Between Five and Seven
Encyclopedia
Between Five and Seven is as the name suggests, the sixth studio album by folk
singer-songwriter
John Gorka
. It was released in August 1996
. It is the last of the five albums Gorka recorded for Windham Hill/High Street Records
before returning to the smaller, Red House
label. Gorka produced the album with John Jennings
who also produced Gorka's previous record, Out of the Valley
. Unlike the previous record made in Nashville, Tennessee
, the recording was done at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota
and the instrumentation has been described as "more acoustic, less pop-oriented." Paisley Park is southewest of Minneapolis and is the studio designed and owned by the artist, Prince.
The album includes several lyrical portraits of Gorka's misfit characters, love songs, and philosophical musings. The songs are also full of the wordplay for which Gorka has become known.
The album features an impressive array of supporting musicians. Lucy Kaplansky
and Jennifer Kimball
add carefully placed harmony volcals to many tracks. John Jennings also brings along several other members of Mary Chapin Carpenter
's band including drummer Robbie Magruder, guitarist Dean Magraw
, and pianist Jonathan Carroll
. Gorka's fellow Minnesota
n Peter Ostroushko
sits in on mandolin. As with many of Gorkas recordings Michael Manring
plays fretless bass on nearly half of the songs. The tracks alternate between two different sets of instrumentalists which varies the pace of the music. The two bass players styles are distinct enough for the listener to recognize the difference.
--complete with references to forest fires, Benjamin Franklin
, pressure system
s, and weather front
s.
Musicians:
. The song introduces a pair of Gorka's characters a woman and a man. Gorka describes the male character's addiction:
He could always find the holes in the bottles
Even with a blindfold on
Never kept his seat on the wagon
Rolling off like a rolling stone
"Blue Chalk" was first recorded by Irish singer, Maura O'Connell
for her 1995 album, Stories. More recently it has also been recorded by the new-England based bluegrass band, Northern Lights
for their 2005 album, New Moon. It has also been covered in concert performances by Lucy Kaplansky.
Musicians:
ical statements. Some of these are humorous in nature. For example:
I have a lot of trouble
My boss at work
Yeah I'm still self employed
I'd better wipe that smirk
Musicians:
tambourine & vocals
's fretless bass is featured as a lead instrument and is even given a solo. The late winter mood of the song is like the classic "brooding" often used to describe Gorka's earlier work. The lyrics also revisit the urban themes of blue-collar jobs and gentrification
found in writiing for his earlier albums such as Land of the Bottom Line
and Jack's Crows.
Musicians:
Soloist:
Musicians:
, recreational vehicle
.
Musicians:
, this song, however, appears to be several years older. "Campaign Trail" is spoken from the point of view of a candidate who is apologetic, but still seemingly insincere:
And I hope you will forgive me if I don't return your call
But there's someone whatching every move I make
And I've got more hands than I could ever shake
At times the message appears to be of a more personal nature. Perhaps as a touring and performing songwriter Gorka sees parallels between himself and the politician on the trial:
I pay my bills to the time collectors
They're getting more from me each day
I pay them off a few words at a time
Unlike the other songs, the basic tracks of this one were recorded by Eric Paul at Imagine Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
. An earlier mix of the song appeared on the EP
, Motor Folkin' (Windham Hill/High Street Records
, 1994).
Musicians:
looking for a good time.
My name is Edgar
And I am a party man
I come from a party town
I come in my party van
Musicians:
Musicians:
percussion, and vocal
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
John Gorka
John Gorka
John Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
. It was released in August 1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
. It is the last of the five albums Gorka recorded for Windham Hill/High Street Records
High Street Records
High Street Records was a subsidiary label of Windham Hill Records from about 1990 to 1997. Notable acts who recorded for the label include John Gorka, Pierce Pettis, Patty Larkin, The Subdudes, and Dots Will Echo...
before returning to the smaller, Red House
Red House Records
Red House Records is an American independent record label specializing in folk music and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.The label was originally created in 1981 by Greg Brown as a method to distribute his own music, and is named for a farmhouse in Iowa where he was living...
label. Gorka produced the album with John Jennings
John Jennings (musician)
John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
who also produced Gorka's previous record, Out of the Valley
Out of the Valley
Out of the Valley is a 1994 album by contemporary folk singer-songwriter John Gorka. This is Gorka's fifth album and unlike the previous four recorded in various places in the northeastern United States, Out of the Valley was recorded at Imagine Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee...
. Unlike the previous record made in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, the recording was done at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Chanhassen is a city in Carver and Hennepin counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is southwest of Minneapolis. The population was 22,952 at the 2010 census....
and the instrumentation has been described as "more acoustic, less pop-oriented." Paisley Park is southewest of Minneapolis and is the studio designed and owned by the artist, Prince.
The album includes several lyrical portraits of Gorka's misfit characters, love songs, and philosophical musings. The songs are also full of the wordplay for which Gorka has become known.
The album features an impressive array of supporting musicians. Lucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
and Jennifer Kimball
Jennifer Kimball
Jennifer Kimball is a vocalist and songwriter who is notable for being part of the acclaimed folk duo The Story. She is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and has released two albums Veering from the Wave and Oh Hear Us....
add carefully placed harmony volcals to many tracks. John Jennings also brings along several other members of Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
's band including drummer Robbie Magruder, guitarist Dean Magraw
Dean Magraw
-Biography:Magraw was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in St. Paul. He began playing guitar at the age of 13. Magraw performed in a duo for many years with Peter Ostroushko and has also performed with Tim Sparks, John Gorka and many other artists....
, and pianist Jonathan Carroll
Jonathan Carroll
Jonathan Samuel Carroll is an American author primarily known for novels, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy...
. Gorka's fellow Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
n Peter Ostroushko
Peter Ostroushko
Peter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
sits in on mandolin. As with many of Gorkas recordings Michael Manring
Michael Manring
Michael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
plays fretless bass on nearly half of the songs. The tracks alternate between two different sets of instrumentalists which varies the pace of the music. The two bass players styles are distinct enough for the listener to recognize the difference.
Track listing
All songs written by John Gorka- "Lightning's Blues" – 3:54
- "Blue Chalk" – 4:41
- "Can't Make Up My Mind" – 4:10
- "The Mortal Groove" – 3:25
- "My Invisible Gun" – 2:58
- "Part of Your Own" – 3:29
- "Two Good Reasons" – 4:07
- "Airstream Bohemians" – 5:20
- "Paradise, Once" – 3:09
- "Campaign Trail" – 4:05
- "Edgar the Party Man" – 3:27
- "Scraping Dixie" – 6:27
Songs
This is one of few John Gorka albums without explanatory liner notes which leaves Gorka's source of inspiration for these songs unknown or up to speculation.Lightning's Blues
"Lightning's Blues" appears to be a love song written from the unusual perspective of lightningLightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
--complete with references to forest fires, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, pressure system
Pressure system
A pressure system is a region of the Earth's atmosphere where air pressure is a relative peak or lull in the sea level pressure distribution. The surface pressure at sea level varies minimally, with the lowest value measured and the highest recorded...
s, and weather front
Surface weather analysis
Surface weather analysis is a special type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based on information from ground-based weather stations...
s.
Musicians:
- Robbie Magruder – drums
- J. T. BrownJ. T. BrownJ. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
– bass - Jonathan CarrollJonathan CarrollJonathan Samuel Carroll is an American author primarily known for novels, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy...
– piano - Duke LevineDuke LevineDuke Levine is an American guitarist known primarily for his rock and country music playing as a session musician. He has recorded and performed with Shawn Colvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Bill Morrissey, Jonatha Brooke, John Gorka, Jeanie Stahl, Ellis Paul, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Slaid Cleaves and many...
– electric guitar - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– percussion & noises - Jennifer KimballJennifer KimballJennifer Kimball is a vocalist and songwriter who is notable for being part of the acclaimed folk duo The Story. She is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and has released two albums Veering from the Wave and Oh Hear Us....
& Lucy KaplanskyLucy KaplanskyLucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
– vocals - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & acoustic guitar
Blue Chalk
The title of "Blue Chalk" refers to the chalk used in billiardsBilliards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
. The song introduces a pair of Gorka's characters a woman and a man. Gorka describes the male character's addiction:
He could always find the holes in the bottles
Even with a blindfold on
Never kept his seat on the wagon
Rolling off like a rolling stone
"Blue Chalk" was first recorded by Irish singer, Maura O'Connell
Maura O'Connell
Maura O'Connell is an Irish singer and actress. She is known for her contemporary interpretations of Irish folk songs, strongly influenced by American country music.-Background:...
for her 1995 album, Stories. More recently it has also been recorded by the new-England based bluegrass band, Northern Lights
Northern Lights (bluegrass band)
Northern Lights was an American Progressive bluegrass band formed in 1975 in New England, which musical career spanned more than three decades....
for their 2005 album, New Moon. It has also been covered in concert performances by Lucy Kaplansky.
Musicians:
- Robbie Magruder – drums
- Michael ManringMichael ManringMichael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
– bass - Dean McGraw – acoustic guitar
- Peter OstroushkoPeter OstroushkoPeter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
– mandolin - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– percussion - Jennifer KimballJennifer KimballJennifer Kimball is a vocalist and songwriter who is notable for being part of the acclaimed folk duo The Story. She is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and has released two albums Veering from the Wave and Oh Hear Us....
& Lucy KaplanskyLucy KaplanskyLucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
– vocals - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & rhythm guitar
Can't Make Up My Mind
In "Can't Make Up My Mind" Gorka creates a song about indecision through a series of paradoxParadox
Similar to Circular reasoning, A paradox is a seemingly true statement or group of statements that lead to a contradiction or a situation which seems to defy logic or intuition...
ical statements. Some of these are humorous in nature. For example:
I have a lot of trouble
My boss at work
Yeah I'm still self employed
I'd better wipe that smirk
Musicians:
- Robbie Magruder – drums
- J. T. BrownJ. T. BrownJ. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
– bass - Jonathan CarrollJonathan CarrollJonathan Samuel Carroll is an American author primarily known for novels, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy...
– piano, organ, & vocals (Ooh Baby Now) - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– the ubiquitous backpacker guitar,
tambourine & vocals
- John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– 12-string guitar & vocals
The Mortal Groove
"The Mortal Groove" is one of only two tracks not to include drums. Michael ManringMichael Manring
Michael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
's fretless bass is featured as a lead instrument and is even given a solo. The late winter mood of the song is like the classic "brooding" often used to describe Gorka's earlier work. The lyrics also revisit the urban themes of blue-collar jobs and gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
found in writiing for his earlier albums such as Land of the Bottom Line
Land of the Bottom Line
Land of the Bottom Line is the second album by contemporary folk singer-songwriter John Gorka. The album was also Gorka's major label debut for High Street Records/Windham Hill Records. The album was highly acclaimed by critics at the time, and continues to be cited by some as Gorka's finest work...
and Jack's Crows.
Musicians:
- Michael ManringMichael ManringMichael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
– bass - Dean McGraw – acoustic guitar
- Peter OstroushkoPeter OstroushkoPeter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
– mandolin - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– piano - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– acoustic guitar & vocals
My Invisible Gun
Musicians:- Robbie Magruder – drums
- J. T. BrownJ. T. BrownJ. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
– bass - Jonathan CarrollJonathan CarrollJonathan Samuel Carroll is an American author primarily known for novels, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy...
– piano - Duke LevineDuke LevineDuke Levine is an American guitarist known primarily for his rock and country music playing as a session musician. He has recorded and performed with Shawn Colvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Bill Morrissey, Jonatha Brooke, John Gorka, Jeanie Stahl, Ellis Paul, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Slaid Cleaves and many...
– electric guitar - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– backpacker guitar & percussion - Jennifer KimballJennifer KimballJennifer Kimball is a vocalist and songwriter who is notable for being part of the acclaimed folk duo The Story. She is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and has released two albums Veering from the Wave and Oh Hear Us....
& Lucy KaplanskyLucy KaplanskyLucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
– vocals - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– acoustic guitar & vocals
Part of Your Own
Apparently a song written for Gorka's mother.Soloist:
- John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & guitar
Two Good Reasons
"Two Good Reasons" is a love song.Musicians:
- Robbie Magruder – drums
- Michael ManringMichael ManringMichael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
– bass - Dean McGraw – acoustic guitar
- Peter OstroushkoPeter OstroushkoPeter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
– mandolin - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– piano & percussion - Jennifer KimballJennifer KimballJennifer Kimball is a vocalist and songwriter who is notable for being part of the acclaimed folk duo The Story. She is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and has released two albums Veering from the Wave and Oh Hear Us....
& Lucy KaplanskyLucy KaplanskyLucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
– vocals - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & acoustic guitar
Airstream Bohemians
"Airstream Bohemians" introduces another pair of Gorka's characters apparently living in an AirstreamAirstream
Airstream is a brand of luxury recreational vehicle manufactured in Jackson Center, Ohio, USA. It is currently a division of Thor Industries. The company, which now employs fewer than 400, is the oldest in the industry. Airstream trailers are easily recognized for their distinctive rounded...
, recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
.
Musicians:
- Robbie Magruder – drums
- J. T. BrownJ. T. BrownJ. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
– bass - Jonathan CarrollJonathan CarrollJonathan Samuel Carroll is an American author primarily known for novels, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy...
– piano - Duke LevineDuke LevineDuke Levine is an American guitarist known primarily for his rock and country music playing as a session musician. He has recorded and performed with Shawn Colvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Bill Morrissey, Jonatha Brooke, John Gorka, Jeanie Stahl, Ellis Paul, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Slaid Cleaves and many...
– electric guitar - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– baritone electric guitar & percussion - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & guitar
Paradise, Once
Musicians:- Robbie Magruder – drums
- Michael ManringMichael ManringMichael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
– bass - Dean McGraw – acoustic guitar
- Peter OstroushkoPeter OstroushkoPeter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
– mandolin - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– baritone acoustic guitar, & percussion - Jennifer KimballJennifer KimballJennifer Kimball is a vocalist and songwriter who is notable for being part of the acclaimed folk duo The Story. She is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and has released two albums Veering from the Wave and Oh Hear Us....
& Lucy KaplanskyLucy KaplanskyLucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
– vocals - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & acoustic guitar
Campaign Trail
Between Five and Seven was released just months prior to the 1996 U.S. presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
, this song, however, appears to be several years older. "Campaign Trail" is spoken from the point of view of a candidate who is apologetic, but still seemingly insincere:
And I hope you will forgive me if I don't return your call
But there's someone whatching every move I make
And I've got more hands than I could ever shake
At times the message appears to be of a more personal nature. Perhaps as a touring and performing songwriter Gorka sees parallels between himself and the politician on the trial:
I pay my bills to the time collectors
They're getting more from me each day
I pay them off a few words at a time
Unlike the other songs, the basic tracks of this one were recorded by Eric Paul at Imagine Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. An earlier mix of the song appeared on the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Motor Folkin' (Windham Hill/High Street Records
High Street Records
High Street Records was a subsidiary label of Windham Hill Records from about 1990 to 1997. Notable acts who recorded for the label include John Gorka, Pierce Pettis, Patty Larkin, The Subdudes, and Dots Will Echo...
, 1994).
Musicians:
- Dave MattacksDave MattacksDave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
– drums - J. T. BrownJ. T. BrownJ. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
– bass - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– electric guitar, lap steel, organ, & percussion - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & guitar
Edgar the Party Man
Following his own forty-sixth birthday (nearly eight years after this album's release) Gorka proclaimed on his web site, "I am now officially older than Edgar The Party Man." "Edgar" is one of Gorka's characters, a middle-aged divorcéDivorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
looking for a good time.
My name is Edgar
And I am a party man
I come from a party town
I come in my party van
Musicians:
- Robbie Magruder – drums
- Michael ManringMichael ManringMichael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
– bass - Dean McGraw – acoustic guitar
- Peter OstroushkoPeter OstroushkoPeter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
– mandolin - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & guitar
Scraping Dixie
"Scraping Dixie" is by far the album's longest track. The song profiles yet another of Gorka's misfits, this time a war veteran working various jobs throughout the south to avoid winter's cold. The imagery in the lyrics include lines such as, "I'll be fighting 'till they put that tree suit on."Musicians:
- Robbie Magruder – drums
- J. T. BrownJ. T. BrownJ. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
– bass - Jonathan CarrollJonathan CarrollJonathan Samuel Carroll is an American author primarily known for novels, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy...
– piano - Duke LevineDuke LevineDuke Levine is an American guitarist known primarily for his rock and country music playing as a session musician. He has recorded and performed with Shawn Colvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Bill Morrissey, Jonatha Brooke, John Gorka, Jeanie Stahl, Ellis Paul, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Slaid Cleaves and many...
– electric guitar - John JenningsJohn Jennings (musician)John Jennings is an American musician: a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer.Among his producer work are 8 albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as releases by Beausoleil, John Gorka, and Janis Ian...
– acoustic guitar, backpacker guitar,
percussion, and vocal
- John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
– vocal & guitar
Credits
- Produced by John Gorka and John Jennings
- Bob DawsonBob DawsonBob Dawson was a Canadian radio broadcaster and actor based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dawson was a fixture on the local radio circuit during the late 1970s and 80's, holding various on air and promotional positions at radio stations such CJOR , CJJC and CKXY...
– Engineer, Mixing - David Glasser – Mastering
- Fred Harrington – Engineer, Second Engineer
- Shane T. Keller – Engineer, Second Engineer
- Laura Levy – Layout Design
- Ann Marsden – Photography
- Eric PaulEric PaulEric Paul is a noise rock singer. He is known for his disturbing vocals, lyrics and energetic stage presence. Eric Paul has played in many popular noise bands, such as Arab on Radar until their break up in 2003. His current project is a noise and experimental group called The Chinese Stars.Paul has...
– Engineer - Chuck Peters – Production Assistant
- Jim Robeson – Engineer
- Tommy Tucker, Jr. – Engineer
- Candace Upman – Art Direction
- Rudy T. Zasloff – Design
External links
- Between Five and Seven, lyrics and samples from official John Gorka web site
- [ Between Five and Seven] entry at the Allmusic