVER get tired of hearing this song.

Every time I have the opportunity, I listen to it all the way through.

Maybe it's because of the curly haired girl I knew from Apalachia a long time ago.

Or else it's because I just love Alison, especially in her fresh faced youth..

Either way, I'll always be one of her most loyal fans.

[Pierre95560]

Yes, absolutely, I agree with you.

[bambibigone]

A young beauty,who gets better as she gets older.That smile ,that voice, that fiddle, the whole beautiful package. Thank you.