Road to Return
Featuring eight original vocal compositions, two instrumentals, but no acoustic guitar solos- a departure that shocked some acoustic purists- this collection is unique among Michael’s released recordings. These arrangements of Michael’s compositions include keyboards, harmonica, alto flute, drums, and several guitars.
Listen (not fully available)
Behind the Album
Hedges’ fifth studio album was inspired by a Becca Coté painting called “Road to Return.” The concept album that followed was composed of mostly vocal tunes.
The Road to Return was produced and engineered by Hedges and released in summer 1994 on Windham Hill subsidiary label High Street Records. While there was plenty of impressive guitar work on The Road to Return, the extensive instrumentation on it signaled a departure from previous Hedges albums.
The recording studio itself became Hedges’ primary instrument on this project; and he used his studio in the redwood forest of Northern California to maximum effect as he brought together drum machines, keyboards, bass guitars, flutes, harmonica, various guitars, hand-held percussion instruments, and vocals.
Hedges played all of the instruments on the album (except a saw on the song “Prelude”). His friend Pipa Piñon also contributed vocal chants on several tracks. Some of the album’s songs (“Prelude” and “Sister Soul”) were previously used by Hedges on a children’s movie soundtrack, and others date back as early as 1978 (“A Midwinter Night’s Dream,” previous called “City Scenes”). Still others were fan favorites that Hedges played on the road for years (“Follow Through” and “India”).
Photo credit: unknown
Liner Notes
Tracks
- Prelude
- Road to Return
- Communicate
- Sister Soul
- Guardian’s Trust (Hedges, Cate McNider)
- India
- A Midwinter Night’s Dream
- Follow Through
- You Can Have Anything You Want
- Road Music
Album Credits
Produced and engineered by Michael Hedges
Recorded at the Speech and Hearing Clinic, Mendocino, CA
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA
Graphic Design by Craig Hedges
Childhood Photos by Ruth Evelyn Carroll
“A musical and spiritual homecoming for virtuoso acoustic guitarist Michael Hedges.”
– review by Jason Anderson, AllMusic.com
Album Stories
Michael Hedges & the Harp Guitar
In 1984, Michael Hedges walked into a San Francisco guitar shop and discovered his next musical pursuit: an acoustic relic from the 1920s called a harp guitar.
...
Titles/Tunings Database by Stropes Editions Ltd.
A new tuning database for several artists, including Michael Hedges. Search by title, album or tuning, and use tones to tune up your guitar, right on the page!
...
Transcriptions by Stropes Editions ltd.
Browse transcriptions of Michael’s music by John Stropes. “Because It’s There” “Hot Type” “Ragamuffin” “Ready or Not” “The Happy Couple” and “Two Days Old”
...
Interview with Michael Hedges for “Guitar Works” – 10/29/94
During the fall ’94 Road to Return tour, Brian Jarbo interviewed Michael for his radio program Guitar Works. The program can be heard in the Baltimore-DC area on 89.7 FM WTMD, Sundays 9-10PM. Thanks to Brian for the interview!
...
Michael’s notes on “Road to Return”
Michael’s notes on The Road to Return, from the original nomadland.com website
...Have Your Own Story to Share?
This website is a collaboration between Michael’s family, friends, collaborators and fans. We’d love to hear your story about seeing him live, meeting him, or anything else you’d like to share!
Well-written stories with 1-5 high quality images (minimum 800×600 pixels) and 3-5 paragraphs of text will be published on the blog if they meet our standards for quality and respectful communication on this website.
Please write your story and upload your images using this form. We’ll be in touch when your story is published on the blog so you can share it far and wide!
Michael Hedges & the Harp Guitar
In 1984, Michael Hedges walked into a San Francisco guitar shop and discovered his next musical pursuit: an acoustic relic from the 1920s called a harp guitar.
Michael Hedges & the Harp Guitar
In 1984, Michael Hedges walked into a San Francisco guitar shop and discovered his next musical pursuit: an acoustic relic from the 1920s called a harp guitar.
