Singing Bones is the sixth studio album released by alternative country

Alternative country

Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...

 band The Handsome Family

The Handsome Family

The Handsome Family is an alternative country band, formed in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The band was formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife duo Brett Sparks and Rennie Sparks and drummer Mike Werner, although the band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes...

. It was released 2003 by Carrot Top Records

Carrot Top Records

Carrot Top Records is a Chicago-based independent record label owned and operated by Patrick Monaghan.-Artist roster:* Antietam* The Bitter Tears* The Coctails* Darling Downs* Disco Inferno* Duplex Planet Radio Hour* The Handsome Family* KatJonBand...

.

Track listing

1. "The Forgotten Lake" – 3:46
2. "Gail With The Golden Hair" – 3:16
3. "24-Hour Store" – 4:52
4. "The Bottomless Hole" – 3:16
5. "Far From Any Road" – 2:48
6. "If The World Should End In Fire" – 1:09
7. "A Shadow Underneath" – 3:44
8. "Dry Bones" – 3:16
9. "Fallen Peaches" – 2:59
10. "Whitehaven" - 2:46
11. "Sleepy" - 3:08
12. "The Song Of A Hundred Toads" - 2:28
13. "If The World Should End In Ice" - 1:08

Liner Notes

Credits:

All lyrics by Rennie Sparks.

All music by Brett Sparks, except

"Dry Bones" (trad.) inspired by Bascom Lamar Lunsford's

Bascom Lamar Lunsford

Bascom Lamar Lunsford was a lawyer, folklorist, and performer of traditional music from western North Carolina. He was often known by the nickname "Minstrel of the Appalachians."- Early life :...

1928 recording.


Musicians:

Brett Sparks sings on all songs.

He also plays all guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums except where noted below.

He plays the musical saw on "24-Hour Store" and pedal steel on "The Forgotten Lake".


Rennie Sparks sings on "The Forgotten Lake", "A Shadow Underneath", "Sleepy", "Whitehaven", "Gail..." and "Far From Any Road".

She plays bass on "The Forgotten Lake", banjo on "Fallen Peaches", as well as Autoharp on "Whitehaven" and "The Song Of A Hundred Toads".


Darrel Sparks plays drums on "The Forgotten Lake" and "Far From Any Road".

He also plays banjo on "Dry Bones" and violin on "Whitehaven".


Dave Gutierrez plays mandolin on "Far From Any Road" and pedal steel on "Sleepy".


Greg Hansen plays dobro on "Dry Bones".


David McChensey plays trumpet on "Far From Any Road".


Jimmy Pontzer play drums on "Gail With The Golden Hair" and "Dry Bones".


Tony Watkins plays bowed bass on "Whitehaven".


Recording:

This CD was recorded by Brett in our den.

Mastered by Roger Seibel at SAE Mastering.


Band photo by Ted Jurney.

Back cover photo taken by Brett when we went walking at the edge of town.

All other art was stolen and compiled by Rennie.

Design assistance by Sheila Sachs.


Thanks:

To all our good friends in New Mexico who played on this record and to all people around the world who made it possible for us to devote our lives to writing songs.