Search - Pat Humphries :: Hands

Miracles DO happen! Although singer-songwriter and musical activist Pat Humphries created a stir in the folk world with her first album, 1992?s "Same Rain," it took nine years before the release of "Hands," its follow-up. Then, more than a year after "Hands?" January 2001 release, the CD suddenly spent three days as the best-selling CD for Amazon.com, the Internet?s most popular music store. What triggered the rush of sales was a feature on National Public Radio?s "All Things Considered" about Pat?s composition, "Swimming to the Other Side," which first appeared on her debut and then in a re-recorded version (broadcasted by NPR) on "Hands." This song of hope and determination had become, like Pat?s "Common Thread" and "Never Turning Back," a ubiquitous folk anthem sung at peace and social justice rallies and demonstrations around the world and was translated into seven languages. Pat Humphries is no longer a secret in her homeland. No less an authority than Pete Seeger called Pat?s songs "some of the best I?ve heard in 50 years," and the material on "Hands" validates Pete?s praise. "No Sweat" and "Cold Cup of Water" respectively examine the plight of workers in Third World sweat shops and migrant workers here in the States. Social issues of gay and straight parenting are addressed in "I?ll Be There" and "People Love"; women?s rights are the subject of Pat?s cover versions of "Bread & Roses" and "We Were There." Pat wrote "Bound for Freedom" for a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?s birthday and bears the central message, "We are one and we are all." The CD?s pro-labor title track was written but never released by Phil Ochs before his 1976 suicide. These rallying cries of optimism and activism are sung warmly and without affectation by Pat, who also plays guitar on most tracks. She is accompanied by the "world music" pioneer David Amram (woodwinds, percussion), renowned fiddler Jay Ungar, and veteran folk duo Kim and Reggie Harris on backing vocals; the CD?s producer, Abby Newton, contributes cello to "Swimming to the Other Side," among other songs.