Line Up:
Walter Trout: Guitar and Vocals
James Trapp: Bass
Bernard Pershey: Drums
Bill Mason: Organ B3 and keyboards

Additional musicians:
Pat Register: Saxophone
Scott Thompson: Trumpet
Rick Steff: Accordion

Background singers:
William Brown, Bertram Brown, James Nelson, Wally Bass, Reba Russell, Jackie Johnson, Trisha Freeman

Release date

5/2001

Release Notes

With Walter's popularity growing in sales and live attendance, GO THE DISTANCE comes out at a perfect time in Trout's career.

Being asked to play at every major Blues Festival in the US, "THE RADICAL'S" touring has taken them world wide, gaining them greater popularity. It's a battle that is starting to earn him recognition.
PRODUCED BY JIM GAINES and recorded in Memphis in February and March 2001.

Song Summaries by Walter Trout

Message on the Doorway
Inspired by a homeless woman who I've written about on previous albums. It fits in with a chronicle of songs I've composed about life in Huntington Beach. She had an incredible writing talent but truth be known, I wrote the lyrics on a Virgin Atlantic vomit bag during a flight from England to home.

Love So Deep
This song took us the most work in the studio. It started out super fast and we eventually slowed it down. It's got a kicking groove and is definitely reminiscent of my days playing with Canned Heat.

Ride 'Til I'm Satisfied
An analogy of a guy taking a long motor cycle trip, just out seeing where he can go with no particular destination in mind, just taking the trip for the experience of doing it and not even knowing where he is going to end up, which is what my whole career has been.

Go The Distance
Another career analogy. A boxer is just trying to make it through the fight, maybe not winning. Dare I say like the movie Rocky where his whole goal was to stay on his feet through the fight and not get knocked out.

Bugle Billie
A buddy who I played with in the drum and bugle corps that got killed in Vietnam.

Out of Control
It's just a fun balls out rock and roll song - - the exact opposite of Bugle Billie.

We're Doing Just Fine
It's an actual slow blues with a positive message; it doesn't say, "My baby left me, I'm bummed out." It says, "Hey babe we're doing great, things are going good for us."

Gotta Leave This Town
My advice to a band in a certain English town who I always tell to move to London in order to launch their career.

Looking For The Promised
I refer to Moses and Daniel from the bible
Land and Martin Luther King as historical figures who tried to make a better world.

I Don't Want My MTV
Just listen to it.

Always Been A Dreamer
It's another thing kinda looking at my life and seeing where I've come from and how I ended up here. It ends with a little reference to falling in love with my wife. On that note I have a ballad called Faithful.

Faithful
A declaration to my wife that in the eleven years we have been together I have been faithful to her. Another really simple tune with a message specifically for my wife.

Down To You
It's a hard rocking tune with distorted guitars and me screaming. The lyrics are blatantly Christian.

 

Tracklist

1. Love So Deep
2. Outta Control
3. Lookin’ For The Promised Land
4. Ride ‘Till I’m Satisfied
5. Go The Distance
6. Message On The Doorway
7. Faithful
8. Down To You
9. Bugle Billy
10. Gotta Leave This Town
11. I Don’t Want My MTV
12. Doin’ Just Fine
13. Always Been A Dreamer