Calling Over Time
Monday April 21, 1997 – 9:00 pm
Edith Frost: CALLING OVER TIME
©1997, Drag City #DC89 (CD and LP)
Reviews (page back to ’97) • More Reviews
Purchase the CD or LP at Drag City, or get the CD on Amazon
MP3s are available from iTunes and Amazon
Lyrics are included with the album (CD version only)
Produced by Rian Murphy
Engineered & mixed by Jim O’Rourke
Photography by Chuck Cors
Musicians:
Edith Frost, Jim O’Rourke, David Grubbs, Rick Rizzo, Rian Murphy, Sean O’Hagan
Songs:
Temporary Loan; Follow; Calling Over Time; Denied; Pony Song; Too Happy; Wash of Water; Shadows; Thine Eyes; Give Up Your Love; Albany Blues
About the musicians:
This is Rian Murphy’s handwriting, on a piece of paper that I’ve always kept tucked inside my copy of the CD. It’s the legend of who played what instruments on what songs. I asked Rian to write it all out for me after we recorded the album; I knew I’d forget that stuff.
About the artwork:
The image on the cover of Calling Over Time looks like a painting, but it’s really just an upside-down photograph of a puddle. (If you turn your head a little, you can see the water, the pavement and the melting snow around the edges.) The photographer Chuck Cors is an old pal of mine from the Muze days… he took the picture around 1996 when we were coworkers there doing data-entry in Brooklyn, just across the East River from the always-looming World Trade Center towers in New York. Chuck snapped the photo while walking along the Westside Highway in Manhattan, and the building you see in reflection is the north tower of the WTC, with the south tower hidden behind it due to the angle. This picture has always meant a lot to me — it’s always been my favorite image of the city, and my favorite photo of Chuck’s. It’s a spooky dream-view that somehow perfectly represents the seven years I spent living and working in NYC, where I wrote and demo’ed all the songs that ended up on that first album. And obviously, the picture means even more to me now that that particular view is gone forever. :-(
September 10th, 2005 at 4:23 am
hello,
i bought you album calling over time when it was released and have been loving it since then. that’s the only album i have from you (well, last night i found out you sing on a jim o’rourke album). i found this site some years ago but my computer’s so slow and i’m so inpatient and a not so much computer nerd ass i wish… and this is the firts time i get in touch with the music/lyric part of your site……… but now my printer’s out so i cant print the lyrics… always something.. i did’nt know you were still making music, that you had more records than one + a single … i’m sure i’ll be looking for more of you
this is it.. for now..
ps do you tour?
thanxxx
willem
September 10th, 2005 at 4:25 am
and now your picters is on the screen
firts time i see who edith frost is!!
greetings, willem
I AM ONLY ALLOWED TO POST COMMENDS EVERY 120 SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! fu
September 10th, 2005 at 8:58 pm
Welcome to the internet Willem! Yes I do tour occasionally; look under the “shows” link at the top of the page or in the category list on the front page. I’m doing a US tour early in the new year but I don’t know when I’m touring Europe, maybe next spring or summer, we’ll see.
April 23rd, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Edith!!!!!
I have just recently discovered you! I was complaining just the other day that 2006 was shaping up to be a very boring year in music (save for Neko Case’s latest release….love it!). So I decided to be proactive about the situation and do some research on some people I might enjoy. I stumbled across your “Calling Over Time” and I am thoroughly addicted! The best part is is that I have been sick with the flu these past few days so I have had plenty of time to drug myself up on cough medication, lay on the couch, and just drift along to the CD. Thank you so much for putting out such a heartfelt recording! It only makes me more excited to know that this is your debut and I have many more releases to revel in. Thanks again, and do you ever tour down in *gulp* Florida??
much love and respect,
Paul-Dunn
April 11th, 2008 at 7:39 am
dear edith, thank you for one of the best albums of all times. the beauty of it is almost too much for me, makes me cry from euphoria. will love it forever. a personal thank you, tony
December 11th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Is there any history behind the song Give Up Your Love?
December 11th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
History? Umm… well it’s really old, and it’s a backwards song. I mean I wrote it by listening to another song backwards and trying to figure out what the chords would be and what the backwards-person was saying in English. I can’t remember what song it was that I turned around, I have a bunch of old songs like that.
May 19th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Hi Edith,
Ok so pitchfork is championing this new girl Sharon van Etten I think dragcity subsidiary label is putting out her record. the first single is called “For You” check it out on hypem.com It is melodically a total rip off the Calling Over Time sound and probably one song in particular, the cd is at my parents’ house can’t verify which track. It is truly egregious. Once the video goes up on youtube, I’m gonna shout it loud. You’re wonderful by the way.
May 19th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
You mean that song is a ripoff? I’m not hearing it… it’s a good song though, thanks for sharing. I’ll grant you that it sounds more or less up the same alley of a song I might do, but not any one in particular that I can think of. One thing that’s really different is that she’s doing a low harmony, whereas my songs are almost always high harmony (above the main vocal instead of underneath). I have a super hard time doing low harmony for some reason so I admire it when I hear it.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
the way the I do’s/ I wait for you/with you descend is signature you and only you to my ear the only cool part of the song. you are too kind Edith. I find the song really weak lyrically and the low harmony unremarkable. I will listen to Calling Over Time instead. Anyway, not trying to rile you up, looking forward to your future recordings and tours. warmly, phil.
May 26th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Hi, I don’t mean to beat a dead horse, but I’ve retrieved my copy of Calling Over Time and I thought I’d follow through with my assertion. It’s the title track that I personally feel that other artist’s song is derived from. I can sing her vocal melody over your song it just has a different lilt and her descending “I do I wait for you” with that funny key change at the bottom borrowed in my opinion from the guitar parts on Calling over Time where you stop singing. Phew. Cheers Edith!
May 27th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
There is nothing in music that hasn’t been done by someone else, somewhere. I’m flattered by what you’ve said but I don’t know, I’m still not hearing anything remotely similar enough to worry about. Not just saying that ‘cuz she’s a labelmate, I really believe we’re all doing minor-key variations of the same damn thing — one, four, five, one, and throw in a two sometimes — who hasn’t written that song? It’s all tricks of the trade, music mathematics 101. Just a matter of whether you like the results or not. I’m really glad you even remember Calling Over Time to tell ya truth. I still think it’s pretty special too. :-D
May 27th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Yeah, it’s just that when I heard that other song, I just got immediately confused and weirdly irritated and wanted to barf or cry or somethin and couldn’t figure out why and then in a flash was like “where is my goddamn calling o’er the times” cd!!! It flows similarly to Prince’s sign o’ the times. I think it’s reissue time. Wake up Drag City! I’m 30 this year, have only recently pulled focus on my songwriting, once I get some stuff up on a myspace (ugh) something classier hopefully, I’ll send you the link and perhaps you’ll have a listen and write me with your thoughts. au revoir, de Montreal.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:33 am
Your lyrics are truly inspired, and the music propels the vision of your work into an altogether blissful place. I don’t know quite how to explain myself… I’d just like to say that the discovery of your music has been a blessing, and I feel that it is something I truly need. Thank you for doing what you do.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Hey Edith,
I just wanted to make a general comment:
Thanks for putting out such incredible music! I can’t tell you how much of an inspiration you’ve been on my own compositions–not so much in literal sound, but in spirit. “Temporary Loan” is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. I hope that someday my songs will move others the way yours move me.
Sincerely, Max
P.S. Come tour in D.C.!