crossing muddy waters

2000, september 26, vanguard

2000, october 2, sanctuary (europe)

Total running time:

Musicians

Acoustic 6 string Guitar

Vocals

Mandolin

Harmony Vocals

Bass

Harmony Vocals

Credits

management:

vector management

Note

• All songs written by John Hiatt

• Recorded Apr 23, 2000 - Apr 26, 2000

press photo

e-music newsletter

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 20

EMusic.com Inc, the Internet's leading seller of downloadable music, today announced an exclusive music distribution agreement with contemporary rock icon, John Hiatt. This autumn, EMusic will sell Hiatt's new album digitally in MP3 -- as well as partner with independent music label Vanguard Records to simultaneously offer the album through traditional retail outlets on compact disc. Financial terms of these agreements were not disclosed.

For fans of John Hiatt, an MP3 track from the upcoming acoustic album, "Crossing Muddy Waters," is now available for purchase and download from http://www.emusic.com/features/redroom/

"John Hiatt's legendary work has profoundly influenced successive generations of musicians spanning many different genres -- including rock, country, folk and blues," said Brian Brinkerhoff, EMusic's vice president of content acquisition. "We are proud to team with Vanguard to promote and deliver his new album to music fans on the Internet and through traditional channels."

"Crossing Muddy Waters captures John in his element and reinforces his reputation as a prolific songwriter," said Kevin Welk, General Manager/President, Vanguard Records. "His intensely visual songwriting and soulful vocals fit perfectly with Vanguard's artist roster and
musical vision. We are honored to be involved with this project."
 

about john hiatt
In a prolific 25-year career, singer/songwriter John Hiatt has recorded for Epic, A&M, Geffen, MCA and Capitol Records -- and had his songs covered by Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Jewel, Willie Nelson, Dave Edmunds, Emmylou Harris, Roseanne Cash, Iggy Pop, John Doe, Mitch Ryder and Linda Ronstadt.

His creative songwriting talents have been recognized with Grammy nominations and the Nashville Music Awards' Artist Songwriter of the Year citation. Currently, B.B. King & Eric Clapton have a Billboard hit with Hiatt's song "Ridin' with the King." Hiatt is also the current host of the PBS music series "Sessions at West 54th" and is about to tape an "Austin City Limits" session for a September broadcast. His song "Let's Slip Away" is featured on the film soundtrack of "From Where The Heart Is."

About Vanguard Records

Founded in 1950 by Maynard and Seymour Solomon, Vanguard became one of the all-time premier folk and blues labels of the '60s with such artists as Doc Watson, Joan Baez, The Weavers, Buddy Guy and Mississippi John Hurt. Purchased by Welk Music Group in 1986, Vanguard continues to pursue its successful vision by signing an eclectic array of distinctive artists. Its active roster includes Peter Case, Venice, David Wilcox, Tab Benoit, Ian Tyson, Terry Radigan, Patty Larkin, Bill Miller and, most recently added, Mark Selby. As a means to preserve its historical catalog, the label recently launched the Vanguard Sessions Series which includes 20-bit remastering, extensive liner notes and thorough recording information of notable catalog releases. In addition, Vanguard relaunched the Vanguard Jazz Showcase, which includes jazz albums produced by producer and talent scout John Hammond during his tenure with the label in the '50s.

About EMusic.com
http://www.emusic.com/ is a Web site for sampling and purchasing music in the MP3 format, which has become the standard in the digital distribution of music. Through direct relationships with leading artists and exclusive licensing agreements with over 600 independent record labels, EMusic.com offers an expanding collection of over 100,000 tracks for purchase -- individual tracks for 99 cents each or entire downloadable albums for $8.99.
EMusic.com features top artists in all musical genres, such as Alternative (They Might Be Giants, Bush, Violent Femmes, Tom Waits), Punk (Green Day, Pennywise, Rancid, NOFX), Jazz (Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Concord Records), Blues (John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Buddy Guy), Electronic (DJ Spooky, Coldcut), Hip Hop (Kool Keith, Blackalicious, The Coup), Country (Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline), Rock (Phish, Elvis Costello, Goo Goo Dolls, The Kinks), World (Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, Lee 'Scratch' Perry) and Popular Vocalists (Liza Minnelli, Eartha Kitt, Judy Garland).
Since it was founded in January 1998, EMusic has established itself at the forefront of how music will be discovered, delivered and enjoyed in the next decade. In addition to having the Internet's largest catalog of downloadable MP3 music available for purchase, EMusic operates one of the most popular families of music-oriented Web sites -- including RollingStone.com, EMusic.com, DownBeat.com and IUMA. The company is based in Redwood City, California, with regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.

allmusic.com

John Hiatt's 16th effort is a marked departure from his work of the previous 25 years, and a vast improvement over 1997's disappointing Little Head. Hiatt retrenched and recorded his first drummer-less, predominantly acoustic record for Vanguard. It's a sympathetic match and a smart move, since the company has a long, rich history working in the unplugged medium before it became trendy. The result is the most natural and relaxed John Hiatt album in years, and a welcome addition to his extensive catalog. With just a duo of acoustic multi-instrumentalists, Davey Faragher and David Immergluck (both longtime associates), Hiatt pulls out some of the most earnest, down-to-earth songs of his career. He sings like a man rejuvenated, totally at ease with his surroundings, and plays with the laid-back, homespun honesty that has infused his best work. Although some comical lyrical touches remain, the majority of the album is a sober reflection on lost love ("What Do We Do Now," the title track) and the resulting psychological scars. Hiatt's voice has never sounded better; its coarse edges sometimes straining for high notes works perfectly with this craggy, unpolished music. The mandolin is the most distinctive instrument here, and its brittle, trebly, crisp tone gives the disc an underlying tension, especially on the ballads that comprise the majority of the album. Heart-rending, sincere, stripped down yet multi-faceted, John Hiatt has taken a step forward by taking a small step back. Although not quite in a class with career highlights like Bring the Family or Slow Turning, Crossing Muddy Waters is a subtle treat and an album whose watercolor brush strokes paint a vibrant picture of stirring delicacy.