Name: Pilgrims on the Heart Road
Brand: Red House
SKU: 180470
Price: 20.45 USD
Availability: InStock

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Peter Ostroushko (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Bobby McFerrin (vocals); Dean McGraw (acoustic, electric & slide guitars); Bruce Kurnow (harmonica); Ed Volker (piano); Gordy Knudtson (drums).
Recorded at Studio M, St. Paul, Minnesota. Includes lier notes by Peter Ostroushko.
Personnel: Peter Ostroushko (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Robert Robinson, Kathleen Bradford, Leslie Ball, Karen Paurus, Marge Ostroushko, Jearlyn Steele Battle, Prudence Johnson, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Frederick (vocals); Dean Magraw (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); Diane Tremaine (cello); Bruce Kurnow (harmonica); Butch Thompson (clarinet); Bruce Allard (trumpet); Ed Volker, Richard Dworsky (piano); Jim Anton, Gordon Johnson (electric bass); Gordon Knudtson (drums); Marc Anderson (percussion).
Audio Mixers: Peter Ostroushko; Tom Mudge.
Recording information: Studio M, St. Paul, MN.
Photographers: Dan Corrigan; Gus Gustafson.
Something of a surprise to those who know him from his previous instrumental album, 1995's Heart of the Heartland, Peter Ostroushko's Pilgrims of the Heart Road, which he describes as a companion piece to its predecessor, is actually a collection of songs with vocals, songs that treat a number of personal and political issues of obvious importance to the musician and which he treats at length. Containing only ten tracks, the album manages to stretch out to a CD-filling 72-plus minutes; no song is shorter than six minutes. In part, this is because Ostroushko is as determined to display his instrumental dexterity on guitar and mandolin as he is to explore the lyrical subject matter. Not pulling his punches, he begins the disc with "Miracle," a song celebrating unexpected good political events around the world and calling for more. Singing over a guitar riff borrowed from Cream's "Badge," he declares, "Look to the West, look to the East/Look into the heart of the fascist beast/Pray that their senseless wars will cease/So people again might live in peace." This is followed by "Mandela," a tribute to the South African leader in the form of an examination of his typical day in prison, beginning and ending with servings of gruel. Ostroushko largely turns away from world politics after these songs, although he manages to chide "My People" for their affection for Republican presidents in an otherwise amusing paean to his potato-picking Ukrainian relatives set to a Dixieland arrangement. He devotes love songs to his wife and adopted child, and reflects on childhood sexual abuse in "You Don't Know What Lonely Is," commenting in the liner notes that he has "empirical knowledge" of the subject. All of this makes for an ambitious, seriously intended album that sometimes comes off as preachy and self-important, sincere as it may be. ~ William Ruhlmann

Album: Pilgrims on the Heart Road
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Miracle	More Info...	0:07
2)	Mandela	More Info...	0:08
3)	Twilight Of Our Years	More Info...	0:06
4)	My People	More Info...	0:06
5)	Down On The Plain Of Reeds	More Info...	0:09
6)	Once Again	More Info...	0:06
7)	I'm So Glad You Came Into My Life	More Info...	0:07
8)	You Don't Know What Lonely Is	More Info...	0:07
9)	Baby, Bring Your Sweet Lovin' To Me	More Info...	0:06
10)	Like Memories Often Do	More Info...	0:07

Album: Pilgrims on the Heart Road
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Miracle	More Info...	0:07
2)	Mandela	More Info...	0:08
3)	Twilight Of Our Years	More Info...	0:06
4)	My People	More Info...	0:06
5)	Down On The Plain Of Reeds	More Info...	0:09
6)	Once Again	More Info...	0:06
7)	I'm So Glad You Came Into My Life	More Info...	0:07
8)	You Don't Know What Lonely Is	More Info...	0:07
9)	Baby, Bring Your Sweet Lovin' To Me	More Info...	0:06
10)	Like Memories Often Do	More Info...	0:07