Robin & Linda Williams In The Company Of Strangers CD

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

Whenever they perform on A Prairie Home Companion, this husband-and-wife team is always the best element on the program -- with their powerful, sinewy voices (both grew up on gospel music) and instrumental chops (she's a great clawhammer banjo player, he's a very fine guitarist) they take every song they perform firmly by the throat and squeeze every drop of emotion from it, and they always do so in a way that manages to direct your attention to the song itself, rather than to their performance of it. They have a vocal blend as perfect in its way as that of the Stanley Brothers; when Linda's singing lead and Robin's belting out a low harmony it will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. But somehow their albums are often a disappointment. It's tempting to blame it on the studio environment or some other metaphysical factor, but the painful fact may simply be that the songs they write aren't as good as the ones they often sing onstage, which are likely to be old gospel or other traditional material. Lyrically, this stuff is all great; there just aren't many memorable tunes. It's telling that on In the Company of Strangers the only really memorable original song is the title track (which is outstanding) and the best song of the program is a Hank Williams number. Their version of "Cold, Cold Heart" rivals Williams', frankly. If only they could write like he did. ~ Rick Anderson

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jim Watson (background vocals).

Recorded at Dream Sequence Studios, Charlottesville, Virginia & Coyote Watch Studios, Southern Shores, North Carolina.

Personnel: Kevin McNoldy (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar); Jim Watson, Mary Chapin Carpenter (vocals); Kevin Maul (guitar, acoustic guitar, dobro); Robin Williams (guitar, baritone guitar, harmonica); Linda Williams (acoustic guitar, banjo); John Jennings (electric guitar); Tim O'Brien (mandolin, fiddle); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Stuart Gunter (snare drum).

Recording information: Coyote Watch Studios, Southern; Dream Sequence Studios, Charlot.

Personnel: Robin Williams (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica); Linda Williams (vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo); Kevin McNoldy (acoustic & electric guitars, bass, background vocals); Kevin Maul (acoustic & pedal steel guitars, dobro); John Jennings (guitar); Tim O'Brien (mandolin, fiddle); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Andy Waldeck (bass); Stuart Gunter (drums);

Dirty Linen (4-5/00, p.55) - "...Their musical roots range from folk to country to blues to bluegrass....With this set of tunes, the Williamses continue their exploration of deeply roots-based music, with lyrics and delivery framed in harmony and in hope..."
No Depression (3-4/00, pp.122-123) - "...Bluegrass, country and folk are interwoven throughout, showcasing the close harmonies that seem to be special preserve of couples and siblings....It's a riveting, insightful performance..."