Regarding total salesfigures...I read where Ken Irwin said that the estimates were that just in the week following the Grammies there were an estimated 1.2 million illegal downloads!
That might be were that 12 million thing came from? Someone not reading very carefully.

But considering even that illegal downloads number and the fact that this album has been out for two years now, I don't think 6 million world wide is all that far fetched?

Aha!!!! THAT would explain a lot! Now I know I'm only confused, not going crazy. In my defense, when you're an AK fan, you can't help but luv her! It all goes together. LOL

My apologies for not paying closer attention.

That wasn't me that was luvakfan that posted about it sounding legit. I see where the confusion is coming from now =)

Sorry. I must have been confused by your comment earlier, when you said, "great article and it sounds legit to me".

Beyond that, I know you only said it was possible about the sales. And I agree it may be possible.... just highly unlikely. Compared to other numbers I have seen, it sounds very inaccurate.

Also sorry if it sounds like I'm hassling you. It's a slow day, and I'm sitting on the computer listening to the new Del McCoury ablum that is due out on the 27th of this month. Well worth the listen. Next I'm going to pop over to the Hear music Now feature on this site, and listen to the new music of either Sam Bush, Patty Loveless, or Lyle Lovett. So much music, so little time!

I wasn't commenting or speculating on the validity of the article or whether or not an interview took place. I merely said that it was POSSIBLE that world-wide sales reached 6 million, not that they had or hadn't.

Plantations: Somehow I missed your post before. I did get to see the video from the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. Seems like we do indeed have a new "odd couple". LOL I'm sure they have been thinking about doing things like that since last years Americana Awards show. I wouldn't be surprised to see them together again. They have definitely struck up a relationship.

I have also read articles, and am sure you saw them too, that speculation has it that Robert and Alison had a falling out over artistic differences, concerning another album. I can't help but keep thinking that it took seven years for the first one to come about after their first talks of doing something together. I just don't understand why people can't let them set their own time table as to when the second one will occur. I think it's a wonderful thing that they want to make sure the music is right for all involved, and not just pounce on an opportunity to make more money just because the first album was so successful.

I agree completely that the 12 million sales numbers are generally in reference to sales in the states. But I also have seen on numerous occasions, that the two million for Rasing Sand, are for a combined domestic and UK sales. I won't rule out that an addition four million albums may have been sold world wide, but it's highly unlikely, seeing how the US and UK are where the balk of the buying audience is from.

You can continue to speculate any thing you want, but I still would rather believe references from quotes that come from sources like Ken Irwin from Rounder, than I would from a British tabloid. That's just me though. :)

I have also heard the 10-12 million albums for Alison. But those are domestic album sales, not world-wide. It is possible that Raising Sand has sold 6 million copies world-wide.

The article certainly has a ring of truth, but also has glaring inaccuracies. Recently read / heard that Alison currently has 12 million records sold, which sounds about right, going by numbers I have seen through the years. In a recent podcast interview with Ken Irwin of Rounder Records, where he talked about Alison's career, he mentioned that the first "Collection" album, is still Alison's biggest seller.

If Raising Sand sold six million copies already, as this article states, and The first Collection album sold even more, that would mean the rest of Alison's records have less than zero sales. I think not. The two million albums sold for Raising Sand, that I have seen listed on numerous occasions, seems like a more believable number.

It doesn't mean the rest of the article is wrong, too, but it does raise a question of doubt in my mind....just like Tal has stated....if the interview actually ever took place. Case in point.... all the articles from British tabloids the past couple years about Led Zep getting back together for a reunion tour, often with alleged quotes, and sometimes even with venues already named and booked. Obviously, those interviews never took place. LOL

Bottom line, I too liked the article and thought it was a good read, but it's nothing I'm going to the bank with.

As far as looking forward for a great year ahead... with all the music Alison has offered up already this year, I personally think the great year has already started. :)

nice video on you tube of Plant/Miller at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass gig. For those who have followed Bob Plant since 1971 on this board ( 1000's ? ) in the words of The Grateful Dead " what a long strange trip it's been "

Yeah, I don't think you understood my point luvakfan! "Ring of truth" is not something I put much stock in! I was pointing out that this article seems to me not to be about an actual interview having taken place!

Tal, you know the British press better than I do. That said, I believe there is a ring of truth behind the article. I don't think Alison and Robert's preproduction recordings of last spring were all that productive --just from comments they both have made, and I think they decided to give it a rest and see where things stood in the fall. It all seems wide open from their comments and, unfortunately, no one seems to have a hand on the tiller -- they need a good producer who is knowledgeable enough to go toe-to-toe with Plant while still recognizing that Alison will only go so far... just my opinion. I think she is in a different situation with US. To me, her difficulty now is in keeping AKUS from becoming a nostalgia band, but, unfortunately, she needs material that can stand up to her last few AKUS albums. This takes work and she has been away from it for a while. On top of it all, the world is watching. She, US, and RP are squarely in the limelight and what they do next will be very interesting. Given the level of their talent and what they have achieved over the past five years, I can only think that they will pull it off wonderfully. Like I said, I am looking forward to a great year ahead!

Great article and it sounds legit to me. Plant recently showed up to play a song with Buddy Miller at the HSBF in San Franscisco, which puts him in the States just when the article says Alison and he will be meeting. No reason to doubt it. I wonder if she will try to have the US album out before Christmas -- would not be surprised. Record with Plant in the winter if they can come to agreement. Tour with US spring and early summer. Release RS II next fall. Sounds like a great year ahead.

This was the first I had heard anything about T-Bone, one way or another, akusgal. I kind of thought around the time of the Grammy's, it was made to sound that it was still a threesome, but who knows for sure. As Tal pointed out, this article came from a British tabloid, so take the story with a grain of salt. As always, I just take the wait and see route. I've seen too many times that what gets said and what actually happens, are miles apart by the time the ball drops.

Instead of wondering about the future, have you enjoyed the new stuff on youtube, and heard her contributions on Adam Steffey, Gene Watson, and Maura O'Connell's new albums? "Warm Kentucky Sunshine" from Adam's album, should be right up your alley!

Once again, you're there to calm my Alison worries, confused. haha. And I'm proud to be your favorite because you, my friend, are mine. ;)

I just talked about all of this to my boyfriend on the phone. He said "ONLY 60 tour dates?" I had to explain that when you're this honest to goodness in love with the music, it's nice to have as many opportunities as possible to have close seats! :)

Mm another thought I forgot: What will RPAK collab 2 be like without T-Bone? I wonder if the pair will go at it alone, but I can't see that running super smoothly.

Well agusgal, there is no doubt that Alison is much better known now, but I personally don't think she works nearly as hard as she used to.

I have to go back to how much they use to tour..... the Lonely tour lasted for 18 long months, for instance. This time around, Dan is still planning to keep his band going while AKUS is touring, so that, along with what I have pieced together from different interviews, leads me to believe that the AKUS tour will only involve about 60 dates.

I wouldn't worry much about another Raising Sand tour coming too quickly on the heels of the AKUS tour. The table surely has been set for it to happen, but depending on the time of year it all comes together, there might be a lapse between tours. I think she's at a stage in her life, where family matters seem to be part of the equation too, and spending more time letting her son have a more normal life, could play a part in it all as well. Certainly Alison is keeping busy, but a lot of her work these days, with her smaller projects, keeps her in the Nashville area. Not so much travel time.

And sorry to say, you being silly has nothing to do wuth your questions or concerns! LOL (Just funning with you. You know you're my favorite!)

That was certainly an enjoyable read. Thanks for linking us!

I have to say that I have been a bit concerned since the huge acclaim of RS. Reading this, I feel it again. Alison talks about finishing up the AKUS record and then going into the studio for a second RPAK collaboration. I imagine there to be a tour or two mixed in with all of this.. and then there will again be tons of awards and more fans. I guess I am used to Alison only being solely with AKUS and doing a few (small) side projects here and there. I just wonder if she will tire herself out and maybe not enjoy what we're used to as much. It feels different with her being so "known" and busy now..

This is all, of course, just in my head. Does anyone else have these sort of concerns or am I being silly? :p

Anyway, love to hear the bit about Sam! Glad to hear he could be continuing on with the family talent.

Tal, I def see what you mean...it certainly seemed to me that the author took some liberties in order to fill the article out, but I hadn't seen some of the quotes so I thought maybe they were new....who knows...regardless though, I hope the new RPAK album doesn't get sidelined for too long :(

Thanks for the link Chexz. But as to the article itself..am I being very much of a cynic when I say I get the impression it actually never took place?
A glaring inaccuracy concerning the RS follow up project ( at least if we are to belief the top Rounder guys statement after the Grammies as well as other sources saying they have been in the studio already) and a lot of quotes I have seen in other articles the past 2 years!
Of course it could also be it's not so much I am being too cynical as the fact that this newspaper is a British tabloid! ;D

Thanks for the tip. Its great to hear she is working so diligently with both AKUS and RP. I do hope they keep T-Bone though. I think he is an ace in the hole to any project.