The third and last album that Lonnie Mack recorded for Elektra in his brief stint with the label in the late '60s and early '70s,
The Hills of Indiana must have surprised quite a few listeners familiar with his earlier work. There were little of the blues-rock-R&B-oriented guitar fireworks that many of his earlier recordings had boasted. In contrast, it was a pretty laid-back affair with plenty of roots rock, country-rock, and early-'70s singer/songwriter influences. Steel guitar and fiddle augmented the usual rock lineup, string and horn arrangements were devised by
Norbert Putnam (who played bass on much of the record), and there were liberal touches of gospel in the songwriting, singing, and occasional background vocals. The set was divided between collaborative compositions between
Mack and
Don Nix (who sang lead vocal on "Three Angels") and covers of songs by
Carole King,
Bob Dylan,
Mickey Newbury,
Bill Monroe, and others. As with many early-'70s records -- including those of another early rock & roll guitar pioneer,
Link Wray -- the influence of
the Band's dignified Americana is substantial. At times it sounds a little like
the Band crossed with some of early
Elton John's most American-influenced material, perhaps with a pinch of
John Fogerty. While this type of stuff might not be
Mack's forte, actually it's quite respectable, if low-key, and sung with endearing, earnest conviction. ~ Richie Unterberger