The Grahams have released The Grahams and Friends (Live in Studio), a combined collection of songs from Rattle the Hocks (the soundtrack from the film), and the deluxe edition of their 2015 album Glory Bound, none of which have previously been released in the UK or Ireland.
Their friends include Cody & Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), Sara & Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek, Watkins Family), John C. Stubblefield & Rick Steff (Lucero), Kenneth Pattengale (Milk Carton Kids), John Fullbright, Davíd Garza, Alvin Youngblood Hart and many more.
The original Glory Bound album, produced by Wes Sharon and largely co-written with childhood friend Bryan McCann, was inspired by the Grahams’ rail-riding expedition into the heart of American roots music. At the time, Doug Graham explained, “The dream is to play with as many great people as we can, and share the music as much as we can.” They certainly achieve the first goal with these songs, which feature some of the finest talents in folk/Americana.
“It was pretty much a free-for-all in the studio for five days,” Alyssa says. “People were popping in hourly and picking up all kinds of instruments.” They’re not even sure exactly who did what in some cases, but there’s no mistaking the voices of John Fullbright, Sara and Sean Watkins, the Milk Carton Kids, Susannah Choffel and Garza, who trade leads and harmonies as featured artists.
Rattle the Hocks, directed and produced by Cody Dickinson (son of late auteur, legendary James Dickinson and founding member of the North Mississippi Allstars) is a musical documentary that captures The Grahams relentless journey to explore the relationship between railroads and American roots music-though what’s inadvertently captured is a husband and wife obtaining their American dream.
The Grahams said: “There is a special connection between American folk music and the railroad that has no parallel elsewhere in the world. Rail lines stitch together the sprawling fabric of American song. As writers of Americana music, our goal is to draw on the deep, recurring sources of American folk culture, giving them new shape.”
