The Walking

{{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: 1987 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=The Speckless Sky1985Bound by the Beauty1989Studio albumThe WalkingThe Walking (Jane Siberry album - cover art).jpgJane Siberry19871987Manta Sound, TorontoArt pop, progressive pop57:44Duke Street, RepriseJane Siberry, John Switzerx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} The Walking is the fourth studio album by Jane Siberry. The album was released on Reprise Records internationally, but remained on the independent label Duke Street Records in Canada.

Critical reception

Template:Album ratings The album was initially poorly received by Canadian critics.<ref name=critical>"Critical love affair sours but Siberry not worried". Montreal Gazette, November 26, 1987.</ref> It largely turned its back on the quirky new wave pop that Siberry had been known for; in its place was a surreal amalgam of progressive rock and Laurie Anderson-style performance art narratives, only one of which was shorter than six minutes.<ref>John Griffin, "Siberry's The Walking vastly ambitious effort". Montreal Gazette, November 12, 1987.</ref>

Toronto progressive radio station CFNY, an early champion of Siberry's music, announced that it did not view any track on The Walking as viable for airplay on their station.<ref name=critical/> Sales of the album were slow at first, although they improved when Siberry provided radio stations with a shorter edit of "Ingrid and the Footman".Template:Citation needed

The album was better-received by critics in the United States, who were less familiar with Siberry's earlier pop-oriented material.<ref>Craig MacInnis, "See, art does imitate life". Toronto Star, March 20, 1988.</ref>

With the benefit of passing time, the Allmusic review by Sean Carruthers does a little bit of belated justice to the caliber of composition and performance of this recording: "It's her most accomplished work to date, but it's bound to lose the casual listener quickly."<ref name=allmusic />

The video for "Ingrid and the Footman" received a Juno Award nomination for Best Video at the Juno Awards of 1989.<ref>"Juno candidates announced". Vancouver Sun, February 2, 1989.</ref>

Track listing

All songs by Jane Siberry.

1. "The White Tent the Raft" – 9:12
2. "Red High Heels" – 7:19
3. "Goodbye" – 4:17
4. "Ingrid and the Footman" – 7:06
5. "Lena is a White Table" – 6:41
6. "The Walking (and Constantly)" – 6:16
7. "The Lobby" – 6:19
8. "The Bird in the Gravel" – 10:34

Personnel

• Jane Siberry – vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, backing vocals, bells
• Al Cross – drums, percussion, tambourine, backing vocals
• Anne Bourne – piano, organ, keyboards, backing vocals
• John Switzer – bass, tambourine, percussion, backing vocals
• Ken Myhr – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals

Additional personnel

• Rob Yale – keyboards on 1
• Wendell Ferguson – electric guitar on 4
• David MacVittie – backing vocals on 4
• Bob Blumer – backing vocals on 4
• Rebecca Jenkins – backing vocals on 4, 7
• Gina Stepaniuk – backing vocals on 4
• Cherie Camp – backing vocals on 4, 7
• Sarah McElcheran – trumpet on 7
• Steven Donald – trombone on 7

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Peak position	Weeks on the chart
1987	RPM Top 100 Albums	76<ref>Top Albums/CDs – Volume 47, No. 12, December 26, 1987</ref>	13