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Classic Songs
Revisited
The Distance
written by Greg Brown
produced by Cake
I’m making this page on June 25th, 2021, the 57th birthday of John
McCrea, one of the founding members, frontman and lead, um...
“singer” of Cake. (Let’s be real; the man can sing, but in lots of cases
like this, he’s more a lead chanter, yes?) Happy Birthday, JM!! And
do I even need to mention how this is the most appropriate possible band name to such an occasion?
I had expressed interest and liking in Cake’s song “The Distance” when it was new, based on which my folks got me Cake’s Fashion Nugget album in 1997—for Easter, actually. It was included in my basket that year. And you know, as much sweet stuff as you find in a typical Easter basket—jelly beans, chocolate, candy eggs, marshmallow Peeps... that’s the only kind of Cake that’s going to show up.
Anyway. Cake’s an American alternative group from Sacramento, formed in ’91 when John met and recruited trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Greg Brown, bassist Shon Meckfessel and drummer Frank French. The 1994 debut Motorcade Of Generosity was independent, before being picked up and issued by Capricorn Records, a division of PolyGram. Only one of its three singles, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Lifestyle,” dented the US Alternative chart.
That brings us to fall ’96, and Cake’s sophomore album Fashion Nugget. Now equipped with the establishment of their major label, and a bit of a fan following, Cake unleashed the 14-track Fashion Nugget, which spawned four singles, two of which charted: “The Distance,” and the band’s cover of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. There were a few other covers included, and it’s a well-rounded album overall. “Distance” was singled and released a month after the record dropped. But as well as it did and boosted FN, it was no match for album three—Prolonging The Magic—’s lead single “Never There,” Cake’s only #1 to date.
20+ years’ worth of Cake material followed, much of it charting just the same. Their record contract’s been shifted about a few times since, but as far as we can see they’re still under it, and still releasing. Just goes to show you, when you love what you do, and you’ve got the talent for it—and you’re obsessed enough to survive in it—even one as demanding as the music business can be a piece of... nah, too easy.
Have notes to add? Let me know!
YT:
1996
Lyrics
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line / Engines pumping and thumping in time / The green light flashes, the flags go up / Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup / They deftly maneuver, and muscle for rank / Fuel burning fast on an empty tank / Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns /
Their prowess is potent, and secretly stern / As they speed through the finish, the flags go down / The fans get up, and they get out of town / The arena is empty, except for one man / Still driving and striving, as fast as he can / The sun has gone down, and the moon has come up / And long ago, somebody left with the cup / But he’s driving and striving, and hugging the turns / And thinking of someone for whom he still burns / He’s going the distance, he’s going for speed / She’s all alone, (all alone) all alone in her time of need / Because he’s racing and pacing, and plotting the course / He’s fighting and biting, and riding on his horse / He’s going the distance / Yaah! Ho! / Oh, no, all right, oh / No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine / He’s haunted by something he cannot define / Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse / Assail him, impale him, with monster-truck force / In his mind, he’s still driving, still making the grade / She’s hoping in time that her memories will fade / ’Cause he’s racing and pacing, and plotting the course / He’s fighting and biting, and riding on his horse / The sun has gone down, and the moon has come up / And long ago, somebody left with the cup / But he’s striving and driving, and hugging the turns / And thinking of someone for whom he still burns / ’Cause he’s going the distance, a-he’s going for speed / She’s all alone, (all alone) all alone in her time of need / Because he’s racing and pacing, and plotting the course / He’s fighting and biting, and riding on his horse / He’s racing and pacing, and plotting the course / He’s fighting and biting, and riding on his horse / He’s going the distance, he’s going for speed / He’s going the distance / Hey! Hey! Hey! / Ohhh, hey! Hey! / Oh, no, oh, no / So, sad! All right / Oh, no, oh, no / Yaah, yaah
first release: Fashion Nugget (1996/09/17)
audio treated sample
This page was originally made on June 25th, 2021 and last edited on July 23rd, 2021