Alan Jackson’s new CD – a performer’s perspective

We have posted several times this past few weeks about the upcoming CD release from country superstar, Alan Jackson. It is produced by Alison Krauss, and was initially described as being intended to have a bluegrass flavor, though the subsequent sessions took a more mainstream country turn.

We were in communication recently with Dave Denman, a member of a very early iteration of Krauss’ Union Station, and who received a call from her when she started tracking the AJ project. He ended up contributing on six different tracks, including Alan’s take on Herb Pedersen’s Wait A Minute, made into a bluegrass classic by John Starling and The Seldom Scene. Dave sang tenor, and Sam Bush baritone on this track. What a treat it would be to hear that one on country radio!

Dave also mentioned that former Union Station bassist, John Pennell, had a song of his included on the new CD. It is one called As Lovely as You, and was written back when both he and Denman were members of Alison’s band. Pennell contributed a number of songs to early Alison Krauss recordings, such as Every Time You Say Goodbye and Dark Skies.

The new CD, as yet untitled, is expected in September (9/26 release), and a single, Like Red On A Rose, is already being played on country radio. That song was written by Robert Lee Castleman and Melanie Castleman. Alison has recorded a number of Robert Lee Castleman songs on her recent projects, including such popular tracks as Let Me Touch You For Awhile, The Lucky One and Forget About It.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.