Two of the most distinctive vocalists in modern music, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, have collaborated on “Raising Sand,” set for release October 23rd on Rounder Records.

Produced by T Bone Burnett and recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles, supporting musicians include guitarists Marc Ribot and Norman Blake, multi-instrumentalist Mike Seeger, drummer Jay Bellerose, and bassist Dennis Crouch.

Plant calls the project more of a band record than a duet record, as he and Krause recorded material from various sources spanning blues, R&B, country, and folk, including songs by Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Little Milton Campbell, Mel Tillis, Townes Van Zandt, Doc Watson, with Phil and Don Everly among them. The pair also recorded the Robert Plant/Jimmy Page song, “Please Read the Letter,” from the 1998 album Walking Into Clarksdale.”

The team-up had its genesis seven years ago, when Plant called Krause to say hello and that he’d love to work with her someday. A few years later, he invited her to take part in a Leadbelly tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where they sang together for the first time.

“Raising Sand” track listing:

Rich Woman (Dorothy LaBostrie-McKinley Millet)
Killing the Blues (Rowland Salley)
Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us (Sam Phillips)
Polly Come Home (Gene Clark)
Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On) (Phil and Don Everly)
Through the Morning, Through the Night (Gene Clark)
Please Read The Letter (Robert Plant-Michael Lee-Jimmy Page-Charlie Jones)
Trampled Rose (Tom Waits-Kathleen Brennan)
Fortune Teller (Naomi Neville)
Stick With Me Baby (Mel Tillis)
Nothin’ (Townes Van Zandt)
Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson (Milt Campbell)
Your Long Journey (A.D. Watson and Rosa Lee Watson)

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