The Blasters (album)

The Blasters
Studio album by The Blasters
Released December 1981
Genre Rock and roll, rockabilly, roots rock
Length 30:47
Label US: Slash
UK: F-Beat
The Blasters chronology
American Music
(1980)		 The Blasters
(1981)		 Over There: Live at the Venue, London
(1982)

The Blasters is a 1981 album by American rock and roll band The Blasters. Although the album was released in the US by the independent label Slash Records, its strong sales performance required a deal for wider distribution with Warner Bros. Records.[1] The album was well-received, making Time magazine's list of "top 10 albums" for 1981 and peaking at #36 on Billboard's "Pop Albums".[2][3]

The album was issued in the UK via F-Beat Records. The British album featured different artwork from the American version.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [4]
Robert ChristgauA− [5]
Rolling Stone [6]
Sputnikmusic(4.0/5.0) [7]

The album was critically well received. According to a 2002 PopMatters article, the national distribution of The Blasters was an eye-opener for listeners of "rockabilly, country, blues, and New Orleans roadhouse R&B," who found a band capable of producing new material that "stood up well to the influences from whence they sprang".[8] Staff reviewer John Cruz of Sputnikmusic declared "they took all that was old and made it new again and took what was new and played it the way the cats way back when used to play it".[7] Trouser Press declared that the album "smokes" and that the band's performance was "tighter than a drum".[1] Rolling Stone praised the "bright, raw playing, terrific taste and...full-bodied vocals", while drawing special attention to the band's drummer, Bill Bateman, whose playing it indicated was "[t]he real key to the Blaster's exuberant authenticity...."[6]

Track listing

All songs composed by Dave Alvin, except where noted.

  1. "Marie Marie" – 2:07
  2. "No Other Girl" – 2:29
  3. "I'm Shakin'" (Rudy Toombs) – 2:22
  4. "Border Radio" – 2:47
  5. "American Music" – 2:10
  6. "So Long Baby Goodbye" – 2:24
  7. "Hollywood Bed" – 3:33
  8. "Never No Mo' Blues" (Elsie McWilliams, Jimmie Rodgers) – 2:47
  9. "This is It" – 2:15
  10. "Highway 61" (Albert Laundrew) – 3:00
  11. "I Love You So" (Bo Diddley) – 2:51
  12. "Stop the Clock" (Bob Ehret, Damon Robertson) – 1:56

The Blasters

With

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Young, Jon. The Blasters Trouser Press. Accessed October 30, 2007.
  2. ↑ Waldman, Scott. (November 8, 2002) A link in the chain. PopMatters. Accessed October 30, 2007.
  3. ↑ The Blasters - The Blasters > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums at AllMusic. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  4. ↑ Deming, Mark. "Review: The Blasters - The Blasters". Allmusic. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  5. ↑ Christgau, Robert (January 12, 1982). "Christgau's Consumer Guide: The Blasters". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 December 2012. Relevant portion posted in a revised version at "The Blasters: The Blasters > Consumer Guide Album". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  6. 1 2 Cohen, Deborah Rae (April 29, 1982). "The Blasters". Rolling Stone (Jann Wenner) (368): 54–55. Archived from the original on 10 July 2008.
  7. 1 2 Cruz, John (January 27, 2006). "The Blasters: Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings > Emeritus Review". sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  8. ↑ Bowden, Marshall. (June 11, 2002). The Blasters Testament PopMatters. Accessed October 30, 2007.


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