For more than 3 decades, Knoxvillian Terry Hill earned regional accolades for sustained, innovative exploration as an extraordinary guitarist, song-writer and singer. His music career began as a guitarist with the band Courageous Dong that originated in Knoxville and migrated to New Jersey. Hill then moved to New York, for a three year stint with the band Godspeed, touring the country and sharing bills with the New York Dolls, the Ramones and DNA at Max's Kansas City and CBGB's. After returning to Knoxville, Hill formed Knoxville's first alternative rock band, Balboa, in 1978. He collaborated with and produced recordings by many of the local music scene's luminaries. Hill also organized and led the legendary local band, Wh-Wh, whose drummer went on to play with Iggy Pop. With a repertoire and artistic appetite that continually surprised, he evolved into a local legend forming the local bands, the Semi Conductors, Plynth, and Internal Herd. Hill navigated the territory from progressive pop to avant-garde to world music with remarkable results.

The recordings here are Terry Hill solo and with Doug Klein, recorded in the late 1970s in his home studios.  Although some of these songs were later performed by Balboa, none was ever released or re-recorded.  Terry’s family asked Richard Battaglia to digitize and preserve the master reels of all Terry’s recordings, and Richard and Hector Qirko selected fourteen tracks from this period for this collection.  These wonderful songs show off Terry’s mastery as a musician, songwriter, and studio wizard, and provide ample additional evidence for why Terry is justly regarded today as one of the most talented and influential figures in Knoxville music.

Doug Klein reminisces about writing and working with Terry here.  Article on Terry here.   Brief QuickTime Movie here.

1. Eclipse   2. Oceans of Woe   3. France 1937   4. Wait   5. Balboa   6. Who Knows the Wind   7. When We’re Gone   8. Kim   9. Birds 10. Mansong 11. New Gloves 12. Gypsy 13. No One Home 14. Clouds

Click on songs to listen or download

All songs by Terry Hill except 2,8 by Doug Klein and 7 by Terry Hill and Doug Klein

© Terry Hill, all rights reserved
© Doug Klein, Just Whistle Music, all rights reserved

Terry Hill- all instruments and vocals, except:
Doug Klein- drums (1,2,4,5,7,10,11), electric and acoustic 12-string guitars (2), synthesizer (1,2,3), vibes (8), harmonica (2,8), chimes (8), bass recorder (8), vacuum cleaner (3), houseware percussion (along with TH, 13), harmonies (along with TH, 2, 13)
Carl Tomaso- probable bass (1,4,11)
Jay Barron- pedal steel (12)
Bill Bonnette- drums (12)
Hector Qirko- bass (12)

Recorded and mixed by Terry Hill, 1977-1979, Knoxville TN
Mastered by Richard Battaglia & Robert Battaglia, 2008, Nashville TN (www.battagliaboys.com)