Heartstrings was the seventh and final solo album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was released on CD by Bennett's own Bnatural Records in 1998 (Bnatural 0998).
The album was something of a departure for Bennett from his earlier solo work. Reflecting his many years spent playing mandolin in Fred Eaglesmith's band, the songs were mostly written and performed by Bennett on mandolin and harmonica, instead of guitar. The musical territory covered on this album is broader than earlier works. In addition to folk, country, bluegrass and blues, Bennett also incorporates elements of klezmer, gospel and classical.
Willie's first ever music video was filmed for the song "Blue Valentine" featuring Keith Glass and Russell deCarle (of Prairie Oyster). The video was produced by Sean Danby and shot in Golden, British Columbia.
The album won a 1999 Juno Award for "best solo roots and traditional album".*Entry from the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
Track listing 1. Sunset Pendulum (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - mandolin & vocals Tony Trischka - banjo Tony Quarrington - guitar
2. High Park Feeders (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - mandolin, harmonica & vocal David Wilcox - acoustic guitar Jeff Bird - double bass
3. One Vessel (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - guitar, harmonica & vocal Daisy DeBolt - harmony vocal Ken Whitely - mandolin Jeff Bird - jaw harp Ed Hutchison - udu
4. Waltz Time Medley: Will cheats 'em (WPB); Waltz Time (WPB); Devil's Dream 3/4 (Trad. arr. WPB); Devil's Dream 4/4 (Trad. arr. WPB); Big John McNeil (Trad. arr. WPB) WPB - mandolin, harmonica & vocal Amos Garrett - acoustic archtop guitar
5. (Who's Gonna Get The) Last Word (In) (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - mandolin & vocal Bruce Cockburn - acoustic guitar & harmony vocals Paul Bailie - percussion
6. Happy On The Moon (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - guitar, harmonica & vocal Amos Garrett - acoustic archtop guitar
7. Restless Wind (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - mandolin & vocal Vladimir Gorodkine - cymbalon Tony Quarington - guitar & mandolin Michelle Josef - percussion Tannis Slimmon - harmony Vocal Jeff Bird - sleigh bells
8. Blue Valentine (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - guitar, harmonica & Vocal Prairie Oyster, aka: Russell DeCarle - bass & harmony vocals Keith Glass - lead acoustic guitar & harmony vocal Joan Bessen - wurlitzer piano & harmony vocal John P. Allen - fiddle Michelle Josef - tambourine
9. Azure (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - mandolin Rodeo String Quartet, aka: Sandy Baron - first violin Liz Johnston - second violin Nancy Kersaw - viola Zoltan Rozsnyai - cello Paul Bailie - percussion
10. Billy And Jenny (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - guitar & vocals Melanie Doane - fiddle & harmony vocal
11. Brave Wings (Music & lyrics by WPB & Stephen Fearing) WPB - harmonica & vocal Stephen Fearing - guitar & harmony vocal
12. Caney Fork River (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - guitar & vocal Ken Whiteley - mandolin & 12 string slide guitar Jeff Bird - jaw harp
13. Dismantled Angel (Music & lyrics by WPB) WPB - guitar & vocal Scott Merritt - acoustic organ, tambourine & untuned autoharp Tannis Slimmon - harmony Vocal
14. Heartstrings (Music & lyrics by Tony Quarrington) WPB - vocal 206 Strings, aka: Tony Quarrington - guitar, tenor banjo & 2nd dobro Graham Townsend - fiddle Ken Whiteley - mandolin & mandocello Paul Bailie - percussion Vladimir Gorodkine - cymbalon Michelle Joseph - tambourine Bruce Cockburn - guitar Rodeo String Quartet, aka Sandy Baron - first violin Liz Johnston - second violin Nancy Kersaw - viola Zoltan Rozsnyai - cello Rick Fielding - autoharp Ed Hutchison - first dobro Daisy Debolt - harmony vocals Tannis Slimmon - harmony vocal Jeff Bird - bowed psaltery Produced by Tony Quarrington Mainly recorded & entirely mixed by Ed Hutchison at The Recording Service, Toronto, Ontario Additional recording by: (11,13) Scott Merritt at The Cottage, Guelph, Ontario (15) Tanis Slimmon at The Emporium, Guelph, Ontario (6) Dwain Sands at The Loft, Black Diamond, Alberta (1) The folks at Current Sounds, New York City, New York (8) Joan Bessen & Mike Poole at Kleenex Box Head Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
References