Blasters – Border Radio

You can hear, feel, and get a thrill from this song that was obviously influenced by early rock and roll. It’s like a car that hits you and just keeps rolling on…and you never catch the license plate…but you still feel honored to get hit by this one.

The Blasters released this song in 1981 and it was off of their self titled album.

The Blasters (album).jpg

The song was written by Phil Alvin  wh o was the guitarist, singer, and main songwriter for the band.  The band produced a range of “rockabilly, country, blues, and New Orleans roadhouse R&B.”

I have never known the band well but I have recently started to get into them. Just some great pure music with a groove.

Border radio’s greatest asset was the sheer reach of its signal. Free from U.S. regulation, signals ranged from 50,000 to 500,000 watts. Listeners could often hear radio signals coming through barb wire fences, bed springs and dental work. The signal was so powerful that the “X” stations would often overpower stations broadcasting from American soil. Signals from border radio stations could sometimes be heard as far away as Russia… Wolfman Jack came from a Border Radio station.

Border Radio

One more midnight, her man is still gone
The nights move too slow
She tries to remember the heat of his touch
While listening to the Border Radio

She calls toll-free and requests an old song
Something they used to know
She prays to herself that wherever he is,
He’s listening to the Border Radio

This song comes from nineteen sixty-two
Dedicated to a man who’s gone
Fifty thousand watts out of Mexico
This is the Border Radio
This is the Border Radio

She thinks of her son, asleep in his room
And how her man won’t see him grow
She thinks of her life and she hopes for a change
While listening to the Border Radio

This song comes from nineteen sixty-two
Dedicated to a man who’s gone
Fifty thousand watts out of Mexico
This is the Border Radio
This is the Border Radio

They play her tune but she can’t concentrate
She wonders why he had to go
One more night and her man is still gone
She’s listening to the Border Radio

This song comes from nineteen sixty-two
Dedicated to a man who’s gone
Fifty thousand watts out of Mexico
This is the Border Radio
This is the Border Radio

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

21 thoughts on “Blasters – Border Radio”

  2. Very good song from them from their 1981 album. I discovered The Blasters back then, they were in the neighborhood of The Gun Club, The Violent Femmes, Faith No More or Los Lobos – that was consistent.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’ve seen you mention them before and have gradually been checking them out more and more. I heard of them back in the day and liked what I heard. I wish I would have listened more back then…but better late than never.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. Yes… I think you posted about Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin before….that is what drew them back in from my memory. I then saw a post from CB and off I went.

        That is great stuff….I’m listening to it now. Pure…that is the best way I know how to describe it. Thank you

        Liked by 1 person

    1. That is cool when you can catch bands on their way up. A buddy of mine saw Nirvana way before they made it.

      Like

      Reply

    1. They play rock and roll with no frills…I can listen to that stuff all day. Hotfox really likes them and also CB (cincinnatibabyhead)…both posted something about them….I remember the name back in the day but didn’t explore much…this is why I love reading blogs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      3. Now you’re talking Max. My work is done here. How would that stuff go ver in a bar? Pretty good. I was there. I love Daves licks. How about John Bazz for a bassman’s name?
        “50 thousand watts out of Mexico”

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Some great stuff here. As you know it would fly high in a bar. This is what a bar is all about.
        Bazz…yea you can’t beat it with a stick.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. I guess this was the one you mentioned on a different comment, sorry I missed the post yesterday. I actually remember the name the Blasters and the album cover, I think, but not the song. It might have had a little airplay up north, but wasn’t a big hit by any means. Not bad though! There was a bit of a rockabilly/garage rock throwback sound revival around then… there were a few bands doing it around my home city in the first half of the 80s.
    That Mex radio would’ve been something to hear, wouldn’t it? Also subject of Wall of Voodoo’s “Mexican Radio”, and I believe you pointed out once, ZZ Top’s “Heard it on the x”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. No dude…nothing to be sorry about…I just had you in mind for this one. I remember hearing of them as well and a little of their music but not a lot back then. Thanks Dave for tracking it down.

      I would have loved to hear those radio stations! It reminds me of their version of the UK Pirate Radio.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment