Ghosts of the Great Highway
Encyclopedia
Ghosts of the Great Highway is the 2003 debut album by San Francisco quartet Sun Kil Moon
, led by Red House Painters
' founder Mark Kozelek
, who composed all of the lyrics and music on this album. The other members are Anthony Koutsos (former drummer for Red House Painters), Geoff Stanfield, and Tim Mooney.
Ghosts of the Great Highway received positive reviews from the music press and its success paved the way for the release of two further Sun Kil Moon albums, Tiny Cities
(2005), a collection of Modest Mouse cover versions, and the entirely self-composed April (2008).
Three of the album's songs are named after boxers
, following on from "Find Me, Ruben Olivares
" from Kozelek's debut solo EP Rock 'n' Roll Singer
. The band name is also a pun
on the Korean
boxer Sung-Kil Moon. The opening number is named after Judas Priest
guitarist, Glenn Tipton.
Ghosts of the Great Highway was re-issued as a double CD on February 6, 2007 on Kozelek's own label, Caldo Verde Records
. The second disc features 6 bonus tracks, including two versions of Leonard Bernstein
's "Somewhere," and the instrumental track "Arrival," which was originally recorded for the movie The Girl Next Door. The songs "Carry Me Ohio" and "Lily and Parrots" were featured in the film Shopgirl
, where Kozelek also co-starred.
The song "Carry Me Ohio" was listed at #462 on Pitchfork Media
's Top 500 Songs of the 2000s list.
Sun Kil Moon
Sun Kil Moon is a music project of singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek, best known for his previous band Red House Painters. Sun Kil Moon sees Kozelek undertake the writing, composing, singing, and guitar playing, accompanied by Tim Mooney and Anthony Koutsos on drums, and Geoff Stanfield on bass...
, led by Red House Painters
Red House Painters
Red House Painters were an alternative rock group formed in 1989 in San Francisco, California by singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek.-History:While in Atlanta, Georgia, Ohio-born Kozelek became friends with Anthony Koutsos, a drummer. He then moved to San Francisco, California, adding guitarist Gorden...
' founder Mark Kozelek
Mark Kozelek
Mark Kozelek is an American singer/songwriter Producer and frontman of Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters.-History:...
, who composed all of the lyrics and music on this album. The other members are Anthony Koutsos (former drummer for Red House Painters), Geoff Stanfield, and Tim Mooney.
Ghosts of the Great Highway received positive reviews from the music press and its success paved the way for the release of two further Sun Kil Moon albums, Tiny Cities
Tiny Cities
Tiny Cities is the second album by Mark Kozelek's Sun Kil Moon, released November 1, 2005. It features the same lineup from their debut release, Ghosts of the Great Highway. This album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005 .The full-length album is composed of covers of...
(2005), a collection of Modest Mouse cover versions, and the entirely self-composed April (2008).
Three of the album's songs are named after boxers
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, following on from "Find Me, Ruben Olivares
Rubén Olivares
Rubén Olivares is a former Mexican boxer and current member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. A native of Mexico City, Olivares was a world champion multiple times, and considered by many as the greatest bantamweight champion of all time. He was very popular among Mexicans, many of whom considered him...
" from Kozelek's debut solo EP Rock 'n' Roll Singer
Rock 'n' Roll Singer
Rock 'n' Roll Singer is the debut solo EP from Mark Kozelek. The EP was released on June 13, 2000, and was released while Kozelek's final album with his previous band Red House Painters was in limbo with record label mergers...
. The band name is also a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on the Korean
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
boxer Sung-Kil Moon. The opening number is named after Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
guitarist, Glenn Tipton.
Ghosts of the Great Highway was re-issued as a double CD on February 6, 2007 on Kozelek's own label, Caldo Verde Records
Caldo Verde Records
Caldo Verde Records is a San Francisco-based indie rock and folk record label founded by Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon frontman Mark Kozelek in 2005. The label primarily features releases by Kozelek and Sun Kil Moon, but has also released albums by Jesu, Corrina Repp, Retribution Gospel...
. The second disc features 6 bonus tracks, including two versions of Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
's "Somewhere," and the instrumental track "Arrival," which was originally recorded for the movie The Girl Next Door. The songs "Carry Me Ohio" and "Lily and Parrots" were featured in the film Shopgirl
Shopgirl
Shopgirl is a 2005 American romantic drama film directed by Anand Tucker. The screenplay by Steve Martin is based on his 2000 novella of the same name.-Plot:...
, where Kozelek also co-starred.
The song "Carry Me Ohio" was listed at #462 on Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's Top 500 Songs of the 2000s list.
Track listing
Singles
- "Duk Koo Kim" (Mark Kozelek solo) (September 15, 2003)
- Limited edition 10" vinyl single (limited to 2,000 copies worldwide), features acoustic studio version and live version.