Jim Lauderdale

The Grammy-winning songwriter teamed up with one of his long-time idols and rock and roll heroes — lyricist Robert Hunter, best known for his work with the Grateful Dead. With Hunter providing the lyrics and Lauderdale providing the licks, Headed for the Hills is a masterful collection of acoustically arranged country classics. With this disc, Lauderdale fulfilled some other dreams by inviting guest singers that includes some of the sweetest voices working in Nashville today. Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and Allison Moorer all loan their signature sounds and varied harmony to Headed for the Hills. Harris harmonises with her angelic pipes throughout the opener "High Timberline,” a poetic love ballad. Welch is joined by partner David Rawlings and his accomplished acoustic picking to help Lauderdale on the title track. For her part, Moorer lends her distinctive, deep voice to three of the disc’s best ballads: "Tales from the Sad Hotel,” "Leaving Mobile” and "Head for the Sun.” Lauderdale, a North Carolina native, is one of Nashville’s most respected songwriters having penned songs for the likes of George Strait and the Dixie Chicks, and Headed for the Hills demonstrates why he is so revered in the industry.