LOW TIDE (2018) © 2018 Tracy Grammer Music.
Retail release: January 19, 2018 Click here to request airplay copies (service by Charterhouse Music Group) Press, click here to request review copy Listen on Soundcloud | Spotify. Accolades: #2 Best of 2018 Listeners Poll on Folk Alley #9 Most-Played Album of the Year on Folk Radio #13 Most-Played Artist of the Year on Folk Radio Top Ten Album of the Year, Fish Records UK |
LOW TIDE reviews 4/5 stars:: "Hugely impressive ... should elevate the solo artist to greater things." -- Maverick Magazine
"A contender for album of the year." — Fish Records UK “Potent songcraft that reflects the tender and stubborn heart that got her here, and a way with words and images that … marks the beginning of a new path to glory. A bold and beautiful collection” -- coverlaydown.com “This is the voice of a songwriter who has made her peace with the past and who is ready — and more than willing — to move forward.”-- Folkalley.com “A bold new sound, attitude and personal viewpoint…. engaging songs beautifully sung and arranged.” -- Music Matters Review |
CreditsProduced by Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry
Basics recorded by Mark Thayer, Signature Sounds Overdubs recorded by Jim Henry, Rubytone Studio Mixed by Bob Stark Mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Inc. Musicians: tg: acoustic guitar, violin, viola, glockenspiel, reed organ, tambourine, percussion, vocals Lorne Entress: drums and percussion Chris Haynes: accordion, keyboards Jim Henry: acoustic, electric, and baritone guitars, ebow, mandolin, bass on "Good Life", vocals Paul Kochanski: acoustic and electric bass Bob Stark: tambourine on "Good Life" All songs © Teresa M. Grammer / Tracy Grammer Music (BMI) except where noted. |
Kickstarter backer reactions..."This is pure beating broken beauty earporn. Thank you."
- V. Scarpa "I’m three songs in as I write this, and I’m astonished. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Congratulations! You did it!" - B. Cleary "I laughed I cried I sang and danced almost crapped my pants this thing turned out so freaking good, put me on the floor like an insect in the throes of death on my back arms and legs twitching in the air... knew it was going to be good and my imagination is quite fertile but man oh man oh man jumpin jesus !!"- W. Byrd "Brilliant and beautiful album, Tracy. We knew that it would be special because of those songs you've been playing for while now. But you still managed to blow past all those expectations!"- R. Cyr |
Lyrics |
Making LOW TIDE |
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1. HOLE
oh andy i’m afraid i don’t know what i’m made of anymore can’t make sense of all these shatterlings upon the bedroom floor there’ll be no sleeping here, just blurs of sorrow through the open door shoulda warned those boys about me, shoulda warned those boys i never mean to but somehow i always spill the loving cup it’s in some passionate exchange, it’s in the way i don’t let up cannot trust myself in love, seems i always fuck it up better warn those boys about me, you better warn those boys ’cause i bruise them, every one there’s a hole in the palm of my love i cut them; they run through the hole in the palm of my love my first love wouldn’t tell me why he changed his mind about our plans some vicious word i spoke just burned the gold right off the wedding band kept it to himself and now the ash is flying through my hands shoulda warned that boy about me and andy, i’m afraid this story’s gonna play out like the rest i’ll take this broken bird and hold him to my hopeful, heaving chest sing the mountain down while god remains oblique and unimpressed shoulda warned that boy about me ’cause i bruise them, every one there’s a hole in the palm of my love i cut them; they run through the hole in the palm of my love should they lock me up, oh andy, would you throw away the key let’s not talk about the girl i was and the wife i’ll never be let ’em cut the sword from underneath my tongue and set me free say something good about me, say something good though i bruised them, every one there’s a hole in the palm of my love i cut them; they run through the hole in the palm of my love there’s a sword under my tongue and a hole in the palm of my love and andy, one more thing, i’m leaving this old violin to you for all those easy nights and emails and the honest talking-to for every lie i told i never played a note that wasn’t true that’s one good thing about me, the one good thing ’cause i bruise them, every one there’s a hole in the palm of my love i cut them; they run through the hole in the palm of my love there’s a sword under my tongue and a hole in the palm of my love can’t save a single one with a hole in the palm of my love — doylestown PA / shutesbury MA 2. MERCY can’t start, too scared out of time and unprepared coulda jumped but you didn’t dare afraid to get it wrong tongue-tied, tripped again nobody’s gonna tell you when or if it’s right, or what you win or how to sing your song no chicken child, all but broke sway or worry, swallow smoke swinging from a scarlet oak it’s ashes out to sea bad love, hostile lines something here to redefine be forgiven for your crimes now babe, just let it be yeah ’cause it all unravels it all falls down down down and the big black gavel judge is in your head have mercy mercy mercy mercy now bright flash, burning tower shadows at the witching hour all your secrets, all that power and the promises of rain shot black shooting star medicine’s in mother’s jar freedom’s in the buffet car now get up on that train ’cause it all unravels … right words fix the chain hook yourself to this refrain all in sorrow, all in pain know that you belong ’cause it all unravels … -- doylestown, pennsylvania 3. FORTY-NINER everybody’s in their places with plastic buckets and hopeful faces padded stools and a couple glasses one for liquor, one for ashes it’s nickel slots and blackjack tables saggy jeans and phony sables sirens whine as the nickels fall pull again, bet it all then – hit it big, hit it fast it’s in your blood, the die is cast drop a dollar, drop a dime you’re an urban forty-niner sweet civilian silver miner and i’m the eye that sees it all from behind the disco ball fortune is a fickle mistress but jesus christ, you can’t complain hundred dollars in your pocket “lucky” is your middle name dealer boys in blue and black dealer girls with ample racks aces high and the deck is stacked see ’em swagger, see ’em laugh droppin’ dollars, droppin’ dimes no such thing as closing time double down and live the dream pretty ladies, jimmy beam you’re an urban forty-niner sweet civilian silver miner and i’m the eye that sees it all from behind the mirrored wall laughing fortune, texas tea leopard spots and turtle treasure double diamond, fire and sea cleopatra, life of leisure golden mountain, bigfoot bonus here today and now they own us lucky fortune, sun and moon where there’s gold, mr. woo laughing, crying, ’cause you work so hard didn’t they tell you there’s no such thing as easy money baby’s picture in your locket jesus christ on a chain seven dollars in your pocket dealer boys with empty hands cocktail girls and wedding bands aces high but the chips are flat break a sweat, watch your back droppin’ dollars, bummin’ dimes no such thing as quittin’ time double down and make a fist lady luck, near miss you’re an urban forty-niner sweet civilian silver miner and i’m the eye that sees it all yeah, mine’s the eye that sees it all from behind the waterfall -- blue lake casino, blue lake, california 4. THE MARK lyrics: kate cell. music: jim henry/tracy grammer abel lives off the fat of the land me, i got an old man’s back and a young man’s plan ain’t gonna plow nor reap nor pray god always liked him better anyway you shoulda seen my brother abel boots on the floor, hands on the table chapter and verse of the filial fable – i am cain tell me who wouldn’t rather tend than plow hell, i don’t believe in it anyhow no justice and no world to come heaven’s right here and me, i’m gonna get me some i shot him through his pretty boy eye i knew that’d make his mama cry i ate shepherd’s pie as i watched him die i am cain, i am cain, i am cain i’m headed out for the land of nod where they got themselves a different god ’cause that mean-ass god i don’t believe in marked my head as i was leavin’ am i my brother’s keeper i’m hell’s spy, i’m the devil’s sleeper the seed got sown, i’m just the reaper i am cain, i am cain, i am cain i am cain, i am cain, i am cain - shutesbury, massachusetts 5. DAFFODIL DAYS a festival tent, a wintertime trip that library tour, his trembling lip when he fell for me two years to the day, our daffodil hour two hearts finally home, true love finally ours he will marry me we planned on living light and traveling far currency of laughter, a couple old guitars a stormy first year, the whippingest gale rough waters ahead, red flag for a sail we’re in trouble here ours daffodil stems all bent and torn thin their sad yellow mouths cried the bleak giving-in surrendering we did not have a language for our pain i flooded him with pleas and sighs, he didn’t say a thing i waited for words, i watched him for signs but there’s nobody here and the garden’s gone dry those shoes in the hall, my towel on the rack and that frame on the nail – i take it all back ’cause no one can survive on nothing-there i came here for the long haul and it don’t seem fair what to do but pack up and move on in search of other gardens singing other songs last box in the truck, my cat in her crate so long to this love and my daffodil days bye-bye -- doylestown, pennsylvania 6. WERE YOU EVER HERE come tell me something you want tell me something you feel i thought that was part of the deal love is a sea full of stars in the morning it’s the sweetness inside of the storming but you have let go of my hand we are always home even standing near but i miss you, dear there’s a closing door and a fence of fear and i can’t get clear: were you ever here? I – well i feel like i’m starving for sunshine and the meters are threatening a flat line that wasn’t part of the plan love is the rain coming down in your blue eye it’s the backroads we promised to live by long before you let go of my hand we are always here but you’re never home and i feel alone such an awful ache when you disappear and we’re both right here now the question mark is my souvenir of these three long years – were you ever here? -- holden beach, north carolina 7. GOOD LIFE for my dad, james arthur grammer, sr. 1947-2013 twenty years old, just a fitful young man with a fire in my eye, liked a drink in my hand kissed a pretty young girl, got a gold wedding band and a baby on the way that we didn't quite plan and oh – headed out west and i ran a little hot and the drink in my hand, well, it didn’t cool me off it was right about the time my kid was sixteen i was scaring everybody, i got so bitter and mean and oh – but i used to dream of a little rowin’ boat it’d be me and the dog and we’d fish and we’d float and we’d live in one-level ranch with toads ’round the pond and doves in the branches and oh, what a good life sick of my scheming and costly mistakes i was losing my business, i was burning up the brakes i got sober as a mountain and my river turned cool i’d make it up to you, mama, but you’re leavin’ this fool, and oh – ’cause i used to dream we’d be gettin’ up at dawn we’d have chickens in the pen and some goats on the lawn and big trees and worms in the pail my heart on my sleeve, yeah, my love wouldn’t fail in my good life, in my good life well, i’m sixty-five now and they tell me i’m sick this pain in my belly, it is the reckoning stick, so i call up my daughter and we cry ourselves clear it’s forgiveness and grace and i wish you were here, y’know – last time we talked i was coming undone ’bout a sweet summer peach that tastes just like the sun with the juice from that fruit dripping all down my face there is only this moment, only this place: and the dream of a little rowin’ boat it’d be me and the dog and we'd fish and we’d float and we’d live in one-level ranch with toads ’round the pond and doves in the branches and oh, yeah, what a good life what a good life what a good life let it all go now and wipe it all clean ain’t no time for regret in the great in-between it was a hell of a ride and i wish i had known you can worry, you can wander, but we’re all just goin’ home i’ve had a good life i’ve had a good life i’ve had a good life -- doylestown, pennsylvania 8. THE VERDANT MILE i didn’t want to burn like this, so close to the bone no muscle left to carry it, this black bag of stones the august heat, the autumn rain, and winter’s face of blue these seasons keep their spinning up but there’s no sign of you there is no sign richard says the whippoorwill taught him how to go i tell him death is just a dream, but what do i know? it’s everything and nothing when the spirit cracks the sky but flowers fold and go to seed and no one questions why and so i walk this verdant mile of memory with you the gentle arms of eden and the mountain get me through i miss you like i love the sound of those blackbirds in the trees i sit alone and wish that maybe one of you would come visit me but no matter how much seed i hang or what prayer i call out i cannot bring that bird in from the field or make an angel come around and so i walk ... -- portland, oregon / missoula, montana 9. CLOUDBUSTING words and music by kate bush i still dream of orgonon i wake up crying you’re making rain and you’re just in reach when you and sleep escape me you’re like my yo-yo that glowed in the dark what made it special made it dangerous so i bury it and forget but every time it rains you’re here in my head like the sun coming out ooh, i just know that something good is gonna happen i don’t know when but just saying it could even make it happen on top of the world, looking over the edge you could see them coming you looked too small in their big, black car to be a threat to the men in power i hid my yo-yo in the garden but i can’t hide you from the government oh god, daddy – i won’t forget ’cause every time it rains you’re here in my head like the sun coming out ooh, i just know that something good is gonna happen i don’t know when but just saying it could even make it happen we’re cloudbusting we’re cloudbusting the sun’s coming out the sun’s coming out your son’s coming out ooh, i just know that something good is coming the sun’s coming out … 10. FREE once upon a heartbreak, i was hot and sore punching at the darkness in my private war i could not find the light i was so desperate for or any open door i wore my tattered shoes out on the grieving road fell into the arms of folks i didn’t know finally got so weary of this heavy load i learned to let it go i’m free all the worry, all the running away is done and blessed to be standing where i am with my feet upon the sand welcome, sweet contentment peace has found me whatever comes will be okay you know it will back then, i was running with a bitter crowd wrapped these songs around me like some widow’s shroud the poetry i wrote then was as mad and loud as any thundercloud now i’m standing where the river rushes to the sea full moon rising high above the redwood trees and every trial and trouble, every tragedy is just a memory i’m free all the worry, all the running away is done and blessed oh, to be standing where i am in the beauty of this land welcome, sweet contentment peace has found me whatever comes will be okay you know it will i’ve seen floods and i’ve seen fires suffered losses, thieves, and liars hear them howling in the wind for every storm that comes around and every love that let me down a flower blooms in the shallow ground hoping to be found now i’m standing where the river rushes to the sea full moon rising high above the redwood trees and every trial and trouble, every tragedy is just a memory i’m free all the worry, all the running away is done and blessed oh to be standing where i am with a flower in my hand welcome, sweet contentment peace has found me whatever comes will be okay whatever comes, it’s gonna be okay whatever comes will be okay you know it will -- little river, california # # # |
√ Recording
√ Mixing √ Mastering √ Artwork √ Duplication √ Kickstarter CDs shipped! In June 2017, Tracy Grammer appealed to fans, friends, and family for help raising the funds to record and produce a particularly special project -- her first album of original material. The response was nothing short of astonishing. Using the Kickstarter platform, backers leapt at the opportunity to support the project and hit the first goal of $25,000 in just 34 hours, and then went on to raise another $18,000 for duplication, promotion, and tour support -- a wild and unprecedented success. Recording began June 15 in Pomfret, Conn. at Signature Sounds Studios. Mixing took place from September through November in Portland, Ore., and the album was sequenced and mastered in Colorado in November. Digital downloads were delivered to all Kickstarter backers the third week of November while the package design was still underway. Design and duplication were completed in December and CDs finally arrived at TG headquarters on December 19, exactly one month before their retail release date of January 19, 2018. LOW TIDE was scheduled to take about three months to complete and ended up taking six -- but that's how art is sometimes. The end result was worth the wait. UPDATE 1/20/18 All CDs have been shipped. Backer rewards like cover songs and handwritten lyrics are in the works. Grateful for your patience! |