This was our last actual album and our only foray into serious 16-track recording, recorded almost entirely at Cookie Marenco's OTR Studios in Burlingame, with the inestimable Generosa Litton presiding at the recording console. (Triad was recorded there and at Tiki Town in San Rafael and at Trident Studios in Pacheco. By contrast, all our other records came out of Elton's house, recorded on 8-track cassette. Seriously.) The band was:
Also lending their talents on this collection, we were very pleased to have Michael Bluestein on the piano and Ricky Carter providing his amazing percussion.
Brian and Larry also sang backing tracks on Carlow, and Brian played banjo for Whiskey. Everyone sang on Parting Glass ... and since all of us except Leigh Ann are weak singers, hoo boy was that a challenge. Parts of this recording took a lot longer than others to get right.
Leigh Ann's song describing her journey through the American Southwest: the Grand Canyon and a reservation. Seriously.
Michael Bluestein: piano; Ricky Carter: percussion
A bit of an Irish ghost story — at least in this version. (A longer version of the song shows it to be a love lost through courting too slow.) We don't do what you'd call a "haunting" version.
Two Scottish tunes: a reel, The Sound of Mull, and a jig, Return to the Stewartry. The odd-metered bit in the middle is us playing The Sound of Mull in 7/8. I've called that "Mulling it Over"; I didn't get Leigh Ann's approval, but I think she would have agreed.
The inspiration and title for this song is from Paul Simon's song The Rhythm of the Saints: "Some say the sky is just the sky". It diverged from the point of that song.
Our friend Pat McGregor sums up most of Elton's songwriting by the single word "alienation". This song is a very clear explication of how true that is.
There is a myth about the Library in Alexandria, that it was burned because it contained heretical documents. This song takes that myth as its starting place.
Brian Hill: sitar; Eric Bart: sitar. Symon Michael: saxophone.
Leigh Ann, I love you. Wherever you went, I hope you remember us and smile.
Brian Hill: guitar; Symon Michael: saxophone.
The Reader's Digest Condensed Book of the Law, Chapter II.
Let's be honest: songs don't get much bleaker than this. If they do, Elton probably wrote them. Just sayin'. This is Goth with a brand new razor blade.
Elton, Leigh Ann, and Emerson all contributed to the words for this. Elton had the original idea and the first verse; Leigh Ann and Emerson sprang the second verse on him at a demo session, to replace Elton's attempt at one (which, frankly, stank), thereby transforming the whole song into a thing of beauty.
"Success is your proof; courage is your armour; go on, go on, in my strength; & ye shall turn not back for any!"
Brittany Haas: violin; Natalie Haas: cello.
The primary rhythm for this song is provided by three electric saws and a pneumatic tire hose.
Dave Ernst: electric guitar; Symon Michael: saxophone.
This is the end of all the songs man sings.
Mike Sugar: upright bass