Heather was, first and foremost, a live band. I couldn't even begin to calculate how many live gigs we played during our six years together, back in the '70s. It was a sh*tload, I do know that.
No decent live recordings of those early years exist...which some people might call a fortunate situation. *heh heh* Equally fortunate, however, is the fact that, in 1993, Heather reunited for a benefit concert, sixteen years after we had last performed together, on stage.
After a couple of quick rehearsals to refresh our musical memories and recapture some of the magic that made this band so special, the guys all gathered in Vevay, Indiana, where I was living at the time, to help raise money for the historic Hoosier Theater. Family, friends, Vevay residents, and a bunch of Cincinnati "fans" from the '70s (honest) made the trek to the quaint river town to attend this reunion concert......which was held, coincidentally, on my birthday, August 15, 1993.
We packed the house, he said, humbly. And I got a chance to perform once again with "Unca Ron" (Ron Sachs), Ronnie B. (Ron Baumgartner), Gainer (Jim Gaines), my li'l buddy De (De Stewart), and "The Hawk" (Timothy Hawkins). To be honest, I'd forgotten how wonderful it was to share a stage with these five friends and amazing musicians! Ron Sach's wife, Jan Hunter, also joined us on-stage, adding some amazing harmonies to the band's signature sound. Playing together that day was like the proverbial experience of riding a bicycle; once the musical wheels started turning, we got on a roll and it all came together, just like in "the old days". This had to be one of the best birthdays I've ever celebrated!!
Now, years later, I've "unwrapped" all over again a dozen musical "gifts"...a combination of originals and cover songs...from this amazing birthday gathering -- restoring them as best I could from a two-track cassette tape that, fortunately, I possessed enough foresight to capture by placing a couple of microphones strategically in the theater, prior to this "reunion" concert. Trust me, it was more luck than skill, that I managed to get a decent recording. But, I did...much to my surprise and subsequent enjoyment.
To hear a specific song, click on its title. Or, select the Play button at the top of the player, relax, drift back in time, and listen to the entire collection. Enjoy...
Jack N.
Jim Gaines: pedal steel guitar, vocals
Ron Sachs: guitar, vocals
Timothy Hawkins: guitar, vocals
De Stewart: guitar, bass, woodwinds, vocals
Ron Baumgartner: drums, vocals
Jack Nimersheim: guitar, bass, vocals
Jan Hunter: vocals
Original live recordings restored by Jack Nimersheim
"The Way" © Timothy Hawkins
"Sweet Home Alabama" © Ed King, Ronnie VanZant & Gary Rossington
"Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere", "Ohio" © Neil Young;
"Your Mama Don't Dance", "Same Old Wine"
© Jim Messina & Kenny Loggins;
"Find the Cost of Freedom", "Bluebird",
"For What It's Worth" © Stephen Stills;
"Whupin' It" © Charles R. Gearheart;
"Lukenbach, Texas" © Waylon Jennings;
"Rainmaker" © Harry Nillson;
"Willin'" © Lowell George
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