SNOCKGRASS

Personnel: Michael Hurley (vocals, guitar, fiddle); Harpo Archer, Paul Presti, Robert Iwaskiewicz (guitar); Gordon Stone (pedal steel guitar, banjo); Robin Remaily (mandolin, fiddle); Nick Branch (mandolin); Peter Stampfel (fiddle); Richard Tyler, John Cassel (piano); Dave Reisch (bass, background vocals); Gary Sisco (drums, background vocals); Robert Nickson (drums); Jeffrey Frederick (washboard, background vocals); Jill Gross (background vocals). Recorded at Mountanside Studios, Northfield, Vermont. Includes liner notes by Michael Hurley, Jim Macnie, Robin Holcomb, Peter Stampfel. Personnel: Michael Hurley (vocals, guitar, fiddle); Gary Sisco (vocals, drums); Jill Gross, Dave Reisch (vocals); Harpo Archer, Paul Presti, Robert Iwaskiewicz (guitar); Gordon Stone (banjo); Robin Remaily (mandolin, fiddle); Nick Branch (mandolin); Peter Stampfel (fiddle); John Cassel, Richard Tyler (piano); Robert Nickson (drums); Jeffrey Frederick (washboard). Audio Mixer: John Nagy. Liner Note Author: Michael Hurley. Recording information: Mountainside Studios, Northfield, VT. Only a portion of Hurley's sparse output (dating back to the mid-'60s) remains in print, but in a perfect world they'd be in every home across the land. This 1980 album was his follow-up to the equally essential LONG JOURNEY of 1976. This set features the debut of some of the songs most favored by his devoted following. The first three alone--"Midnight Rounder," "O My Stars," and "Tia Marie"--should be enough to convince anyone that their life can only be enriched by bringing this music along for the ride. His casually rich and elegant songs are given perfect accompaniment by a small ensemble. There's a hominess to the entire set that's positively addicting in its ability to calm a worried heart, warm a winter's night, or cool a summer afternoon. Hurley's droll wit and heartfelt romanticism (never too sweet or at all cliched) imbue his songs with an utterly unique character, but which also strikes a broadly common human chord.