Alison Krauss Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection CD

Personnel: Alison Krauss (background vocals); James Taylor (vocals); Gordie Sampson, Tony Rice (guitar); Tom Bukovac (guitars); Dan Tyminski, Jeff White, Michael Spriggs, B. James Lowry, Brad Paisley, Carl Jackson (acoustic guitar); Mike Johnson (steel guitar); Bill Piburn (classical guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Béla Fleck (banjo); David Schnaufer, Steve Buckingham (dulcimer); Adam Steffey (mandola); Bryan Sutton (mandolin); Stuart Duncan (baritone ukulele); Natalie MacMaster, Justin Williamson (fiddle); Martin Tillman, Chris Carmichael (cello); Nashville String Machine (strings); Matt Rollins, Catherine Marx, Keefus Ciancia (piano); Gordon Mote (Fender Rhodes piano); Patrick Warren (harmonium); Jim Cox (Hammond b-3 organ); Scott Baggett (keyboards); Kevin Grantt (bass instrument, upright bass); Abraham Laboriel, Sr. (bass instrument, drums); John Waite, Viktor Krauss, Dennis Crouch (bass instrument); Barry Bales (acoustic bass); Greg Morrow, Larry Atamanuik, Tony Creasman, Andy Peake, Ben Sesar, Shannon Forrest (drums); Harry Stinson (drum set); Eric Darken, Kenny Malone (percussion); Cheryl White, First Baptist Church Choir Of White House, TN, Porter McLister, Dub Cornett, David Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Kenny Lewis, Maura O'Connell, Norman Blake, Ron Block, Sam Bush, Sam Phillips , Sting, Tim O'Brien, Pat Enright (background vocals).
Although the subtitle suggests that A HUNDRED MILES OR MORE is just a standard greatest hits set, this anthology is actually something far more useful. The career-spanning 16-track set gathers nearly all of Alison Krauss's soundtrack appearances, guest shots on other folks' albums, tribute songs, and a handful of other rarities. By gathering all this material in one place, it's a hugely useful album for fans, but on its own musical merits, A HUNDRED MILES OR MORE contains some of Alison Krauss's best work. Highlights include "Down to the River to Pray," her haunting a cappella addition to the Grammy winning O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU soundtrack, and her version of Elvis Costello's "The Scarlet Tide" from the soundtrack to the Civil War romance COLD MOUNTAIN.
The title of Rounder's Alison Krauss compilation A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection is a bit misleading. While it does contain previously recorded material, it is not to be taken as a greatest-hits package; rather, the 16 tracks are compiled from Krauss' numerous collaborations, soundtrack appearances, and other non-Union Station gigs. That said, it's as solid a set of material as one could want from the multi-talented Krauss. As a voice for hire, there are few singers with her emotional range, a gift she lends easily to the Elvis Costello-penned "Scarlet Tide" from the Cold Mountain soundtrack. Award-winning duets with Brad Paisley ("Whiskey Lullaby") and James Taylor ("How's the World Treating You") -- the latter a Louvin Brothers cover -- as well as collaborations with the Chieftains ("Molly Bán") from the legendary Irish group's Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions) and Sting ("You Will Be My Ain True Love") make this anthology of oddities far from superfluous. A Hundred Miles or More also boasts five new cuts, including "You're Just a Country Boy," "Simple Love," the gorgeous "Jacob's Dream," "Away Down the River," and "Sawing on the Strings," the latter of which harkens back to early, more bluegrass-oriented Krauss. ~ James Christopher Monger