{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Secret South | type = Album | artist = 16 Horsepower | cover = 16hpsecretsouth.JPG | alt = | released = 2000 | recorded = | venue = | studio = Hamilton Glory Lodge, Blue River, Colorado | genre = | length = 42:12 | label = Glitterhouse | producer = 16 Horsepower | prev_title = Low Estate | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = Hoarse | next_year = 2000 }} {{Music ratings | MC = 82/100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/secret-south/16-horsepower|title=Secret South by 16 Horsepower Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=September 23, 2021}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/secret-south-mw0000088291|title=Secret South – 16 Horsepower|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=July 4, 2013|last=Horowitz|first=Hal}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Kerrang!'' | rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rees |first=Paul |date=April 8, 2000 |title=Albums |magazine=Kerrang! |publisher=EMAP |issue=796 |page=45}}</ref> | rev3 = ''NME'' | rev3score = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000414060049.html|title=16 Horsepower – Secret South|magazine=NME|date=April 14, 2000|access-date=April 7, 2018|last=Johns|first=Darren|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000523153101/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000414060049.html|archive-date=May 23, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev4score = 6.9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7209-secret-south/|title=Sixteen Horsepower: Secret South|website=Pitchfork|date=September 12, 2000|access-date=July 4, 2013|last=Shipley|first=Al}}</ref> }}

'''''Secret South''''' is the third studio album by American band 16 Horsepower, released in 2000.

It was the band's first album on German independent label Glitterhouse Records, after their previous label A&M Records got bought up by Universal Records; the album was financed by $50,000 payoff the band received thanks to an option in the contract that they were to be paid if they weren't able to do their third album.<ref name="tapeop_fer">{{cite web |last1=Crane |first1=Larry |title=Bob Ferbrache Interview: Studio Mastering Secrets |url=https://tapeop.com/interviews/115/bob-ferbrache-bonus |website=Tape Op Magazine |access-date=31 May 2026}}</ref>

''Secret South'' marked a distinct change in direction compared to previous efforts as it focuses more on storytelling over a more laid-back soundscape. The album was self-produced by the band; according to frontman David Eugene Edwards, A&M previously were skeptical about letting them produce the records themselves, but at that point the band wanted "to make sure that if we had any complaints, they were our fault and nobody else’s. We were pretty confident that we could do it and we were really happy with the outcome".<ref>{{cite web |title=16 Horsepower |url=https://www.paulmcdermott.ie/blog/16-horsepower |website=paulmcdermott.ie |access-date=31 May 2026}}</ref> The recording took place in Hamilton Glory Lodge in Colorado mountains and was engineered by Bob Ferbrache, a longtime associate of 16 Horsepower who briefly played organ with them in the early days.<ref name="tapeop_fer" /> Guitarist Steve Taylor, who previously was the band's guitar technician and touring member, became a full member for the album sessions alongside the core trio of Edwards, bassist Pascal Humbert and drummer Jean-Yves Tola. The album includes covers of a traditional song "Wayfaring Stranger" and Bob Dylan's "Nobody 'Cept You"; the latter, although previously recorded by Dylan himself, became the first version ever to be released on a full-length studio album. Tola has later commented that ''Secret South'' "was a very successful and true representation of the band at that time [...] We really did what we wanted with almost no compromise".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abrahamsen |first1=Brett |title=Brett Abrahamsen Has 10 Questions For Jean Yves Tola Of 16 Horsepower |url=https://tinnitist.com/2025/07/26/brett-abrahamsen-has-10-questions-for-jean-yves-tola-of-16-horsepower/ |website=Tinnitist.com |access-date=31 May 2026}}</ref>

The song "Clogger" was released as a single, accompanied by a music video, which featured musician Jay Munly and Asher Edwards, daughter of David Eugene Edwards.

"Wayfaring Stranger" has appeared on the soundtracks for 2012 documentary film ''The Imposter'' and 2021 film ''Titane''.

== Track listing == {{track listing | all_writing = David Eugene Edwards and 16 Horsepower, except where noted. |title1=Clogger |length1=3:28 |title2=Wayfaring Stranger |length2=2:42 |writer2=Traditional |title3=Cinder Alley |length3=4:42 |title4=Burning Bush |length4=4:00 |title5=Poor Mouth |length5=4:39 |title6=Silver Saddle |length6=3:12 |title7=Praying Arm Lane |length7=3:18 |title8=Splinters |length8=5:19 |title9=Just Like Birds |length9=3:44 |title10=Nobody 'Cept You |length10=3:34 |writer10=Bob Dylan |title11=Straw Foot |length11=3:30 }}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (2000) ! Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Netherlands|45|artist=16 HORSEPOWER|album=SECRET SOUTH|rowheader=true|access-date=6 July 2022}} |- {{album chart|Norway|31|artist=16 HORSEPOWER |album=SECRET SOUTH|rowheader=true|access-date=6 July 2022}} |}

==Personnel== ;16 Horsepower * David Eugene Edwards – vocals, guitar, piano, banjo, concertina * Steve Taylor – backing vocals, guitar, organ * Jean-Yves Tola – drums, percussion * Pascal Humbert – bass, bass fiddle ;Guests * Asher Edwards – strings * Rebecca Vera – strings * Elin Palmer – strings ;Technical * 16 Horsepower – production * Bob Ferbrache – engineering * Shane Hotle – assistant engineer * Marty Paul – assistant producer * Paul Corkett – mixing * Dan Austin – assistant mixing engineer * H. J. Mauksch – mastering * David Zimmer – artwork and photography

==References== {{Reflist}}

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Category:2000 albums Category:16 Horsepower albums