The Shaming of the True

The Shaming of the True is Kevin Gilbert's second solo album. It was released posthumously in 2000.

The release appeared in four editions to date: 1) a limited-edition (of 1400) hardbound book with CD edition released early in 2000, with artwork and complete libretto, 2) a more conventional jewel-case CD edition later in the year, 3) a remastered conventional jewel-case CD edition in 2008, and 4) Special Limited Edition 2 Disc Set with an orchestrated of A Long Day's Life, a spoken word version of the entire TSOTT performed by Jamie DeWolf, and fourteen 12“x 12” frameable quality prints.

Track listing

1. "Parade" - 3:44
2. "The City of the Sun" - 5:55
3. "Suit Fugue (Dance of the A&R Men)" - 2:24
4. "Imagemaker" - 3:38
5. "Water Under the Bridge" - 5:29
6. "The Best Laid Plans" - 5:38
7. "Certifiable #1 Smash" - 7:20
8. "Staring Into Nothing" - 5:51
9. "Fun" - 5:33
10. "From Here to There" - 2:11
11. "Ghetto of Beautiful Things" - 4:53
12. "A Long Day's Life" - 7:28
13. "The Way Back Home" - 4:55
14. "Johnny's Last Song" - 2:15

Story

The album follows the career of a singer/musician named Johnny Virgil, which follows an arc common to many big rock and roll bands/stars. It starts out promisingly, but he is lured into the common trap of record-company exploitation and seduced by fame and drugs/alcohol. He becomes more and more burned out and withdrawn as his career becomes larger than life, feeling like he's losing touch with his humanity, until the whole thing culminates in a breakdown. He goes through a period of disillusionment and depression but eventually makes peace with himself. A number of clues (last song title, lyric "End of a long days life," reprise of train whistle in distance, etc..) may also indicate that Johnny dies penniless on the street or takes his own life.

Personnel

• Kevin Gilbert - vocals, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, programming, sequencing
• Nick D'Virgilio - drums, bass, percussion, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
• Brian MacLeod - drums
• Tommy Dunbar, Rush Parrish, David Levita, Bill Bottrell - additional guitars
• Robert Ferris, Jennifer Gross, Skyler Jett, Claytoven, Sandy Sawyer, John Rubin, Tommy Dunbar - backing vocals
• The Le Petomane Ensemble - Horns
• John H. Seabury - Illustrations (also numbered-and-signed all 1400 copies of the original limited-edition hardbound book release)
• Hugh Brown - booklet designer

External links

• The Shaming of the True on progarchives.com