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Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz:

Katie Dear, Those Brown Eyes, Soldier’s Farewell, Poor Drunkard’s Dream, Little Willie, My Closest Neighbor, Climbing Up The Golden Stairs, The Dying Ranger, Love Will Roll The Clouds Away, Salem’s Bright King, Poor Orphan Child, Lonesome For You, Darling, Please Baby.

Rounder Records

One Camp Street

Cambridge, MA 02140

©2004

www.rounder.com

Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz have deep roots in the old-time country tradition and this album is full of authentic sounds and soul from the heart of the mountains. The recording was done in an old cabin with hand sawn logs with the pure sound of voices and mandolin and guitar. The songs are full of the sorrow of love with the traditional “Katie Dear” and “Poor Willie” in the old modal mood. There’s death of a soldier in the battlefield and the mournful drunkard on the street. Tracy’s guitar provides a spare rhythm track that brings more focus to the emotion of the words. Ron Stewart adds an expressive fiddle and magical mandolin to the songs and Tracy’s son Peter anchors the rhythm on bass. “Climbing Up The Golden Stairs” and “Love Will Roll The Clouds Away” have the jubilant gospel sound while “Lonesome” has a tone that defines the word perfectly. Ginny and Tracy invite the listener into a world of the past filled with a reality that is seldom seen in the modern world. Join them on their journey.

Additions or comments: fiddler@best.com