Anne's Discography

Click on a title for picture of the recording or book, as well as song and release information and a little description. Links for RealAudio samples of a few cuts are hightlighted in those paragraphs. Secure on-line purchases can be made through PayPal ... or you can print an order form and send your check via the mail.
Ef You Don‘t Watch Out! Cover
 
 
 

Ef You Don‘t Watch Out!: Anne Hills Sings the Poems of James Whitcomb Riley(2007)
Anne Hills
Collective Works   0504
 

Indiana's beloved “Hoosier Poet” of the late 19th century, James Whitcomb Riley achieved fame for his writing about the simple country life in the dialect of southern Indiana, with verse alternating between the humorous and the sentimental. Claiming that “simple sentiments that come from the heart” were the secret of his success, Riley satisfied the public with down-to-earth verse that was “heart high.” He was a gifted actor, orator, musician, as well as a journalist ... and by the late 1800s Riley was in high demand as a speaker. At the time of his passing in 1916, he was so revered that he received the rare honor of lying in state at Indiana's Capitol Rotunda as 35,000 mourners came to bid him farewell. On this recording, Anne Hills brings ten of Riley's beloved poems back to life with poignant, fun and thoughtful folk arrangements.

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Beauty Attends Cover
 
 
 

Beauty Attends: The Heartsongs of Opal Whiteley (2006)
Anne Hills
Collective Works   0502
 

13 passages from Opal Whiteley's childhood nature diaries, set to music by the incomparable Michael Smith, with beautiful arrangements by co-producer Scott Pettito. Songs include: “Blue Hills,” “I Went to Look for the Fairies,” “Potatoes,” “Brown Leaves,” “Cloudships,” “Now it is Winter,” “Larks of the Meadow,” “Lichen Folk,” “William Shakespeare,” “Glad for the Spring,” “Thoughts In Flowers,” “Song of the Brook,” and “She is Dead.”

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Best of Friends Cover
 
 
 

Best of Friends (2004)
Tom Paxton, Bob Gibson & Anne Hills
Appleseed Recordings  1077
 

Recorded live at the legendary Chicago folk club, Holstein's, in 1985, this is the "lost recording" that fans of classic folk have been pining for for nearly two decades! The short-lived, but much loved, trio toured throughout North America and the UK before the each member returned to focus on their own solo projects ... and before they made it into the studio to chronicle this perfect blending of talent. Songs include: “Sing for the Song,” “Did You Hear John Hurt?,” “Home to Me is Anywhere You Are,” “The Death of Stephen Biko,” “And Loving You,” “While You SLeep,” “She Sits of the Table,” “Let the Band Play Dixie,” “Pilgrim Song,” “Panhandle Wind,” “Something's Wrong with the Rain,” “Ramblin Boy,” “One Million Lawyers,” and “Bottle of Wine.”

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Fourtold Cover
 
 
 

Fourtold (2003)
Steve Gillette, Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen, and Michael Smith
Appleseed Recordings  1071
 

Four great singers with a deep understanding, love and respect for the profound power of the "story song" tradition ... and with the musical chops to make the experience truly transporting. On this CD, Steve, Cindy, Anne and Michael share a dozen true gems from the body of great material out there: old, new, traditional, original and borrowed. Songs include: “Four Rode By,” “Molly & Tenbrooks,” “Pendle Hill,” “Joshua Gone Barbados,” “Panther In Michigan,” “Darcy Farrow,” “Ballad of Springhill,” “Aramalee,” “The Nine Little Goblins,” “Two Men in a Building,” “I Drew My Ship,” and “Run, Come, See Jerusalem.”

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Under American Skies Cover
 
 
 

Under American Skies (2001)
Anne Hills and Tom Paxton
Appleseed Recordings  1052
 

Full circle. Anne hit the national folk circuit in the early 1980s as part of the legendary, albeit short-lived, trio Best of Friends. Flanked by Tom Paxton and Bob Gibson, two undisputed folk revival giants, Anne’s voice graced stages from Carnegie Hall to London and California. She continued her work with Tom over the years, each promising the other that they would someday collaborate on a recording. Well, the wait is over! Selected a sampling of favorites from the repertoires of each other, they added some of the great political songs from the “boom” era and beyond, plus a brand new collaboration for the title cut. Songs include: “There Goes A Mountain,” “Under American Skies,” “Follow that Road,” “Clarrissa Jones,” “Birmingham Sunday,” “Carry It On,” “God Bless the Grass,” “Manzanar,” “Gettin’ Up Early,” “Well, Well, Well,” “Pandora’s Box,” “Shadow Crossing the Land,” “Links In the Chain” and a special live track from The Best of Friends: “And Loving You.”

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At the Turning of the Year Cover
 
 
 

At the Turning of the Year (2000)
Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills & Cindy Mangsen
Hand & Heart Music  2000
 

Anne and the gals (that's Priscilla Herdman & Cindy Mangsen, where ya been?!?) returned to the studio for a new sampling of seasonal songs ... this time drawing inspiration from celebrations from Halloween to the coming of the Spring. Just like their live performances, the songs run from the sublimely beautiful to the gut grabbing hilarious. Songs include: “At the Turning of the Year,” “Candelman Eve,” “The Winter It Is Past,” “Forget Me Not,” “Swinton May Song,” “Goodbye to the Roses,” “Away Ye Merry Lasses,” “Uncle Dave's Grace,” “Solstice Round,” “The Snow,” “The Druggist,” “Corn, Water & Wood,” “Years” and “Winter's Come & Gone.” It isn't the holidays without these dulcet voices and exquisite harmonies. This one's a keeper!

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Paradise Lost and Found Cover
 
 
 

Paradise Lost and Found (1999)
Anne Hills and Michael Smith
Redwing Music  5406
 

Here it is, folks, the long-awaited and oft-requested duet recording from Anne and Michael. Recorded "live" at Studio Chicago in the Spring of 1999 (with no overdubs), this is the next best thing to being at one of the duet shows featuring these great friends ... and brilliant performers. On this baker’s dozen set you’ll hear originals by both Anne and Michael, a couple of co-writes and a Beatles’ song thrown in for fun. If you’ve ever shared an evening with Anne and Michael, you already know why this recording has been so eagerly anticipated. Songs include: “Stranded In The Moonlight,” “Paterson Summer,” “Painted Horse,” “Danger,” “Paradise Lost & Found,” “Silken Dreams,” “Spoon River,” “Disappearing Heart,” “This Rain,” “We Become Birds,” “Roll Me Home,” “The Dutchman” and “I Will.” It’s a take-home concert with the best of friends ... and you’re invited!

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Bittersweet Street Cover
 
 
 

Bittersweet Street (1998)
Anne Hills
Redwing Music  5402
 

A dozen stunning contemporary folk gems, Anne's debut on the new Chicago-based label is destined to be a classic in the genre. The songs (all by Hills except where noted) include: Pleiades; Yard Dreams; First Day of Autumn; Blur in the Photograph; Cloudships (Smith/Whiteley); Bittersweet Street; Exile; Just By Offering (Weiss); Some Boats; New Companion; Wait By the River; Close the Door Lightly (Andersen).

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Never Grow Up Cover
 
 
 

Never Grow Up (1998)
Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen
Flying Fish 671
 

A follow-up to the award winning release Never Grow Old, this 1998 release from Anne and long-time singing partner Cindy Mangsen again gathers a varied group of special friends for a collection of material, this time aimed at children and the young at heart. Guests include The Volo Bogtrotters, Carla Sciaky, Dave Van Ronk, Michael Cooney, Jan Burda, The Raisin Pickers, Dave Price with Tyler Wilson, Priscilla Herdman, Rosalie Sorrels, Pete Sutherland, Mark Graham, Steve Gillette, Jamie O'Reilly and Fred Campeau.

Songs include: Kitty Alone; Now He's Sorry That He Spoke; The Thinnest Man / Alice; Froggy Went A-Courtin'; Hudson River Steamboat; Wait 'Til The Clouds Roll By; Chickens They're A-Crowin'; The Dummy Line; Where Did You Get That Hat; The Colorado Trail; Hopalong Peter; Master Of The Sheepfold; I've Got Rings On My Fingers; Old Blue; Watch The Stars / At The Gate Of Heaven.

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Dreamcatcher Cover
 
 
 
 

Dreamcatcher (The Book) (1997)
by Anne Hills, illustrated by Liz Paxson
Gifted Girls Publications (Book and Cassette)
 

This beautifully illustrated children's book adapts Anne's popular song about the hopes and dreams of children. The 24-page full-color, fully-illustrated story includes a cassette of the song, sung by Anne on one side and Anne's daughter Tamlyn on the other. (A lead sheet of the song and full lyrics are also included.) A perfect gift for the children in your life. Ask for a personalized autograph!

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Voices of Winter Cover
 
 
 

Voices of Winter (1997)
Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills & Cindy Mangsen
Gadfly Records 235
 

Priscilla, Anne and Cindy join together for a live set of seasonal material from their annual end of year program.

Songs include Wintergrace; Snow in the Street; Raise the Dead of Wintertime; Witch Hazel; Serving Girl's Holiday; Harerot Halalu; A'Roving on a Winter's Night; Joy Health Love and Peace / The Wren; Unto You This Night; The Frozen Logger / Proper Cup of Coffee; Voices of Winter / Red & Green; Hot Buttered Rum; Mister Santa; Chickadee; More Wood; Lo, How A Rose.

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Part of the Village Cover
 
 
 

Part of the Village (1997)
Various Artists
Carole Robertson Center for Learning  02
 

Anne assembled another group of artists for this children's music project to benefit the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, (see That Kind of Grace below).

Songs include: The Mamba (Shanta); Johnny Appleseed (Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen); I'll Love You Forever (Anne Hills); My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains (Sparky & Rhonda Rucker); Cloud People (Josh White Jr.); What's Your Favorite Color (David Roth); Orange Cocoa Cake (Anne Hills); Passive Restraint (Kim & Reggie Harris); Todo El Que Lee Es Un Leon (Nelson Sosa); Spin & Turn (Tom Paxton); Dreamcatcher (Priscilla Herdman); Freedom Is Coming (The Grace Family); and Gospel Medley (The Carole Robertson Center Children's Choir). (All proceeds go directly to the center!)

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A Lost World Cover
 
 
 

A Lost World (1996)
Jay Ansill
BCN Records 10141
 

Well, OK, this isn't really an Anne Hills record, but Anne is the featured vocalist on 6 of Jay's 14 musical settings for the poems of Robert Graves. (Other singers include John Gorka, Richard Shindell, Priscilla Herdman, Cindy Mangsen, John Roberts and Tony Barrand.) These are stunning "celtic-esque" musical arrangements that really showcase Anne's singing, in yet another (for her) style.

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Angle of the Light Cover
 
 
 

Angle of the Light (1995)
Anne Hills
Flying Fish 648
 

Angle of the Light, the first of Anne's projects to showcase her own songwriting, has been widely praised, finding it's way onto many folk DJ Top 10 lists. The songs (all by Hills except where noted) include: Yesterday's Wind; Follow That Road; Fighting Giants; Sound of the Looms; Over the Bridge; Brown Leaves (Smith/Whiteley); Dreamcatcher; Angle Of the Light; Lover's Knot (Hills/Ansill); Forget Me Know (Hills/Smith); and Enough.

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Never Grow Old Cover
 
 
 

Never Grow Old (1994)
Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen
Flying Fish 638
 

In the fall of 1994, Anne released a duet album with long-time singing partner Cindy Mangsen. Joined by a striking array of guests, including Tom Paxton, Laurie Lewis, John Hartford, Gordon Bok, Priscilla Herdman and others, Anne and Cindy nail sixteen traditional songs reaching back to the last century.

Songs include: Where We'll Never Grow Old; Curtains of Night; Richmond on the James; Lost Jimmy Whalen; Master Kilby; Bill Morgan and His Gal; Wolves A'Howlin'; McKinley's Rag; Lone Pilgrim; Mary Anne; The Housewife's Lament; Light of Red and Green; Pretty Sylvia; Oh My Little Darlin'; Railroading on the Great Divide; Evening Shade.Never Grow Old received the 1994 NAIRD Indie Folk "Honorable Mention" award.

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Follow That Road Cover
 
 
 

Follow That Road (1994)
Various Artists
Philo 1165/66 (a double-CD songwriters' compilation)
 

Highlights of the Second Annual Martha's Vineyard Singer/Songwriters Retreat, an annual event sponsored by Christine Lavin and the Wintertide Coffeehouse.

This is to singer-songwriter collections what a posh champagne buffet brunch at a four-star hotel is to a pancake house breakfast ... Anne Hills provides the title song for the set, "Follow That Road," filled with eloquently simple poetry, and a memorable chorus tied neatly in the ribbon of Hills' satin voice. -- Sing Out! Magazine
(Sorry, we are no longer stocking this one.
If you’re looking for a recording of “Follow That Road”,
purchase a copy of Angle of the Light or Under American Skies.)

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That Kind of Grace Cover
 
 

That Kind of Grace (1995)
Anne Hills, David Roth, Josh White Jr.,
Kim & Reggie Harris, Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen

Carole Robertson Center for Learning  (cassette only) 01
 

A project to benefit the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, a westside Chicago family support center named in honor of the 4 children killed in Birmingham, AL, Sept. '63. Songs include: One Family, One Planet (Kim & Reggie), Healing Hands (Steve and Cindy), That Kind of Grace (Anne & David), Say a Prayer for a Stranger (Josh), I Am You (Anne), and Earth (David).

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October Child Cover
 
 
 

October Child (1993)
Anne Hills
Flying Fish 621
 

Produced by jazz drummer Peter Erskine (of Weather Report fame) and recorded at Groove Masters studio in Los Angeles,October Child features ten songs written by Michael Smith (including two songs which have never been released elsewhere). Featured musicians include Paul McCandless (reeds) along with James Taylor band regulars Bob Mann (guitar), Jimmy Johnson (bass), Jim Cox (piano) and Carlos Vega(drums).

Songs include: Three Monkeys; Starfisher; Sister Clarissa; Disappearing Heart (Smith/Hills); Paterson Summer; Woman in the Mirror; Rose of Sharon; Rondi's Birthday; Stranded in the Moonlight; and The Dutchman.

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Voices Cover
 
 
 

Voices (1990)
Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills & Cindy Mangsen
Flying Fish 546
 

After working with each other for years, Anne, Cindy and Priscilla decided to make their mutual admiration a formal, albeit part-time, collaboration. With Voices, the cream of contemporary folk's vocalists delivered 11 heartstoppingly beautiful selections that include: Wayfaring Stranger; Silken Dreams (Hills); Redwing Blackbird / Black Burning Air (Trad./Ketchum); Waiting for Isabella (Power); Squalor (Berryman/Berryman); Adios Ciudad (Smith/Hernandez); Katy Cruel; Requiem for the Giant Trees (McGann); Johnny Burke (Mercer); Orphans (Hills); and Stars (Harmon).

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Woman of a Calm Heart Cover
 
 
 

Woman of a Calm Heart (1987)
Anne Hills
Flying Fish 464
 

Produced by Artie Traum and Scott Petito, this recording features songs by Ilene Weiss, David Roth, Gregory Simon, Eliza Gilkyson, Jack Hardy, Kris Kristofferson and Anne Hills. Guest artist Livingston Taylor joins Anne in a duet for LJ Booth's beautiful Akasha Wind.

Songs include: Woman of a Calm Heart; Akasha Wind; No Baby; Politicos; Angel in Paradise; Tennessee Road; Porto Limon; The Child Within; Manuel Garcia; Here Comes That Rainbow Again; Light of Love.

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On This Day Earth Shall Ring Cover
 
 
 

On This Day The Earth Shall Ring (1985)
Various Artists
Flying Fish 605
 

Originally released on Hogeye Records, Flying Fish re-released this still-popular recording of Christmas and midwinter holiday songs. Featuring Anne Hills as well as Jan Burda, Shinobu Sato, and many others, the recording remains a perennial holiday favorite.

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Don't Panic Cover
 
 
 

Don't Panic (1982/1984)
Anne Hills / Anne Hills & Jan Burda
Flying Fish 608
 

Flying Fish created a double-legnth CD reissue of two earlier LPs: Anne's solo debut Don't Explain ©1984; and an earlier duo release The Panic Is On ©1982 by Anne with Jan Burda. Both recordings were originally released on the Hogeye Records label.

The Panic Is On featured Anne and Jan, with friends, Art Thieme, Fred Campeau, Paul Breidenbach and others, singing a largely traditional selection of material along with some early originals from Anne. Songs originally from The Panic Is On: Long Time Travelin'; The Water is Wide and Wild Geese (Tyson); Dear Companion; Mole in the Ground; Rambler Gambler; Don't Let Your Deal Go Down; While You Sleep (Hills); Over the Mountain; Hush Little Baby/Father's Lullaby (Hills); and The Panic is On.

Don't Explain provided a showcase both for Anne's expressive singing and her gift for finding the best of contemporary folk. Songs originally from Don't Explain: Two of a Kind (Ims); Rusty Old Red River (T Henderson); Hound Dog (J Smith & Lee); Donna From Mobile (M Smith); Rye, New Hampshire (A Calhoun); The Last Day of Pompeii (M Smith); Don't Explain (Holiday & Herzog Jr); John's Wife (A Calhoun); East Kentucky Mountains (T Henderson); Johnson (T Paxton); A Shadow Crossing the Land (Hills).

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