ADD: Across the Borderline (Ry Cooder)

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Ron Davies
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 01:14 AM

I was a bit too hasty perhaps on the Partners CD.    I think Across the Borderline, Girls From Texas, West Texas Waltz, and Carmelita are superstrong songs.   (Of course I think the singers on each do a stellar job, which might influence my view.) The other songs are fine too--except possibly for Change Partners and Don't Worry Baby.   Those two are too rocked up for my taste (I have no objection to rock, just that it doesn't seem to fit the rest of the songs here---and more to the point, doesn't seem to let Flaco shine as much as the others do on the CD.) The Spanish language songs, of course, are also perfect for him.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 12:35 AM

Thanks, Dan! Nice and clean!

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 07:38 PM

I have a couple of cds by Flaco. I may add this one.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 05:37 PM

Agree that the Partners CD is great. I thought every track was a winner and I never tire of listening to the CD. Across the Borderline and the Girls of Texas were my favorite tracks but I liked it all.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Ron Davies
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 03:47 PM

The only thing left out is, ironically, the part of the song in Spanish--which also adds a lot.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Ron Davies
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 03:45 PM

On the CD "Partners", John Hiatt is accompanied by Flaco Jimenez (it's Flaco's CD). The whole CD is just great. Or you can buy just this one song for 99 cents on i-Tunes. Flaco adds so much to the song it's hard to describe.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 03:31 PM

As I was going to say up above before I was rudely interrupted by the computer developing a mind of its own, there is a nice version of Across the Borderline by the Finland singer, Kari Tapio.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 12:30 PM

it is here Amos
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=8982891

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 12:26 PM

Amos
http://soundclick.com/danoconnell I think it is on page two or three of the recordings

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 11:19 AM

I seldom recommend versions of a song, and when I do, I usually (should) give my reasoning.
Everyone has favorites. As Arkie says, other versions can be great.

Please post your favorites, if there are differences from the one first posted.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: GUEST,A
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 10:22 AM

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 10:11 AM

I realize that this thread is more about recording than the song "Across the Borderline" but this is among my most favorite and I grab versions whenever possible. Like versions by De Danann and the Faraway Brothers also. Though John Hiatt's and Willie's versions are both great.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Amos
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 12:23 AM

Dan, what is your artist name on Soundclick? I can't locate the recording by its songID.

A

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Amos
Date: 30 Jul 13 - 12:12 AM

Ron:
Yes.

Sorry about the ACII. I don't quite dig what it is that makes copy and paste look fine on my home machine but all pied when displayed after posting. Obviously the interpreter engine is misreading the character codes, or using the wrong character set, compared to mine. Not sure where the key is to untangle it.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 11:50 PM

Great song from one of my favorite Jack Nicholson films.

olddude, I'd like to hear your version, but your link takes me no further than the Soundclick home page, with no clue how to find it.
That's happened before with other songs of yours I wanted to hear. Any idea what's the problem?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 11:23 PM

So my Spanish was correct, it appears--except for accents (can't figure out how to put them in with this computer).

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 04:22 PM

Correction- Spanish 3rd line- más allá

Subject: ADD: Across the Borderline (Ry Cooder, et al)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 04:19 PM

ACROSS THE BORDERLINE
Ryland Peter Cooder, John Robert Hiatt, James Luther Dickinson

There's a place where I've been told
Every street is paved with gold
And it's just across the borderline
And when it's time to take your turn
Here's a lesson you must learn
You could lose more than you ever hope to find.

And when you reach the broken promised land
Every dream slips through your hands
Then you'll know it's too late to change your mind
'Cause you've paid the price to come this far
Just to wind up where you are
And you're still just across the borderline.

Up and down the Rio Grande
A thousand footprints in the sand
Reveal the secret no one can define;
The river flows on like a breath
In between our life and death
Tell me who's the next to cross the borderline.

En la triste oscuridad
(In the sad darkness)
Hoy tenemos que cruzal
(Today we have to cross)
Este río que nos llama más allí
(This river which calls us onward)

But hope remains when pride is gone
And it keeps you moving on
Calling you across the borderline.

When you reach the broken promised land
Every dream slips through your hands
Then you'll know it's too late to change your mind
'Cause you've paid the price to come this far
Just to wind up where you are
And you're still just across the borderline.

From the net, lyricsfreak, metrolyrics, etc.

Sheet music (Universal Music Pub.) not seen.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 03:16 PM

Amos--


So that 3rd line in Spanish has to be:

Este rio que nos llama mas alla

Is that right?

Thanks,

Ron

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Amos
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 12:22 PM

Ry Cooder's performance of 'Across the Borderline' is slower and laconic. It includes the brief section in Spanish that has gotten dropped from some other covers.

En la triste oscuridad (In the sad darkness)
Hoy tenemos que cruzar (today we have to cross)
Este río que nos llama más allá (this river which calls us further away)

But hope remains when pride is gone
And it keeps you moving on
Calling you across the borderline

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Severn
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 11:07 AM

It was originally written for the Ry Cooder-assembled soundtrack of the 1981 movie "The Border" starring Jack Nicholson, with Freddy Fender doing the lead vocal (Backstreet LP BSR 6105, also on and the soundtrack anthology "Music by Ry Cooder Warner Bros.9 45987-2 ). It circulated among a group of friends that were there at the creation, as Ry Cooder himself sang it on "Get Rhythm" (Warner Bros.7599-25639-2) and John Hiatt took his turn guesting on Falco Jimenez's "Partners" (Reprise 9 26822-2). Flaco played on or was involved with Ry's recordings, as well. I wouldn't be surprised if it made its way into the Texas Tornados' live sets, with Freddy and Flaco involved in that band.

The Nelson recoding that featured that song was one of the better ones he ever released, with a fine song selection throughout.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: olddude
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 09:34 AM

Hi Charlie that was just one take. I haven't performed this one in public yet although I want to. I was thinking I really do need work on my phrasing.. not just this one but many of my original songs. Thank you for pointing that out because I was thinking the same thing. I felt also with too many of my original songs I tend to drag. I wanted to use this song because so many people know it and its timing is similar to several songs I wrote.   

really really appreciate it my friend. good catch good suggestions

Dan

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 09:26 AM

Dan-

Sounds as if you've got a good recording set-up, and editing ability.

I find it hard to judge music quality from my computer's speaker, especially MP3 files. When I'm working with my own recording I swap between headphones (AKG-271) and a set of old KLM speakers (more indulgent than my headphones!).

I'm thinking I'd like to hear this song sung at a slightly faster pace. The phrasing also doesn't seem seasoned yet. How long have you worked with this song and have you performed it in public?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: olddude
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 08:08 AM

Will
I am using an Onyx firewire recorder on a notebook, two phantom powered mikes ... the software is called Kristal ...I also use Audacity to cut and convert to mp3

Thanks for your help my friend

Dan

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 08:04 AM

What sort of recording kit are you using - just out of interest?

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: olddude
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 07:33 AM

there is a method to my madness. I post the songs because I have a new CD of originals that I want to do but I have to do it at home. The cost of studio time in this part of the country is very high. So I post the songs for suggestions on making the recording technique better so I can do the CD the best I can. So many people that know about this stuff and far more experienced ears

thank you

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: olddude
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 07:14 AM

TwickFolk ... thank you ... I didnt know that, only ever heard Willie do it, I thought he wrote it alone ... thanks for the info on Ry, john and Jim.

Will, very much appreciate it. I am trying to get the recording as clean as I can. It has been a struggle and other more experienced ears is always so nice to have

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 04:25 AM

Hi Dan - the balance and separation between voice and guitar sound nice to me. And a very clear and noise-free recording.

I would personally have added a little low-range EQ to the guitar - just to bring up some bass tones - but, apart from that, very nice indeed.

Subject: RE: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: evansakes
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 03:52 AM

Any suggestions you ask?

For starters how about getting your facts right....this isn't a Willie Nelson song.

It's co-written by Ry Cooder, John Hiatt and Jim Dickinson.

Willie Nelson is one of the artists who have sone a cover version.....one of many.

Subject: Across the Borderline - olddude
From: olddude
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 12:24 AM

One of my favorite Willie Nelson songs. Trying to get the recording levels correct .. any suggestions please let me know.

across the borderline