Art Bergmann is an eponymous album by Art Bergmann, originally released in 1991 on CD and cassette by Polygram. Produced by Chris Wardman it was recorded and mixed at Manta Sound in Toronto. The album included the charting singles "Faithlessly Yours”, "If She Could Sing", and “Message from Paul”.
The 2017 re-release is entitled Remember Her Name which is the lead song from the album, a tribute to Marianne Faithful. Art initially wanted to call the song “Marianne Faithful” but his label at the time were concerned about the legalities and made him change the name of the song, which became “Remember Her Name”. The new re-release was re-mastered by Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel Mastering and includes the unreleased bonus track “Wide On/Hard Body” which was recorded during the original sessions. The re-release also contains new artwork composed of recent photos by longtime friend and photographer Sharon Steele, and photographer Lisa MacIntosh, who shot portraits of Art for her Great Hall series.
“This re-release holds a great depth of meaning for me as it comes 25 years after I met and married Sherri at the same time as writing and recording the thing. She is definitely a muse to some of these tracks, "Ruin My Life", "Faithlessly Yours" and to the whole endeavor, really. She is my conscience to this day. We got to go to south coast of Spain to shoot the films for three of the tracks with Roy A. Pike and the infamous Corky Laing and the joy of making them is evident in the performances. Also, Antonio our amazing facilitator in Spain, who found the best places for our 4 hour breaks out of the heat. My memory holds an unforgettable spot for that time of my life. Have to add to all this love the geo-politics of the time which have only worsened over time.” – Art Bergmann
(weewerk)047
credits
released May 17, 2017
ART BERGMANN – REMEMBER HER NAME
1. Remember Her Name 5:05
2. American Wife 4:22
3. Message From Paul 4:07
4. Faithlessly Yours 3:44
5. Crackin’ Up 4:28
6. If She Could Sing 3:28
7. Baby Needs Oil 3:42
8. I Can’t Change This World 3:57
9. Ruin My Life 3:07
10. God’s Little Gift 4:21
11. Wide On/Hard Body 3:08
TOTAL: 43:55
Art Bergmann: guitars and vocals
Chris Wardman: guitars
Jason Sniderman: piano, tape delay, organ, & keys
Jamey Koch: bass
Joel Anderson: drums
Programming: Jason Sniderman & Chris Wardman
Backing Vocals: Laura Hubert, Paul MacAusland, Jamey Koch, Cassandra Vasik, Chris Wardman, Art Bergmann
Words & Music: Art Bergmann, except where noted.
“This re-release holds a great depth of meaning for me as it comes 25 years after I met and married Sherri at the same time as writing and recording the thing. She is definitely a muse to some of these tracks, "Ruin My Life", "Faithlessly Yours" and to the whole endeavour, really. She is my conscience to this day. We got to go to south coast of Spain to shoot the films for three of the tracks with Roy A. Pike and the infamous Corky Laing and the joy of making them is evident in the performances. Also, Antonio our amazing facilitator in Spain, who found the best places for our 4 hour breaks out of the heat. My memory holds an unforgettable spot for that time of my life. Have to add to all this love the geo-politics of the time which have only worsened over time.” – Art Bergmann
ART WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
Sherri Decembrini. Corky Laing and Bob Landis, my A&R helpers at the time Sharon Steele, Lisa MacIntosh, Chris Wardman, Roy A. Pike, Arch Audio, Calgary Folk Festival, Wes Smith, Blue Frog Studio, Donna Kerbel, Blacksheep Inn, Tony Dekker, Johanna Schwartz, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, (weewerk)
To all those who have shared a stage with me over the years.
TeamArt members: Gordon M. Celesta, Gordon Withers, Colin Smith, Jason Schneider & Phil Klygo
2016 Re-release Credits:
Front Cover photo by Sharon Steele
Back Cover and CD booklet photos by Lisa MacIntosh
Artwork / Packaging: Andre Skinner
Audio Remastered: Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel
Copyright: SOCAN / Art Bergmann / (weewerk)047
Original 1991 Release Credits:
Producer: Chris Wardman
Recording & Mix Engineer: Ron Searles
Tracking Assistant: Diana Eljabri
Mix Assistants: John Hurlbut (Wheels) & John Rodd
Recorded & Mixed at Manta Sound, Toronto, ON, April 1991
Mastered by: Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk, New York
Managed by: Sam Feldman & Jeff Rogers
Released by: Polygram Records of Canada Inc.
Remember Her Name
Her first breath
Is drawn through a cigarette
Her first drink
Last night's scotch
Just to wet her cracked lips
She looks at the man beside her
Lying in the bed
She doesn't know his name
She only hopes he's not dead
She feels like
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
She hopes at the end of the day
Someone remembers her name
She goes out for some late afternoon work
Down in Times Square
Maybe she'll meet Steven Tyler
On a double dare
Turning tricks in a theater
She's a creature
In her own double feature
She feels like
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
She hopes at the end of the this day
Someone remembers her name
At the end of the day
Remember her name
I do
It's Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
On a good day
Or a bad day
Lyrics: Art Bergmann, Music: Art Bergmann & Susann Richter
American Wife
A million American suits
Fly to Eastern Europe
They're free now
Deliver American know-how
Teach 'em how to vote
More like how to buy votes
Burn it down
Start all over again
Watch the reunited Germans
You know they make the best business men
But we've got a billion hamburgers
Free coke
White collar criminals
And money for dope
Burn it down
Start all over again
You bed me
You wed me
American wife
You led me
You bled me
American wife
Burn it down
The circus goes to Moscow
And we're gonna bring along a rock show
They tell me Leningrad's a-go-go
So don't be slow with the blow Joe
Burn it down
Start all over again
Please don't be waiting too long
Please don't be waiting too long
Lyrics & Music by: Art Bergmann & Jamey Koch
Message From Paul
I really love your long blonde hair
You know I love the way you stare
Would you still take me back if I'm sent home from there
If I mistake him for someone who could ever care
I got my message from Paul
It could mean nothing at all
I got my message from Paul
It could mean nothing at all
Bells keep ringing in my ears
A blue light snaps from eye to eye
I was hoping you felt the same
Or have I just gone Insane
I got my message from Paul
Like a New Testament call
Like walking down the Damascus Road
Under some kind of heavy load
Bells keep ringing in my ears
A blue light snaps from eye to eye
I was hoping you felt the same
Or have I just gone insane
I got my message from Paul
I got my message from Paul
It could mean nothing at all
Could it be better than watching your long hair fall
Faithlessly Yours
God's got an answer in that jukebox
I pick the wrong song every time
I know my song is in that jukebox
And I've been suckered for the last time
How could I be so so silly
Now the evidence is in
How could I be faithlessly yours
Faithlessly yours
God hid an answer in her body
I've been in the wrong room for so long
I found no questions in her body
I'm in the room where I belong
How could I be so so silly
Now the evidence is in
How could I be faithlessly yours
Now the evidence is in
Now the evidence is in
God placed an ad in her paper
A cryptic clue without a crossword
How could I have known she worked that paper
The sweetest sound the world has heard
How could I be so so silly
Now the evidence is in
How could I be faithlessly yours
How could I be faithlessly yours
Crackin' Up
Who is it up there tonight
Is that you in the spotlight
Whose voice is coming out of that face
Is that you or am I viewing tape
Crackin' Up
Crackin' Up
Who are you trying to imitate
Stop lying to me you're tempting fate
I've never been one who's prone to violence
But I've been keeping you under serveillance
Crackin' Up
Crackin' Up
You're just a memory that makes me go astray
You're just a memory that makes me go astray
Crackin' Up
Crackin' Up
If She Could Sing
If she could sing
I wonder what she'd say
Would she do as I've done
And put me on display
Use me for fun
As I have done
As I have done
She'd make me shudder and run
If she could sing
Just like me
Would she bring
Heartache and misery
Throw me to the Huns
As I have done
As I have done
She'd make me shudder and run
Maybe there is something someone
Could have said or done
To change my mind
I don't think so this time
When she finds her voice I'll listen
For a clue to what was missing
When I placed the emphasis
On mine
If she could sing
I wonder what she'd say
If she could sing
Just like me
She would call me down
She would call me down
She would call me down
She would call me down
Baby Needs Oil
I've uncovered an unearthly delight
TV battles in my desert night
A superbowl of candy missles in flight
Tell me why are all the newsmen white
My baby needs oil
She's been drinking like it's going out of style
My baby's love's on the boil
She's found a new land to soil
I've uncovered an unearthly delight
A million cars filled up on Exxon light
My baby's engine's all rusted up tight
She wants it every night
My baby needs oil
She's been drinking like it's going out of style
My baby's love's on the boil
She's found a new land to soil
Boys and girls sleep in my desert night
A lover's moon hangs in ghastly pale light
Soldier's wives sleep with Elvis tonight
I'm just trying to demystify
My baby needs oil
She's been drinking like it's going out of style
My baby's love's on the boil
She's found a new land to soil
Lyrics: Art Bergmann, Music: Art Bergmann & Ray Fulber
I Can't Change This World
January 15, 1991... I feel like gettin' down
on my knees and prayin'... I'm walkin'
straight to my lover... In the east end
they're comin' down... I've made a big
decision towards the other. Walking
through Japantown... Watching bums
steal fruit from sidewalk stands... Without
ever getting caught. I'm thinking about
what Knowlton Nash said on the National
News... About some war correspondent...
Talking from the front... The thrill of
getting shot at and missed... Me, I'm
supposed to be writing a hit.
I can't change this world
It's too dangerous for all the boys and girls
All the creeps and the jerks that pass
me and harass me... They think I've got
something... Something more... Something
to give them... I blame them. I put my
ear to the ground and listen for the sound
of falling change... Get out my walker to
look for a transfer to get out of range of
people hating people for all weird
reasons... Around the world they throw
toys like an angry little brother in a
sandbox... With the hatred of an unrequited
lover... Or an envious kid sister.
I can't change this world
It's too dangerous for all the boys and girls
Sit around all day just waiting for
something clever to say... I'm losing my
grip on this pen and feel like searching
for my syringe again... Makes me hate
my own song.
I can't change this world
It's too dangerous for all the boys and girls
I can't change this world
It's too dangerous for all the boys and girls
I can't change this world
Lyrics: Art Bergmann, Music: Art Bergmann & Susann Richter
Ruin My Life
Ruin my life
Open my eyes to the broad daylight
Take me home
Get me to bed by midnight
Ruin my life
Open my eyes to the broad daylight
Take me home
Keep me safe and warm
Do what you like
Unless your freedom is the price
Take me home
Keep me from all harm
You say that I can do what I want
Hey hey I'm not that strong
You say that I don't get it
I'm ready to admit it
That I can't shake it off
Ruin my life
Hold your nose
When I come back in a week in somebody's clothes
Smell this rose
Keep me from an overdose
Make me hope
Make me hope I die when I get old
Take my drugs
And throw 'em out the window
Change my bed, change my head
Everything was going wrong until now
Take every promise I've ever broken
Turn them into a vow
Is this ring really dipped
In a thousand drinks
I'd give it all up
Just to sink inside her experience
Ruin my life
God's Little Gift
A neurotic old romance
Is claiming young men
No amount of destruction
Will give you land
Return to the holy land
Let's see what you've planned
What do the chosen few
Choose for you
Soon we'll be a page in your history
But we will never meet again
You think you're God's little gift to the world
God's little gift to the world
We're making advances
Calling you up for national gain
No amount of seduction
Will ease the pain
You'll never get much from me
There's just enough to go around
You think you're God's little gift to the world
God's little gift to the world
Just like a girl who screams in your ear
With the secret of the year
Here's an army to fear
They think they're god's little gift to the world
God's little gift to the world
Lyrics: Art Bergmann & William Scherk, Music: Art Bergmann
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