Susan Rae Hill, better known as Susan Ashton, was born on
July 17, 1967 in Irving, Texas. In 1991
she released her debut album WAKENED BY THE WIND which includes one of my
favourite songs of hers, ‘Down on My Knees’.
She was nominated for a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. 1992 saw her release ANGELS OF MERCY which
garnered four #1 CCM singles. She teamed
up with Margaret Becker and Christine Dente in 1994 to form the trio that
released the wonderful album ALONG THE ROAD.
Susan opened for Garth Brooks in Europe that same year. He later recorded his own version of her
single ‘You Move Me’. Over the years
Susan has continued recording both Christian and country music. She has though had her share of difficulties
including a divorce, financial problems, and some friends abandoning her. Her latest recording is the six song EP
called THIEF (2013, Be Music and Entertainment). On it, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Michael Blanton
handle the production. Susan’s bio
states: “Every song is personal and bears the marks of a life still standing
after weathering the storms.”
Former White Heart guitarist Gordon Kennedy is one of the
co-writers of the album’s opener, a slow country tune, called ‘Moonshine’. The song speaks to me about temptation: “It’s
charming, enchanting/A mystical sight/There on the surface/It all feels
alright/But at the end of the day/It’s just borrowed light/There’s a dark side
to the/Moonshine.” ‘Love is Alive’ was
written by Gary Wright in 1976. This
upbeat country hit has also been recorded by the likes of Joe Cocker and Joan
Osborne. Susan’s interpretation includes
Phil Madeira on the B3. The song’s
lyrics speak about being captivated by another in a good way: “There’s
something inside/That’s making me crazy/I’ll try to keep it together/’Cause
what I say may not happen the same way/Now could be forever.../There’s a mirror
moving inside my mind/Reflecting the love that you shine on me/Hold on now to
that feeling/Let it flow, let it grow, yeah.”
‘Thief’ the title track, is one of three songs in a row that
former FFH member Michael Boggs co-writes.
‘Thief’ is a bare bones ballad with a haunting delivery. These words from it could either refer to the
dangerous effects of a male ‘bad apple’ or the devil himself on her: “You
walked into my world/Like a dancer/A smooth romancer/And as we floated and we
twirled/I was taken and swept away/Ain’t it just like you/Twistin’ me and all
my truth/You mesmerize till I no longer recognize/What I believe/Thief.” ‘Become Myself’ has Matt Slocum on cello, but
really finds Susan rocking out! It seems
to be an autobiographical song that expresses deep gratitude to our Father in
heaven: “I’ve been the belle of the ball/Been the flower on the wall, oooh/I’ve
been the star of the show/Been the low man on the totem pole, oooh.../God
hovers over chaos/And He hovers over me/He makes all things beautiful/And it’s
beautiful to see.”
‘The Wrong Well’ makes me think of false religions: “When
you’re drinkin’ water from/The wrong well/You’re dyin’ of thirst/But you can’t
tell/And every sip you take/Leads a little closer to hell/When you’re drinkin’
water from/The wrong well/It looks like life/But it’s stealin’ your soul.” ‘Not Small’ is a soft song with Jimmie Lee Sloas on bass and Jim
Hoke on pedal steel guitar. It puts into
words the longings of many lonely children and adults in our break-neck speed
society: “See me, I’m standing right in front of you/See me, can you give
me/Just a little validation?/Can you hear me and I don’t mean just listen?/I
mean hear me, treat me like I have somethin’ worth sayin’?”
THIEF is a strong EP.
Susan’s vocals are as good as ever.
Her Christian music with a country feel sets her apart from the wide
field of Christian female adult contemporary and pop artists. She has something unique to offer
musically. In her thank you’s she
includes Joyce Meyer, Charles Stanley, and Andy Stanley. Fans of Shawn Colvin, Kim Hill, and Carrie
Underwood should pick this EP up. I’m
rating it 87%. For more info on Susan’s
music and what makes her tick, visit www.susanashtonmusic.com