Spirit Trail

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Spirit Trail is the sixth album by American pianist and singer Bruce Hornsby, released as a double CD in 1998. The cover artwork depicts Hornsby's uncle, Charles Hornsby.

The album blended instrumental tracks with the story-telling, rock, jazz, and other musical forms Hornsby had delved into over his career. Over the two discs, Hornsby wove a tapestry of varied textures, from the fervent spirituality and almost gospel dirge of "Preacher in the Ring, parts I & II," to the catchy chord progressions of "Sad Moon."

Spirit Trail has been often mentioned to be one of Bruce Hornsby's best albums. Several tracks, notably "Fortunate Son", have since become fan favorites and staples at Hornsby's concerts.

Among other homages, the song "Sunflower Cat (Some Dour Cat) (Down With That)" sampled and looped the main lick from the Grateful Dead song "China Cat Sunflower." Spirit Trail considered "very Southern" themes with "songs about race, religion, judgment and tolerance" and "struggles with these issues"—notably on "Sneaking Up on Boo Radley," which references the character from Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

Track listing

All songs by Bruce Hornsby, except where noted.

Disc 1

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"King of the Hill"		6:17
2.	"Resting Place"		4:44
3.	"Preacher in the Ring, Part I"		5:02
4.	"Preacher in the Ring, Part II"		4:46
5.	"Song C"		2:46
6.	"Sad Moon"		6:33
7.	"Pete and Manny"	Hornsby, John Hornsby	3:14
8.	"Fortunate Son"		4:14
9.	"Sneaking up on Boo Radley"		5:15
10.	"Great Divide"		5:01

Disc 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Line in the Dust"		4:42
2.	"See the Same Way"		5:36
3.	"Shadow Hand"		4:16
4.	"Sunlight Moon"	Hornsby, Keith Hornsby, Michael Mangini, Russell Hornsby	4:20
5.	"Listen to the Silence"		4:34
6.	"Funhouse"		4:22
7.	"Sunflower Cat (Some Dour Cat) (Down With That)"	Hornsby, Jerry Garcia, Michael Mangini, Robert Hunter	3:55
8.	"Song D"		2:03
9.	"Swan Song"		4:56
10.	"Variations on Swan Song and Song D"		3:53

Single disc version

In some territories, including the UK, this album was released as a single disc, omitting the tracks "Sunlight Moon", "Listen To The Silence" and "Funhouse". The track order was also changed, with the first three tracks of the second disc ("Line In The Dust" through "Shadow Hand") opening the album, the entirety of the first disc following, and the final four tracks of the second disc ("Sunflower Cat" through "Variations...") at the end.

Musicians

• Bruce Hornsby – organ, dulcimer, piano, Wurlitzer, Korg Wavestation, Minimoog, vocals
• J. V. Collier – bass
• Bobby Read – clarinet, flute, saxophone
• J. T. Thomas – organ
• John D'earth – trumpet
• Matt Chamberlain – drums, percussion
• John Molo – drums, percussion
• Shawn Pelton – drums, percussion
• David Bendeth – guitar
• Colette Coward – background vocals
• Kyle Davis – background vocals
• Skoti Alain Elliott – bass
• Debbie Henry – background vocals
• Bobby Hornsby – shaker
• Ernesto Laboy – congas
• Adam Larrabee – guitar
• Joe Lee – background vocals
• John Leventhal – guitar, bouzouki
• Ashley MacIsaac – violin
• Michael Mangini – guitar
• David Mansfield – violin
• John Pierce – bass
• Wayne Pooley – guitar
• Matt Scannell – guitar, mandolin
• Tim Streagle – trombone
• Jerry Garcia, on guitar, is sampled, posthumously, on Disc 2, track 7.

Production

• Produced by Bruce Hornsby (Tracks #1, 2, 4-13, 15-17); Bruce Hornsby & Michael Mangini (Tracks #3 & 14).
• Production Assistance – Melissa Reagan
• Production Coordination – Sue Tropio
• Engineers – Wayne Pooley (Tracks #1, 2, 4-13, 15-17), Skoti Alain Elliot (Tracks #3 & 14) & Mark Needham (Tracks #4-7, 11 & 12).
• Second Engineer (Tracks #3 & 14) – Sharon Kearney
• Mixed by Wayne Pooley (Tracks #1-13, 15-17) & Skoti Alain Elliot (Track #14).
• Mastered by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
• Art Direction & Design – Bruce Hornsby & Kim Biggs
• Photography – Danny Clinch
• Liner Notes – Chip DeMatteo