During his run with the Blasters, Dave Alvin wrote some classic rock ‘n’ roll songs (“American Music”, “Marie, Marie”) that heralded the rise of the 1980s roots-rock movement. But with much of the group’s catalog still lingering in record-label limbo, there’s no way to hear some of those songs on CD.
To the rescue rides Blastered, a tribute CD that underscores Alvin’s songwriting skills. The disc comprises mostly American regional rockabilly acts (though the Sabrejets hail from Belfast, Northern Ireland) taking on eighteen Blasters tracks with a verve and enthusiasm that do the originals proud.
Most of the songs hew closely to the Blasters’ versions, but there are a few nice surprises here and there. Lucky 7 uses ska-inflected guitar comping on “So Long Baby, Goodbye”, and San Diego’s Hot Rod Lincoln scores with an appropriately Mexican-flavored take on “Border Radio”. It’s also nice to hear female singers Josie Kreuzer and Libbi Bosworth tackle “Red Rose” and “Hey Girl” (recast as “Hey Boy”), respectively.
The real payoff comes with the last song, another rendition of “So Long Baby, Goodbye” from Washington, D.C., band Last Train Home. The band slows the tempo down from its familiar frantic pace, turning the lyrics into a more wistful, bittersweet message of regret.
Bob Kannenberg of Baltimore’s Barn Burners, who contribute a raucous version of “I Don’t Want To”, best sums up the reason for this disc in the liner notes: “Like Chuck Berry or Hank Williams before him, Dave Alvin can take three minutes and three chords and tell a story you can practically see.”
And thanks to Blastered, now you can hear them again, too.