GREATEST HITS - Blackhawk

Blackhawk includes: Van Stephenson (acoustic guitar); Henry Paul (mandolin); Dave Robbins (piano, keyboards).
Additional personnel includes: Carl Marsh (conductor); Dale Oliver (acoustic & electric guitars); Biff Watson, Larry Beard (acoustic guitar); Dann Huff, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Mary Ann Kennedy (mandolin); Randy Howard, Joe Spivey, Aubrey Haynie (fiddle); Nashville String Machine (strings); Terry McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Mike Chapman, Glenn Worf, Randy Threet (bass); Wayne Killius (drums, percussion); Kip Raines, Lonnie Wilson (drums); Kenny Malone (percussion).
Producers: Mark Bright, Tim DuBois, Bobby Huff, Dave Robbins, Henry Paul.
Engineers: Michael D. Clute, Marty Williams.
Personnel: Dale Oliver (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Van Stephenson (vocals, acoustic guitar); Henry Paul (vocals, mandolin); David Robbins (vocals, piano, keyboards); David Paich, Ronnie Beard, Rachel Goldstein, Kelly King, Henry Gross, Lori D. Hall, Rachael Halfhill, Jayne Farrell, Mark Bright, Bob Farrell (vocals); Greg Jennings, John Willis (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Eric Silver (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle); Dan Dugmore, B. James Lowry, Biff Watson, Larry Beard (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar, strings, accordion); Dann Huff, Kerry Marx, Danny Parks (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, violin); Mary Ann Kennedy (mandolin); Kristin Wilkinson (violin); Randy Howard , Aubrey Haynie, Joe Spivey (fiddle); David Davidson (viola); Tim Akers (strings, accordion); Terry McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Bobby Huff (recorder, keyboards, drums, percussion, programming, background vocals); Csaba Petocz, David Hall , Herb Tassin, Marty Williams , Brian David Willis (recorder); Dennis Belfield, Glenn Worf, Mike Chapman (bass guitar); Wayne Killius (drums, percussion); Kip Raines, Lonnie Wilson (drums); Mike Clute, Kenny Malone (percussion); Carl Marsh (keyboard programming).
Audio Mixers: John Guess; Brian Tankersley.
Recording information: Emerald Studios, Nashville, TN; Groove Room; Life In November; MidTown Tone & Volume; Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN; Ocean Way, Nashville, TN; Room & Board, Mashville, TN; Sound Emporium, Nashville, TN; The Boardroom; The Groove Room, Nashville, TN; The Love Shack; The Love Shack, Life In November, Emerald Studios, Nash.
Illustrator: Howard Finster.
Photographers: David Johnson ; Mark Tucker ; David Johnson .
This is the sort of country music that could only be made by musicians who grew up listening to the Eagles instead of Hank Williams. Which is to say slick, tuneful, and gorgeously sung. These guys aren't, like some contemporary Nashville acts, afraid of mandolins and steel guitars.
This album collects most of their best known efforts, including the classic breakup song "I Can Sure Smell the Rain." Three new songs recorded specifically for the album are featured, in particular "Ships of Heaven," a big inspirational finale complete with gospel backup vocals that was inspired by composer/band member Van Stephenson's recent bout with melanoma.

• Released: 5/16/2000
• Genre: Country
• Released: 05/16/2000
• Genre: Country
• Format: CD
• Released: 5/16/2000
• Format: CD