Album Notes

“This music is as thick as a Guinness, with rich creamy Celtic offerings…”

(Dave Lavender, The Herald-Dispatch)


"A wonderful selection of songs and tunes, Mountain Thyme’s vintage harmonies, creative and lovely instrumental arrangements…"

(Doug Orr, Founder of the Swannanoa Gathering at Warren Wilson College)


"The title of this album says it all. It will make you smile. These four women skillfully produced this meaningful recording. The Celtic, mountain music feel of the CD all but sums up the Appalachian culture.

(Graffiti – West Virginia’s News Alternative)

"Mountain Thyme features the vocal talents of four women who also play a wide array of acoustic instruments including guitar, mandolin, bass, banjo, bouzouki, autoharp and wooden and silver flutes. Their music is graceful, with loving attention to the harmony and the arrangement of their many instruments. The playing is not dazzling, but always tasteful and just right for the mostly traditional tunes. One of the modern songs is Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer’s “The Mountain,” which is led by a djembe beat into “Connaughtman’s Ramble.” A warm celebration by four fine musicians."

(Michael Devlin, Music Matters Review)


Mountain Thyme has been performing and playing
“Appalachian Celtic” music since 1983. The years have passed quickly – it seems like only yesterday that we released "West Virginia Chose Me", but that was over nine years ago.

Through this time, we experienced the usual hills and valleys of life and the changes that result. The passage of time has not changed our commitment to Mountain Thyme, our friendship, or our enjoyment of traditional music.

A Smile at the Door reflects Mountain Thyme's own style of music – an ensemble style influenced by the informal nature of traditional music, mountain culture, our everyday exposure to a diversity of music, and a strong attachment to, and affection for, the songs and tunes we play.

Fans often tell us that they "wear out" our recordings because they enjoy listening to them time and time again. This, our newest recording, promises to take the "wear-out" factor to a new level! Already we are being told that it is an exceptional - and a GREAT! road trip - recording.

It was an honor to learn and perform the wonderful collection of songs and tunes on this recording. Most are very old traditional selections but many are recent compositions by contemporary artists. We have included a 12 page booklet that provides descriptions and our perspectives on the songs and tunes. The lyrics to the 12 songs that we sing on the recording are on our website: www.mtnthyme.com.

We are proud of "A Smile at the Door" and truly hope that you will enjoy it!

Mountain Thyme
Pam Curry - vocals, bouzouki,autoharp and percussion
Jan Carroll - vocals, flute and percussion
Libby Musser - vocals, bass, piano, tenor banjo, and percussion
Linda Workman - vocals, guitar, mandolin, djembe, and synthesizer


Guest musicians: Cathy Grant - violin and viola & Tom Thurman - guitar