Rooting Around in the 80s

Before there was alternative country, there was well - well, there wasn't exactly an all encompassing genre for roots music. Not that that's a bad thing. :) Anyway, back in the 1980s, there were a lot of really good west coast bands like The Blasters, Green on Red, Lone Justice, The Long Ryders, Los Lobos, X, etc playing roots music - even if it wasn't usually called roots music (if I recall correctly). So here is the first three volumes of my 9 volume ode to 1980s west coast roots music. (I would put a picture up but my desktop computer is currently on vacation and all my pix are up there. So it'll have to wait until the desktop returns from its little trip to notworkingville.)


Volume 1

The Once Over Twice X

Run Dusty Run Long Ryders

Ghost Hand Green on Red

Si Yo Quisiera Los Lobos

Never No More Blues The Blasters

Highway 61 The Blasters

Clarkesville Green on Red

Motel Room In My Bed X

Will the Wolf Survive? Los Lobos

You Just Can't Ride the Boxcars Anymore The Long Ryders

Left & Right X

The Word Is Out Danny & Dusty

Baby Out Of Jail The Knitters

Biggest Memory Exene Cervenka

Goldmine The Beat Farmers

Coyote Rank And File

Volume 2

Don't Worry Baby Los Lobos

Final Wild Son Long Ryders

In This House That I Call Home X

Hair Of The Dog Green on Red

It Must Be Love The Blasters

The Call Of The Wreckin Ball The Knitters

This World Is Not My Home Lone Justice

Fallen Tears The John Doe Thing

Willamette The John Doe Thing

Shakin' Shakin' Shakes Los Lobos

Good Times Tomorrow, Hard Times Today The Long Ryders

Marie Marie The Blasters

Burning House of Love X

Far Away Dave Alvin

I Want You Bad The Long Ryders

Time Ain't Nothing Green On Red

Volume 3

Looking for Lewis and Clark The Long Ryders

Death Train The Beat Farmers

No Other Girl The Blasters

Clean Like Tomorrow X

The King of the Losers Danny & Dusty

Down On The Riverbed Los Lobos

Sweet) Mental Revenge Long Ryders

Poor Little Critter On The Road The Knitters

Walkin' Cane The Knitters

Powderfinger The Beat Farmers

Ways to Be Wicked Lone Justice

Set Me Free (Rosa Lee) Los Lobos

Sixteen Ways Green on Red

Long White Cadillac The Blasters

Lil' King of Everything Los Lobos

4th of July X