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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | garypig@aol.com |
| Subject | Rank and File |
| Date | Fri, 04 May 2007 17:18:51 -0400 |
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<< Rank And File. First 2 (especially "Sundown" their first) were
great,
original Western songs with a strong kick. Their 3rd, self-titled
album was terrible. They went to the popular hair-metal genre. Yuck.
Then they fell apart, so obviously a poor career choice for them. >>
Agreed, Jon.
I distinctly recall being in an L.A. area record store
when an advance of the first R & F LP arrived
and went on the turntable.
It was, and remains,
a remarkable album,
and one that immediately inspired, most obviously,
Sid Griffin, Jason's Scorchers,
countless cowpunk and alt.C&W combos to come,
and even Dwight Yoakam
(though I recall only the latter
going on record in interviews
giving proper due credit).
I saw the orginal quartet live at a tiny club in Anaheim right around
this time,
and they were magnificent:
Imagine Rockpile battling the Waco Brothers
over who owned more Buck Owens 45's,
if you can possibly catch my drifting......
Then!
The second Rank and File album, "Long Gone Dead,"
more than picked up right where "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" left
off
.....by then, even the Everlys Brothers were covering their songs,
and I can't help but imagine John Fogerty
paying close attention to boot.
however,
I can only classify the infamous third album
as career suicide of a towering, Neil Youngian degree
(though I'd characterize it more
as an ill-conceived Jesus and Mary Chain "spoof"
than hair-metal homage ;-)
also Jon,
Rank and File
(.....well, the Kinman Brothers)
soldier on to this day as Blackbird, Cowboy Nation,
and still tease all us True Believers (pun intended)
with a full-blown R&F reunion
somewhere down the lonesome highway.
but til then,
I still have some old Ghost Rockets discs
if anyone would like to follow this particular thread further,
Gary "and Sedaka + FOW doing Calendar Girl ?
Why in holy heck aren't they writing and recording together too?!!!"
Pig
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