Tapping on the Line

Album: Edge of the Sun (2015)
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Songfacts®:

  • The Calexico band members have known Neko Case since the early 2000s and they have made several contributions to her records, but this was the first time she's sung on one of their tracks. It was regular touring member Sergio Mendoza who encouraged frontman Joey Burns to request the folk-rocker's participation. He told Spin: "I've never asked her to be on a Calexico record till Edge of the Sun, so Sergio again was like, 'C'mon, she's coming through town with these photographers, she'll have time to come by.' I was like, 'You're joking, man. She's busy. She's probably exhausted from being on tour like all of us.'"

    "But she came in and she put some beautiful vocals on the bridge to the song called 'Tapping on the Line,' which is one of the more unlikely Calexico-sounding songs," he added. "She just cruised in and gave some great vocals, and then she just kind of gave us a hug and went off to play a show."
  • Joey Burns commented to The Tucson Weekly regarding the lyrical content: "Hearing so much about wire tapping in the news, it was only a matter of time before a song like this showed evidence of their influence."

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