Borderline (band)

Borderline

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1971
Headquarters	Woodstock, New York , United States
Products	Music albums

Borderline was a band from the early 1970s based in Woodstock, New York, known for merging elements of folk, rock, country, and jazz. The group consisted of brothers David Gershen (born 1947) and Jon Gershen (born 1950), alongside Jim Rooney (born 1938). They produced two albums, with the second album seeing release exclusively in Japan in 2001 due to complications with their record label. Although their commercial impact was modest, Borderline played a significant role within the influential "Woodstock scene," sharing the era with artists such as Van Morrison and the Band. They were early contributors to what later became known as the "Americana" genre and featured prominent guest musicians, including members of the Band. After the group dissolved in 1974, the Gershen brothers engaged in various musical endeavors, while Rooney established a successful career as a Nashville producer collaborating with artists like Iris DeMent, Nanci Griffith, and John Prine.

Origins

The Gershen brothers initially formed the Montgomeries in New York City in 1968, together with Tony Brown, who would later gain recognition for his production work on Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks." In 1969, the band moved to Woodstock and developed connections with local musicians including Van Morrison, who became a close collaborator. Following the breakup of the Montgomeries, Jon Gershen crossed paths with Rooney—then serving as business manager at Bearsville Studios, established by Albert Grossman, who managed Dylan and others. Guitarists Rooney and Gershen found a distinctive musical chemistry and invited David Gershen, whose expertise lay in folk and country styles, to join them. By autumn 1971, this trio began working together earnestly and secured a deal with United Artists Records, which had previously expressed interest in the Montgomeries. They adopted the name Borderline to represent their blend of diverse musical influences coexisting harmoniously.

First album

In April 1972, Borderline commenced recording their debut album with support from notable musicians associated with the Woodstock scene. Keyboard contributions came from Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson of the Band, who participated under pseudonyms at Grossman's request. Additional collaborators included former Mothers Of Invention drummer Billy Mundi, fiddler Vassar Clements, saxophonist David Sanborn, bassist Jim Colegrove, and pedal steel guitarist/dobro player Ben Keith, known for his longstanding work with Neil Young. Producer John Simon also contributed piano parts on several tracks. The resulting album, Sweet Dreams and Quiet Desires, was released in April 1973 on UA's Avalanche label, with distribution across the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Australia. Promotional efforts featured an endorsement from Van Morrison. Despite favorable critical reception, commercial success was limited. The record's 11 songs combined traditional bluegrass tunes such as "Handsome Molly" and "Clinch Mountain" with original compositions like Jon Gershen's jazz-influenced "Dragonfly" and David Gershen's country-rock "The Distance." Vocals were shared among all three members. Avalanche/UA also issued a single in both the US and UK featuring David Gershen's "Don't Know Where I'm Going," backed by "Marble Eyes."

Second album

The creation of Borderline's sophomore album commenced in August 1973 at CRS Studios located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, a facility owned by producer Paul Leka. The recording sessions included skilled musicians such as guitarist Amos Garrett, bassist Will Lee, Ben Keith, David Sanborn, drummer Chris Parker, along with a New York City horn ensemble led by Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, and Barry Rogers. Under the production guidance of Jon Gershen, the album—originally named Borderline before being retitled The Second Album—was intended for release in January 1974. Among its standout tracks was Dave Gershen's vibrant, horn-heavy opener "Sonny Boy," which was considered for single release. All three members of the band contributed compositions and alternated lead vocal duties. Despite this, a shift in management at UA Records resulted in the project being shelved. The executive who had supported Borderline left the company, and his replacement decided to halt all unreleased recordings. As a result, The Second Album did not see the light of day until many years after the group had disbanded. Borderline dissolved shortly after UA Records canceled the album’s release. Eventually, in 2001, EMI Japan released the album on CD—using an acetate copy due to missing master tapes—following their 2000 CD reissue of Borderline’s debut record. These Japanese editions, though scarce, played a key role in highlighting Borderline’s importance within the early 1970s Woodstock music community.

U.S. releases of CDs

In January 2013, Real Gone Music, distributed by Sony Music Entertainment, issued both of Borderline’s albums together on a single compact disc, marking their first official U.S. CD release. This edition utilized original two-track master tapes recently recovered by EMI, resulting in significantly enhanced audio quality compared to earlier Japanese reissues. The packaging included fresh liner notes by Richie Unterberger and featured rare photographs provided by Jon Gershen.

Rooney, the Gershen brothers after Borderline

After Borderline's dissolution, Rooney embarked on a solo career and contributed to projects associated with Woodstock Mountains Revue before moving to Nashville. There, he worked closely with producer "Cowboy" Jack Clement at Jack’s Tracks studio and built a reputation as a successful producer, culminating in winning a Grammy Award in 1993 for Nanci Griffith’s album Other Voices, Other Rooms. Dave Gershen relocated to Colorado where he pursued solo endeavors with occasional live performances and recordings. Jon Gershen settled in Western Massachusetts, where he established a music publishing firm while maintaining his songwriting and production activities. The Gershen brothers reunited in 2003 to release "Faded Glory" on Boardinghouse Records under the name "Dave Gershen & Jon Gershen." Although work has begun on a follow-up album, it remains unfinished. Additionally, Jon Gershen has produced records for various artists throughout his career.