High Lonesome Sound (CD - 1996)

"Worlds Apart" won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. The title track, featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station, won the 1997 Grammy for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals. The title track was also nominated for Best Country Song, and the album was nominated for Best Country Album. "Pretty Little Adriana" won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.

Personnel: Vince Gill (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, gut-string guitar, mandolin); Alison Krauss (vocals, fiddle); Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Steuart Smith (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Dan Tyminski, Jeff White (acoustic guitar); John Hughey (steel guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Ron Block (banjo); Adam Steffey (mandolin); Jeff Geurnsey (fiddle); Pete Wasner (piano, electric piano, Hammond b-3 organ, synthesizer); Steve Nathan (piano, Hammond b-3 organ, synthesizer); Leland Sklar, Barry Bales (bass guitar); Carlos Vega (drums); Lisa Bevill, Nicole C. Mullen, Patty Loveless, Shelby Lynne, Bekka Bramlett, Robert Bailey , Billy Thomas, Chris Rodriguez , Kim Fleming, Kim Richey (background vocals).

Although Vince Gill is renowned as a country performer, the Oklahoma native actually got his start playing in traditional bluegrass bands. This 1996 album finds Gill getting back in touch with his roots without abandoning his easy-going, pop-tinged style. In fact, although much of the record features a pleasant, down-home vibe, only the title track, which appears in two versions, boasts a decent shot of true bluegrass.

While the first rendition of the tune shines a spotlight of Gill's adept guitar playing, the second take has Alison Krauss and Union Station lending their instrumental expertise to the lilting number. Other highlights of HIGH LONESOME SOUND include the Lyle Lovett-esque "One Dance with You," the gentle "Pretty Little Adriana," and the lovelorn "Worlds Apart." Though Gill's albums were no longer hitting multi-platinum marks by this point, HIGH LONESOME SOUND reveals that the singer/songwriter was willing to follow his muse, regardless of commercial appeal or Nashville trends. minimize