Blasters – American Music

The Blasters play what I would call rockabilly with some Americana thrown in. Some of the descriptions I found were rockabilly, blues, early rock and roll, punk rock, mountain music,  rhythm and blues, and country…but in short…they rock.

American Music was first released on the band’s 1980 debut album, the self-titled American Music. The album was independently produced and helped establish The Blasters as a force in the roots rock movement. They recorded 22 songs, and many covers, whittling it down to 13 for the final product. Released in February 1980, it sold out but only 2000 were pressed then.

The Blasters never had mainstream success…but mainstream radio back in the 80s would have been greatly improved by these guys. They were a rock and roll band formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar), with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman.

This sounds like a homage to the American musical heritage, it reflects the band’s influences from blues, rockabilly, and early rock ‘n’ roll. Its lyrics and upbeat tempo celebrate the rich tapestry of American music genres.

Below I have a long quote from Dave Alvin on recording an album that an unknown truck driver complimented the album and meant the world to them.

Dave Alvin: Phil, Bill, John, and I were working day jobs, rehearsing at night in a factory in Garden Grove and trying desperately to find any steady gig that paid more than free beer. Our friends, James Harman and Mike Foresta, had recorded a demo tape of us and we’d taken copies to every “cool” nightclub in the Hollywood/West LA area, but no one was interested in a roots band, especially one from Downey, California, with no hip credentials.

I read somewhere about “Rockin” Ronny Weiser and his small rockabilly label (Rollin’ Rock), so Phil called him about the possibility of recording us. Ronny was skeptical until Phil sang and played guitar over the phone and within an hour Phil and I were sitting in Ronny’s living room playing him our tape. Ronny dug the tape, but still wouldn’t make a commitment to record us because we’d only played in biker and country bars on the decidedly untrendy southeast side of LA County. We knew none of the Hollywood scenesters and tastemakers and they definitely didn’t know us. That is until this truck driver came by Ronny’s to pick up boxes of records to be shipped.

“Who’s this playing?” he asked Ronny.

“It’s us,” Phil said.

“Is this what these records are? If it is, I’ll buy a copy. My wife and I dig this kind of music. You can’t find music like this anymore.”

We couldn’t have asked for more even if we’d paid him a million bucks. Once he left, Ronny quickly discussed when we’d record our first album and within a few weeks we were in Ronny’s garage/studio. James and Mike were with us for moral support. We drank a lot of beer. Phil, the most experienced, led us patiently and sang his heart out. James let me record with a white Fender Stratocaster that he swore once belonged to Magic Sam. I made mistakes I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to forget, but Ronny kept pushing us to quit thinking too much and just keep it rockin’ (and with a rhythm section like John and Bill, that was no problem). After that first day of recording, we drove back to our side of town punching each other in excitement and jumping up and down in the car seats like little boys. we yelled at strangers in passing cars that we’d made a record and we were gonna be famous. I remember at one point all four of us had our heads out the car windows, laughing cursing, screaming, and howling at the moon.

American Music

Well, a U.S. soldier boy on leave in West-Berlin
No music there that rocks, just a thousand violins
They wanna hear some American music
American music
They wanna hear that sound right from the U.S.A

Well, it can be sweet and lovely, it can be hard and mean
One thing’s for sure, it’s always on the beam
They wanna hear some American music
American music
They wanna hear that sound right from the U.S.A

Well, it’s a howl from the deserts, a scream from the slums
The Mississippi rollin’ to the beat of the drums
They wanna hear some American music
American music
They wanna hear that sound right from the U.S.A

We got the Louisiana boogie and the delta blues
We got country, swing and rockabilly, too
We got jazz, country-western and Chicago blues
It’s the greatest music that you ever knew
It’s American music
It’s American music
It’s American music
It’s that crazy sound right from the U.S.A
See pop shows near Nashville
Get tickets as low as $5

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, 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. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

39 thoughts on “Blasters – American Music”

    1. Oh I LOVE that song as well! This one rocks for sure. Funny thing is Dave…and I’m not kidding or joking. I wrote this up a few days ago and I had it scheduled for yesterday. I never connected the 4th with it…then it hit me…DUH…it’s perfect.

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  5. Pingback: Jimi Hendrix – The Star Spangled Banner… Happy 4th of July – PowerPop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture

    1. Thanks CB! I loved that story…how a guy out of nowhere reinforced what they were doing.
      As Deke said to me about being a Canadian…you are an honorary American…

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    1. There was a lot of scenes there in the 80s…like the Paisley Underground Scene where Green on Red came out of…a lot of great music at that time…it beat the hell out of the mainstream.
      I read your last post but haven’t commented yet…but I will….I do hope you still come back and post every once in a while.

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      1. I loved the “Paisley” scene! The Three O’clock and early Bangles were on HEAVY ROTATION with me for years! Saw the Three O’clock open for R.E.M. at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium around ’87 and it was magical!! Sadly never got to see the Bangles (just Ms. Hoffs in my dreams!)

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      2. YES! Green On Red, Rain Parade, and others I really like. Yes and The Bangles.
        I blogged on Three O’Clock…cool!
        Man…there was Hoffs….enough for me…but to see her play my favorite guitar put her over the top lol. Hoffs + Rickenbacker = unbeatable.

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      1. Happy 25th, Max! Sounds like a perfect way to celebrate it and the national holiday. Older son and I have been invited over to GR a little later. I’m taking a watermelon over. I bought it last week thinking it was a small one, but no.

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      2. Thank you! That sounds great! I also have tomorrow and Monday off because I took those days…have a great time with your family!

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      3. You’re welcome. We met up and had dinner and then drove to the park for the watermelon dessert. Sadly most of it got tossed, but they did take maybe a quarter of it home. It was a great afternoon and the weather was just right.

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      4. Thats great…glad you all had a good time. It was nice today until we got a brief thunderstorm this afternoon…but it chilled the temp though so that was good.

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      2. Oh thank you thank you…I will run that “young Max” in my head over and over.
        Wow…we didn’t meet until I was 25 and she was 27…we dated for 7 years…yea I had cold feet because of my parents divorce but finally got over it.
        Congrats to Mr and Mrs obbverse.

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  13. Great song! I don’t think you meant to include the following words in the lyrics, which I’m surprised no one else noticed:

    See pop shows near Nashville
    Get tickets as low as $5

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