Low Estate

Low Estate
Studio album by 16 Horsepower
Released	1997
Recorded	Dockside Studios, Lafayette, Louisiana
Genres	Country rock neo-gothic
Length	50:09
Label	A&M
Producer	John Parish
16 Horsepower chronology
Sackcloth 'n' Ashes (1996) Low Estate (1997) Secret South (2000)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
The Phantom Tollbooth
NME

Low Estate is the second full-length album by 16 Horsepower. Produced by John Parish and released in 1997, only a year after Sackcloth 'n' Ashes, it drew heavily upon compositions pre-dating the band's first album. Original bassist Pascal Humbert rejoined the band prior to the recording. It is their only studio album to feature Jeffrey-Paul Norlander (of The Denver Gentlemen, pre-16 Horsepower band formed in 1988 by him and David Eugene Edwards).

Track listing

US version

All lyrics are written by David Eugene Edwards, except where noted; all music is composed by 16 Horsepower, except where noted.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
1.	"Brimstone Rock"		4:29
2.	"My Narrow Mind"		2:59
3.	"Low Estate"		4:10
4.	"For Heaven's Sake"		4:54
5.	"Sac of Religion"	David Eugene Edwards, Jeffrey-Paul Norlander	3:28
6.	"The Denver Grab"	Edwards, Norlander	5:03
7.	"Ditch Digger"		3:22
8.	"Pure Clob Road"		3:43
9.	"Phyllis Ruth"		4:36
10.	"Black Lung"		2:26
11.	"Dead Run"		3:20
12.	"Golden Rope"		4:15
13.	"Hang My Teeth on Your Door"	Norlander	2:36

European version

The 1997 European release replaced "Ditch Digger" with a re-recording of "Coal Black Horses", originally featured on the 16 Horsepower EP.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
1.	"Brimstone Rock"		4:29
2.	"My Narrow Mind"		2:59
3.	"Low Estate"		4:10
4.	"For Heaven's Sake"		4:54
5.	"Sac of Religion"	Edwards, Norlander	3:28
6.	"The Denver Grab"	Edwards, Norlander	5:03
7.	"Coal Black Horses"		3:54
8.	"Pure Clob Road"		3:43
9.	"Phyllis Ruth"		4:36
10.	"Black Lung"		2:26
11.	"Dead Run"		3:20
12.	"Golden Rope"		4:15
13.	"Hang My Teeth on Your Door"	Norlander	2:36

1998 European reissue

The 1998 European version omits "Dead Run" but adds "Ditch Digger" and two additional cover songs, both recorded in collaboration with French singer Bertrand Cantat of Noir Désir: "Fire Spirit" (by The Gun Club) and "The Partisan" (by Anna Marly).

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Brimstone Rock"			4:29
2.	"My Narrow Mind"			2:59
3.	"Low Estate"			4:10
4.	"For Heaven's Sake"			4:54
5.	"Sac of Religion"	Edwards, Norlander		3:28
6.	"The Denver Grab"	Edwards, Norlander		5:03
7.	"Coal Black Horses"			3:54
8.	"Pure Clob Road"			3:43
9.	"Phyllis Ruth"			4:36
10.	"Black Lung"			2:26
11.	"Fire Spirit"	Jeffrey Lee Pierce	Jeffrey Lee Pierce	2:57
12.	"Golden Rope"			4:15
13.	"Hang My Teeth on Your Door"	Norlander		2:36
14.	"Ditch Digger"			3:21
15.	"The Partisan"	Hy Zaret	Anna Marly	4:14

Charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	93

Personnel

16 Horsepower

• David Eugene Edwards – vocals, banjo, guitar, hurdy-gurdy, concertina
• Jeffrey-Paul Norlander – backup vocals, fiddle, cello, organ (credited as "Jeffrey-Paul")
• Jean-Yves Tola – drums, percussion, piano
• Pascal Humbert – bass guitar, bass fiddle, guitar

Additional musicians

• John Parish – additional percussion, organ, guitar, xylophone
• Steve Taylor – guitar on "Phyllis Ruth"
• Bertrand Cantat – vocals, guitar and harmonica on "Fire Spirit" and "The Partisan"
• Shane Hotle – piano on "The Partisan"

Technical

• John Parish – production, mixing on "Hang My Teeth on Your Door"
• Jeff Powell – engineering
• Phil Nicolo – mixing, engineering on "Fire Spirit" and "The Partisan"
• Shane Hotle and 16 Horsepower - production and mixing on "Fire Spirit" and "The Partisan"
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Sunja Park – art direction, design
• Ken Schles – photography