Various Artists
Album: Hidden Treasures: Singer Songwriters From Home
Label: Hemifran
Tracks: 18
Website: http://www.hemifran.com

A collection of American songwriters who have gained critical and respect respect, but limited commercial success, this brings together 18 songs by Bob Cheevers, Barry Ollman, Keith Miles and, arguably the best known of the four (his debut was produced by Jackson Browne), Greg Copeland. All new recordings, from what I can tell there's a mix of new and old material, the artists interleaved throughout rather than blocks. Copeland kicks things off with 'Wait For Me', a weary of the road song featuring Patrick Shy on uillean pipes and his wife Cathy on violin that sets the overall mood of quiet, reflective intimacy. Copeland gets five cuts, 'Roughouse Boys' featuring Greg Leisz on guitar with David Lindley contributing oud, bouzouki and slide to 'Are You Here', while long time friend and patron Browne joins him for the album's last track, a live recording of 1985's 'Pretty Girl Rules The World'.

The smoky-voiced Miles is the second to make an appearance with the nostalgia-infused 'Playing Your Guitar', his other contributions, which also have more of a band format and feature pedal steel, including 'Homeland', a track formerly covered by Kenny Rogers, the lively swing-infused 'Ask Me Tomorrow' and, written specifically for the project, the rolling 60s open road nostalgia of 'Kerouac Days'.

Cheevers, who has a slightly higher profile and who sounds not unlike Willie Nelson, takes third entry with 'These Are My Words', his other three tracks including the driving blues of 'Test Of Fire' featuring Spooner Oldham on keys and Charlie White on electric guitars, and the bluesy, acoustic picked 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'. Larry Knetchel and Michael Botts of Bread fame also both appear on 'Progress'.

Ollman is the final name to appear from behind the curtain, introducing himself with the flute-stained 'Longtime Friend', a song written after a cardiac arrest close call and featuring David Crosby's son, James Raymond on piano. He too contributes four tracks, among which the ornothologically-inspired 'Murmuration' features Tim O'Brien on mandolin and Garry Tallent on bass, the latter joining John Fulbright on piano for the waltzing 'The World Is Your Apple', inspired by a letter written by Johnny Cash to Bob Dylan.

As well as a useful addition to the fans of any or all of the artists featured, it's also a useful showcase to illuminate the, as the title says, hidden treasures who, were it not for the breaks, could easily share the same spotlights as their better known contemporaries.

Mike Davies