Wishing Chair: Undisputed Country, Terrakin Records 1998 [Cover: yours truly, Badlands National Park, South Dakota: Inside art: Dana Tiger]

Undisputed Country track list:

1. Undisputed Country - Davidson/Heartwood
2. If Wishes Were Horses - Heartwood
3. Better - Heartwood
4. Heartland - Davidson
5. Soldier's Reel - Heartwood
6. Whitman - Heartwood
7. You're The One - Heartwood
8. Precious Ruby Reds - Davidson
9. Solitary Way - Heartwood
10. Thief of Hearts - Heartwood
11. Mediation 23 - Heartwood

Wishing Chair is Kiya Heartwood and Miriam Davidson. They formed in 1995 and their first CD Singing With The Red Wolves was released the following year. It was just after this release that Kiya and I reunited, as it were. I was playing with U.S. 27 and, as it happened, after we disbanded WC was conveniently ready to make their second CD Undisputed Country. Me and the boys from U.S. 27, Pete Poggione and Sean Tarter, lent a hand as did Karen Jones of Reel World String Band and Ben Lacy. It was recorded by Les Campbell who had engineered Stealin Horses' Mesas and Mandolins years earlier.

Wishing Chair: The Ghost of Will Harbut, Terrakin Records 2000 [Cover: yours truly]

The Ghost of Will Harbut track list:

1. The Ghost of Will Harbut - Heartwood
2. Rose of Sharon - Heartwood
3. Now - Heartwood
4. Middle Age - Heartwood
5. Roads of Tenderness - Heartwood
6. Family Man - Dukes/Heartwood
7. Hangin' By A String - Heartwood
8. Wheatfields of South Dakota - Heartwood
9. 99 - Heartwood
10. Higher Ground - Heartwood (Dedicated to Hazel Dickens)

As WC continued to play live, Sean Tarter and I joined them. The end was near when Pete moved to Michigan. It took an entire family to replace Sean. The Chapmans from the Cincinnati area came aboard. We affectionately called them the Von-Chapman Family Singers: Eric [gtr, vox], Bree [vox], and son Johnny [bass, vox]. Ghost was once again recorded with Les Campbell with guest appearances by Karen Jones and Bev Futrell from Reel World String Band Pete Poggione and Philly resident (and Davidson brother-in-law) Dave Arms.

Wishing Chair: Crow, Terrakin Records 2002 [Cover: Kiya Heartwood "actualized" by Les Campbell]

Crow track list:

1. Ordinary Day - Heartwood
2. Breathe - Heartwood
3. Crow - Heartwood (for Charles de Lint)
4. She's Everything - Heartwood (for Kaitlyn)
5. Goody Hallett - Heartwood
6. Handmade - Heartwood
7. September - Heartwood
8. Copernicus - Heartwood
9. 3 Doors - Davidson/Heartwood (for all our families who passed through the three doors)
10. Don't Wait - Heartwood/Fulkerson

With each new record for WC so goes the lineup. I don't remember what tracks I played. It became less a cogent ensemble and more an experiment to hone engineering skills I think. Most of this CD was recorded at WC's home studio in Stamping Ground, Kentucky with additional production by Les Campbell and Tommy Dorsey (from Stealin Horses days) at Masterfonics in Nash Vegas.

Instead of musicians Crow donned "endowed chairs". Kara Barnard (Chair of Strings), Grey Larson (Chair of Reeds), Moi (Rockin' Chair - of course), Dave Arms (Chairman), Beth Burden and Lisa Raymond of Mother Jane (Vocal Chairs), Jaime Anderson (Recliner), Stacy Yelton (FM Chair) and Tommy Dorsey (Chairmaster). Wishing Chair may not always have the same band but they're almost always funny.