Oregon Mountains is Woody's first album released in 1977 to rave reviews. (see above) Primarily of bluegrass influence, the album also contains some of Simmons' jazz and pop influenced music as well as two banjo instrumentals. The album's title song 'Oregon Mountains' became a favorite among Simmons fans well before the album was recorded, prompting Simmons to invite a large contingent of women to sing on the album's title song. Featured in this group are Rhiannon (Alive!, Voicestra) other members of Alive!, Nancy Vogl, who also toured with Woody in 1978, and members of the Berkeley Women's Music Collective. Oregon Mountains has been re-mastered and released as a 30th Anniversary Special Edition. Now Available at Amazon.
Latest Releases from Deep River Records
mile by mile is Simmons' newest album release, all new songs with the flavor of ‘Oregon Mountains’. A combination of folk, soft rock and a little bit of country, Mile By Mile weaves a story of love, loss, gratitude and humor all the while utilizing the banjo in unique ways throughout. Available online at Amazon.com
This long awaited album is a collection of Woody's banjo instrumentals recorded over a 24 year span and includes favorites from her first two albums as well as previously unreleased compositions. Simmons' style, called 'easy listening banjo' music, was hailed in Frets magazine in 1988 (July issue). Her album Oregon Mountains (1977) was singled out by Frets as "one of 12 landmark banjo albums of the century".
BanjoRAMA ranges from an east Indian influence to a fully orchestrated and introspective feel, to a light bluegrass touch. It truly is an eclectic collection and deserves an uninterrupted listening experience to get the full impact and depth of the music.
Dirty Linen (Jan. 2002) writes: Even in a world of oddballs, Simmons is odder still as she plays a much quirkier brand of banjo than I've heard before. You can hear the same stuff you hear in a lot of banjo music - bluegrass, the mountains - but there's also as much Ravi Shankar, symphony orchestra, and Ornette Coleman. Her songs are adventurous, meditative, and best of all, original.
Read the reviews on Amazon.com!
This self-titled album first released in 1980 contains Simmons' most pop-influenced work, as well as a taste of her guitar and banjo style on the last track. From the opening song titled 'Too Good to Be' to the heart-felt 'Who'll Save the Animals' Simmons takes us through a journey of love and compassion, with an emphasis on fun.
Record and CD credits:
Cris Williamson - Changer and the Changed - banjo
Roy Loney and the Phantom Movers 1979 - engineer
Ancient Future - Visions of a Peaceful Planet - engineer
Diane Lindsay - Open Up - engineer
Alix Dobkin - Never Been Better - engineer
Robin Flower - More Than Friends - engineer
Kitty Rose - Greatest Hits - engineer
Kitty Rose - Live at the Ryman - engineer, banjo
Marca Cassity - Deeper - engineer, synth, piano
Cris Williamson - Fringe - banjo
Emily Kurn - I’m Just Like You - engineer, banjo
Film credits:
Anna, Emma and the Condors - A documentary by Katya Torneman
Chasing The Light - A documentary by Ed George
Trout Grass - A documentary by David James Duncan
Television credits:
Suze Orman - 9 Steps to Financial Freedon theme - QVC
Suze Orman - Courage to be Rich theme - QVC
Suze Orman - We’re Talkin’ Money Money - QVC
Suze Orman - Power of Money - Video
Take Me Back To Hanalei is a wonderful, sweet song to sit back, listen to, and dream of being in the islands. Everyone who has ever visited the islands will understand and those who haven’t will want to.
Watch the VIDEO and download the song to listen to anytime, anywhere.
Give your troubles a break.
