“There’s a whole lot of singing/That’s never gonna be heard/Disappearing every day/Without so much as a word,” sings Patty Griffin in “Top Of The World,” a song from her unreleased album, Silver Bell, recorded in 2000 and intended to be the follow-up to her hard-rocking 1998 sophomore release, Flaming Red. The album was not released by A&M Records, a victim of the label’s turn-of-the-century ownership change, and until now, it has remained a missing piece from Griffin’s acclaimed catalog. Newly mixed by legendary producer Glyn Johns, Silver Bell will be released for the first time on October 8 by Universal Music Enterprises across all major digital and physical music retailers.
Silver Bell features 14 original songs recorded at Daniel Lanois’ Kingsway Studio in New Orleans by Griffin on vocals, guitar and piano with guitarist Doug Lancio, keyboardist John Deaderick, bassist Frank Swart, and percussionist Billy Beard. Emmylou Harris also joined Griffin in the studio to sing harmony on “Truth #2.”
Despite its 13 years of limbo, the sought-after album spawned two huge hits for the Dixie Chicks, who covered both “Top Of The World” and “Truth #2” for their six-million-selling 2002 Home album. In addition, the band’s Natalie Maines recorded Silver Bell‘s title track for her recent solo debut, Mother. Through the years, Griffin’s original songs have also been covered by many other notable artists, including Solomon Burke, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Kelly Clarkson, Martina McBride, Bette Midler, Ben Harper, Bon Iver, Linda Ronstadt, Ellie Goulding & Lissie, Melissa Etheridge, Jessica Simpson, Miranda Lambert, Shooter Jennings and Joan Osborne.
Since parting with A&M, Griffin has continued her successful, critically-acclaimed career, releasing 1000 Kisses (2002, ATO Records), Impossible Dream (2004, ATO Records),Children Running Through (2007, ATO Records), the GRAMMY® Award winning Downtown Church (2010, Credential Recordings), and her latest album, American Kid, released in May (New West Records).
Patty Griffin: Silver Bell [CD, digital]
1. Little God
2. Truth#2
3. Boston
4. Perfect White Girls
5. Sooner or Later
6. What you Are
7. Silver Bell
8. Fragile
9. Mother of God
10. One More Girl
11. Sorry and Sad
12. Driving
13. Top of the World
14. So Long
