ANNE HILLS: Tracks
Anne Hills
Tracks
Hand and Heart Music
Singer-songwriter-folksinger Anne Hills played a pivotal role in Chicagoâs folk music scene of the late-1970s and â80s. Moving to the Windy City in 1976, she recorded for her own label (Hogeye Music), which later became part of Flying Fish Records and then Rounder. In addition, she sang in a trio with Tom Paxton and Bob Gibson (Best of Friends, Appleseeds), and collaborated with multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Cindy Mangsen. Their duo became a trio (with Priscilla Herdman) and a quartet (with Michael Smith and Mangsenâs husband, Steve Gillette). Now residing in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Hills continues to find inspiration in tradition.
On Anne’s latest album, Tracks, she turns her attention to the glory days of railroading. Eight original songs mix with a yuletide/Civil Rights tune written with drummer/percussionist Peter Erskine (âPullman Porter Christmasâ), a jovial vaudeville-era ditty (âThe Train to Morrowâ) and covers of songs by Michael Smith (âThe Ballad of Dan Mooneyâ), Steve Goodman (âCity of New Orleansâ), and David Massengill (âRider on an Orphan Trainâ). A train whistle (pulled by Ed Ellis), kicking off the opening tune (âSan Luis Valley Songâ), opens to a thirteen-song journey that spotlights a cast of iconic characters. There is the rapid-tongued old-timer (âI Rode âEm All Manâ), the train robbers (“The Ballad of Dan Mooney”), and the woman whose dream to find a better life in the city results in âa knife against her throatâ and her lips âbitten rawâ (âMaria Took the Train to Townâ). Producer Don Richmond (who sings harmony and plays a variety of instruments) adds subtle touches to Hillsâ multi-octave singing, and guitar and banjo playing. Jimmy Stadlerâs piano playing enhances âLike a Train.â Matt Salazar plays trombone (and Peggy Ellis sings) on âCity of New Orleans,â a tune that Hills has included in her repertoire since she was seventeen. Acclaimed jazz drummer Peter Erskine (who Hills first played with, along with Chris Brubeck, when they were students at Michiganâs Interlochen Arts Academy in the early-1970s) adds gently applied rhythms to five tunes.
Hills marks the passing of the locomotive era with the closing tune, âFallen Flagâ – âA Rio Grande car, Iâve been abandoned in a field â memories around me where I rest.â Tracks peeks at those memories.
— Craig Harris