Louisa Branscomb was born writing music for the country-bluegrass world and came to fame for the 1991 SPBGMA Song of the Year “Steel Rails.” Now it’s 2011, she’s had over 90 songs recorded in bluegrass and acoustic music, and Compass Records has announced the launch of her 9th project, the first distributed by a national label.

I'll Take Love pairs 13 Branscomb originals with world-class vocalists and players, resulting in a musical feat as powerful in its execution as in it’s originality. Co-produced by Branscomb and Missy Raines, the collection features bluegrass and acoustic vocal legends Dale Ann Bradley, John Cowan, Claire Lynch, the Whites, Dave Peterson, emerging artist Josh Williams and more. Among other surprises is Alison Krauss returning to her early career connection with Branscomb (“Steel Rails”) to sing harmony on the title track. These and other vocal and instrumental collaborations make every song a recorded event in itself.

Add instrumental virtuosos Alison Brown (banjo), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Missy Raines (bass), Rob Ickes (dobro and slide guitar), Jim Hurst (guitar), Alan Bibey (mandolin), Buck White (piano)—the list goes on—and this is a CD that keeps its promise to hit home from beginning to end.

So this Compass release, though not the first to showcase a songwriter, is unique in meeting the vision described by co-producer Missy Raines: “We wanted to pick some of Louisa’s best songs, and really consider the very best singer for each song... But on this project we are really just wanting it to be about the songs, presented by great musicians in a tasteful, clean arrangements. Seeing it come to life, to see so much enthusiasm that each artist brought to the project—everyone wanting to be a part—was a special experience.”