Latest News: As of the first of the month, Phil Alvin said most of the recording of the solo album is finished. He is currently working with an artist on the cover design. The album is as he calls it is: "a duet album," because of all the guests appearing. The title of the new release is County Fair 2000. No release date is set, but don't expect to see it before August.  -- Dave Alvin has just released his fourth album called King of California, and is going out on tour in support of it. He is also taping a video to promote the new CD. Dave will also be taping some radio interviews while in Philadelphia, The World Cafe for WXPN and Fresh Air for National Public Radio. Listen for the airings of these anytime after June 21.
GIGS: DAVE ALVIN
June 11 Philadelphia PA at Tin Angel,  June 12 Alexandria VA at The Birchmere,  June 14 Albany NY at Pauley's,   June 15 Cambridge MA at Middle East Café
June 16 Pittsburgh PA at Graffiti Showcase,  June 17 Buffalo NY at The Marquee,  June 18 NYC at Bottom Line,  June 25 London UK at Weavers,  July 1   Hollywood CA at Jacks Sugar Shack,  July 2   Hollywood CA at Jacks Sugar Shack,   July 9   San Francisco CA at Paradise
GIGS: THE BLASTERS
June 17 W. Hollywood CA at House of Blues w/  The Dirty Dozen Brass Band,    July 3    Solana Beach CA at Belly Up Tavern

On March 28, 1994 I interviewed Phil Alvin on a variety of topics including: his upcoming solo album, the new Blaster album, other current musical projects, and what he has been doing in the period of time since he last recorded in 1986. In this issue part 2 of the interview will cover the new Blaster album which is tentatively scheduled for release in the fall.           

but when they checked the rest of his body they found 2 very small spots of cancer on his lung. So they sent Lee back down here on chemo-therapy for six months. Well in three months time the cancer was completely gone from the lungs but they thought the cancer had already dispersed to his brain and that could have caused the seizure. They took two other MRI's and still never found any stroke, but on the fourth MRI finally they found this very small mini stroke. So if anything, the good Lord said we want Lee Allen around so I'm gonna give him one of these little mini strokes so they can find this cancer now. So pretty soon Lee will go on therapy for the mini stroke and hopefully he'll be able to go through that in time to overdub the Sax on the cuts on the record.
AM: Is Lee going to cut down on the touring from now on?
Phil Alvin: Oh yeah. I don't know how long it will take. I want him out as fast as possible just for his own good ,but let him go into his therapy and get himself right. I may bring just a couple of Lee students on the road for some stuff, but I prefer not to. I like all these guys, but Lee's my man!
AM: Do you plan on putting out new records now on a regular basis or do you have other projects outside of music to conquer?

Phil Alvin: Yes, but I still intend to publish mathematics because that has been my life's battle. Since I was 15, I remember my mother telling me, "Your gonna have to figure out what your gonna do." I said, 'Why can't I do both of them, I don't understand.' And to this day I don't understand. To me, as soon as I finish the mathematics thing, all I want to do is play music and when I finish the music thing, all I want to do is mathematics. They sort of keep me in harmony together.  -AM

  BLASTER T-SHIRT OFFER !!   

A limited edition printing of  The Blasters Trouble Bound T-Shirt is now available. Act real fast because we won't be able to 'Stop the Clock' on this one selling out. The print (pictured here) is red and white on a black shirt available in sizes- small, med., large, X large. If you order more than 2 shirts at a time or are ordering after Aug. 15, 1994, write in advance to reserve sizes. Price is only $12 each and that includes Air-mail shipping all over the world. What a Deal!! Payment can only be made in U.S. currency cash only. Sending cash in a registered letter is the safest way to go. The biggest Blaster fan in Finland, Janne Kurunsaari is selling these shirts non-profit and deserves all the credit. To order, don't forget to indicate size, and write to:

   LP'S/CD'S     7" SINGLES   
1980 AMERICAN MUSIC ROLLIN ROCK 021   LP 1981   IM SHAKIN/NO OTHER GIRL  SLASH SR110
1981 THE BLASTERS  SLASH SR109      LP 1982   IM SHAKIN/NO OTHER GIRL  SLASH/WB50047
1982 THE BLASTERS  SLASH/WB BSK3680 LP 1982   IM SHAKIN/NO OTHER GIRL  F-BEAT XX25
1982 THE BLASTERS(alt. cvr) F BEAT XXLP 15      LP 1982   SO LONG BABY/BORDER RADIO SLASH/WB 29975-7
1982 OVER THERE  SLASH/WB 23735      LP 1982   SO LONG BABY GOODBYE/
1983 NON FICTION  SLASH/WB 23818      LP  AMERICAN MUSIC  F-BEAT XX27
1985 HARDLINE  SLASH/WB 25093      LP 1982   SO LONG.../MARIE MARIE  WARNER 17 953(Ger)
1990 BLASTERS COLLECTION  SLASH/WB 26451-2  CD 1983   BAREFOOT ROCK/BUS STATION SLASH/WB 29678-7
       1984   I CAN DREAM(DAN HARTMAN)/
        BLUE SHADOWS(BLASTERS) MCA 52378
       1985   COLORED LIGHTS/HELP YOU DREAM SLASH/WB 7-29055

with 2 extra songs from the album. The second single from the album, RED ROSE was released as a promo in a blank sleeve. In 1984 the Blasters contributed 2 newly recorded songs to the Streets of Fire movie soundtrack. This is also now available on CD. One of the songs, BLUE SHADOWS was released as a B-side to a Dan Hartman song from the movie. The other song, ONE BAD STUD was released on the A-side of a promo 12" with a Marie McKee song on the flip. The next LP called Hardline yielded the single COLORED LIGHTS, which would be the first U.S. released Blaster picture sleeve with the bands picture on it. A promo 7" was released that had a remix of the song and a promo 12" picked a different song from the album for its B-side. Another promo 12" was released for a song that would not see regular release, called TROUBLE BOUND. It has a very interesting remix and an extended version of the song. This 12" is the most collectible of all the promos because of the remixes and its cartoon cover. Another Slash compilation was released this time in the U.K. called Slash Cuts featuring 2 previously released songs. In 1988, the Soundtrack for the movie Bull Durham was released with a song from the Blasters first Slash album and in 1991 a rockabilly compilation CD called Rock this Town included the song "FLAT TOP JOINT, originally from the American Music album. In 1990, in an effort to retain the rights to the Blasters master recordings which would expire in 7 years after its initial release, Warner Bros. issued a greatest hits type compilation CD called the The Blasters Collection. Warner Bros. surprised everybody and pleased Blaster fans by adding 3 previously unreleased tracks to the compilation. In 1993, Priority records included a Blaster song on each of its 2 compilations of rockabilly tunes. A future issue of AM will feature a picture discography of all these releases.

I just picked up a second copy of the Rollin Rock LP American Music, and it appears to be a different pressing or most likely a bootleg. There was only one pressing of 4000 made of this LP legitimately. A member of the Blasters claimed to know of a source of American Music bootlegs out of Washington D.C., which is where my copy in question came from. A large batch of bootlegs were available in Europe as early as 1987. Here are the differences as I refer to them as, what I believe they are, the original and the bootleg I have. The outside sleeve on the original is a heavy stock paper which is consistent with Rollin Rock releases of that time. The Boot has a very shiny finish and the faces of the Blasters on the cover are washed out (too light). It appears to be a photo taken of the album cover, then printed on the boot. On the rear bottom edge you can see the seam where the original's paper would meet, but it is photo smooth.. The edge binding on the original is gray like the rest of the album and reads "Rollin Rock LP 021 American Music The Blasters," while the Boot's binding is white and reads "American Music The Blasters Rollin Rock LP 021."
The disc has differences too. On the original, side 1 the label's print is in red and side 2 is in blue. On the Boot, both sides are in blue. The original also has, etched in the trail off grooves "LP-021a or b (for sides)," while the boot has no markings. I assume it is the aforementioned bootleg, unless there was a later European pressing I'm not aware of. I would be interested to here from the privileged few American Music owners out there and see what type of pressing you have. Watch this column for more info on this.
Anyone looking for an original copy of American Music can try contacting Ken Freck at Musical Memories 833 East Kilbourn Ave. Milwaukee Wi. 53202. He has a copy that he may sell at the right price. Send him a bid and cross your fingers. Currently the lp goes for $100-$125. That price should go up soon with the bands notoriety of releasing a new album. Lets get this copy into the hands of a real Blaster fan.

FROM THE EDITOR: If you would like to have your name listed in the newsletter for tape trading with other Blaster collectors, please write me with your address. If you would like to write an interesting story on the Blasters or have a good idea on something you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know because your input is very important. On page 3 of this issue is an ad for Hep Cat Records. This is a great source  for all your Rockabilly needs via mail order, carrying imports by High Noon, Big Sandy & the Flyrite boys, and many others. All CD's are $14 and lower at unbeatable prices! Write for a catalog.
I just wrote and submitted an article to an east coast Rockabilly Fanzine about the Blasters comeback and they were kind enough to print it. (article pictured) The magazine is a great source of coverage of all rockabilly music and is highly recommended Its called Original Cool.

Publishing 4-6 issues a year. Send $5 which includes 4 issues and postcard mailings covering Blaster and related tour dates in your region. If paying by check, payable to Billy Davis. Mail to :

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BACK ISSUE COPIES: $1 per issue
#1. Blastory part 1, Intveld profile.
#2. Phil Alvin interview Part 1, Dave Alvin's "Museum" tour review, Faultline Syncopaters profile

Blasterbilia: Vintage Blasters T-Shirts

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