Mystery Ridge Recording Company

Mystery Ridge Recording and Publishing is a small, family-owned business. Our primary focus is to produce our own brand of new or original music with strong roots in the past that is played in a style reflecting both bluegrass and oldtime traditions. It is our goal to explore history and folklore, and in particular, to celebrate rural life in America. Our music is strictly acoustic, as you might expect, and for the most part, is played on a variety of antique or vintage instruments.

Click on the album for an order form

Listen to RealAudio samples of some of the tracks:

Allegheny Train
Crooked Steep & Rocky
Troublesome Pass
Take Me Back to Bristol
Old and Lost Hornpipe
Ozark Chimes/Stone County Jubilee
Wildcat Ridge
Buffalo Shoals
John Murrel
The Last Chance Road
Oldtime Christian Band
I'm Comin' Home
Windy Gap
Where the Stoney River Rolls
Goin' Back to Calico Rock

Crooked Steep and Rocky is a collection of original oldtime and bluegrass music. The recording was a real labor of love, and makes use of a large number of wonderful antique and unusual instruments, some of which are rarely heard in modern times. The inspiration for this music comes from 25 years of rambling down blacktop, clay, and gravel backroads. It is music rooted deeply in the past, and it's about old steam trains, folk tales, outlaws, troubadours, and the wanderings of other ramblers.

Reviews

Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, January 1999

"Here is a thoroughly delightful production of original material all written and arranged by multi-talented musician, Steve Hartz. Crooked Steep & Rocky consists of 15 selections exuding a unique bluegrass influence but intermeshed with older traditional flavorings. For almost 50 minutes, Hartz explores a myriad of aspects of rural Americana through song. Several pieces obviously mirror personal experiences such as the title song which recounts his adventures on an Ozark back road. "Take Me Back To Bristol/Wildwood Flower" commemorates the automobile trek in 1927 of A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter from their home in Maces Spring, VA to Bristol, VA/Tenn., and the historic recording session with Ralph Peer. A few of the supporting pickers include Jeff Scroggins(banjo), Randy Elmore(fiddle), Kevin Carter(fiddle and cello), Kelly Lancaster(mandolin and mandobass), and Sheryl Lynn Hartz(lead and harmony vocals). A sizable portion of Hartz's repertoire consists of lively instrumentals like "Buffalo Shoals," "Goin' Back to Calico Rock," and "Windy Gap," all conjuring up kaleidoscopic images of yesteryear. Included among the more poignant vocal offerings are Steve's "John Murrel" and the performances of "Oldtime Christian Band" and "Wildcat Ridge," and especially fascinating tale of a hermit moonshiner and a daring mountain rescue. "

"Crooked Steep & Rocky is a passionate collage of adeptly structured acoustic masterpieces all eloquently capturing the pioneer spirit of the American experience. Nothing else need be said except to encounter an elegant listening experience from start to finish.(Mystery Ridge Recording Co., 216 East Pillar, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, 936-564-8692)" LM

Country Music News, March 1999

"A concept album of travelling and road tunes, composed by Steve Hartz and performed predominantly as instrumentals, with several vocal entries all providing a common thread to the theme. The all-acoustic musicianship is exceptionally well done -- vocals by Hartz and various contributors are well suited to the laid back strengths of the album. The West Virginia born, Tennessee raised and now East Texas-based Hartz, also shows special creative talents with his artistry on front and back covers of the CD's sleeve...tasty stuff!!"

Quotes

"Steve is a master songwriter."

"Congratulations on a job well done! I'll be doing my best to spread the word here in Nashville."

"Wow! This is a great sound! My listeners will love it."

"I like acoustic music, and this is the best."

Additional Work

Here is a list of albums by other artists who have recorded Steve's Tunes:

Date	Album Title	Artist or Group	Record Company or Label
1988	Danger in the Air	Danger in the Air
1991	Kerosene Circuit	The Andy Owens Project	Real Records
1993	Real Music	The Andy Owens Project	Real Records
1994	Out Again	Too Strange For Sisterdale	Strange Parts Records
1995	Glory Train	Southern Rail	Pinecastle Records
1995	The Old Natches Trace	Scott Miller & Jim Wood	Pinewood Music
1998	New Classics for Bluegrass Mandolin	Butch Baldassari	Soundart Recordings

Awards

We are thrilled to have been a recipient of the 1998 Crossroads Music Finalist Award for the Crooked, Steep, and Rocky album. The CD was evaluated by a panel of 10 music industry judges who compiled a ranked list of bluegrass albums that were released in 1998. We are honored to be listed in the company of the winners and other finalists! For a complete listing of winners in all categories, see the Crossroads Magazine web site.

Gold Star: Art Stevenson & High Water
Silver Star: Lonesome River Band
Bronze Star: Nashville Bluegrass Band
Other Finalists: Doc and Merle Watson, Stanley Gospel Tradition, Mike Seeger, Dock Boggs

Upcoming Projects

Coming soon! By the Muddy Angelina is an album that is a cultural history of East Texas in the late 1800's and early 1900's. It includes original music by Steve Hartz, as well as authentic music from this time period. The tunes are about many different aspects of East Texas history including steamboat travel, logging, hunting in the thickets, the Galveston hurricane, and more. If you would like to be contacted when it is released, please email us at oldtime@lcc.net, and we will let you know when it's available.

Ordering Information

If you think that you would like to order a cd, there are several options:

1. Call and order toll-free at 1-877-792-2670.

2. Print out an order form and fax it to us at 936-564-1768.

3. Order safely over the internet through our online catalog.

4. Print out an order form and mail it to us with your personal check or money order to:
Mystery Ridge Recording Company
216 East Pillar Street
Nacogdoches, TX 75961
Note: for orders being paid by personal check, there will be a slight delay of shipment until the check clears.

Mystery Ridge Recording and Publishing Company
216 East Pillar  Street
Nacogdoches, Texas 75961
936-564-8692
877-792-2670 (Orders only, please.)

oldtime@lcc.net