Mandatory: The Best Of The Blasters [LP]

The Blasters - Mandatory: The Best Of The Blasters [LP]

Fifteen of the best tracks of the Blasters' four 1980s studio albums collected on vinyl. A perfect overview of the band's brief recording career.

The 15-song set includes the legendary Americana band's best-known tracks from their four '80s studio albums alongside deep cuts such as "Kathleen," an outtake from the band's last studio album, "Hard Line." Also includes the track "One Bad Stud" originally featured on the soundtrack to director Walter Hill's 1984 cult film "Streets of Fire." From the outset of their career, with songs like "Marie Marie" to "Border Radio," it was clear Grammy winner Dave Alvin would be a songwriter to be reckoned with, and brother Phil brought an unparalleled knowledge of American roots music, giving the band a rock-solid musical foundation. The track list for "Mandatory" was chosen with the full cooperation of the band. Originally released on CD in 2023, it now makes its vinyl debut as the very first Blasters hits LP. Grammy-nominated music journalist Chris Morris has contributed new liner notes, calling the collection "a definitive sampling of the Blasters' recorded work from their 1980-1985 heyday."

Includes a download card with six bonus tracks along with updated liner notes from music writer Chris Morris, plus an insert with liner notes from music journalist and band historian Chris Morris. Features guest performances from legendary New Orleans saxman Lee Allen (Little Richard, Fats Domino, Dr. John), Los Lobos' David Hidalgo and Steve Berlin, Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch, and the Jordanaires (Elvis Presley's back-up vocalists).

Track Listing:

01. American Music
02. Flat Top Joint
03. Marie Marie
04. No Other Girl
05. I'm Shakin'
06. Border Radio
07. So Long Baby Goodbye
08. Hollywood Bed
09. One Bad Stud
10. Red Rose
11. Jubilee Train
12. Long White Cadillac
13. Trouble Bound
14. Dark Night
15. Kathleen

Press:

"The Full On Romanticism of Rocking and Rolling Rhythm and Blues on One Compilation." -- The Rocking Magpie

"Looking back, it seems unconscionable that The Blasters never really left cult-level status." -- Glide Magazine

"In my mind, they were a great band that not enough people found out about. Bill Bateman is one of the best drummers there is, and then of course, there are the Alvin brothers." -- Henry Rollins, Black Flag

"Brothers Phil and Dave Alvin, drummer Bill Bateman, and bassist John Bazz blended muscular rock appropriate to the punk era with rockabilly, early rock-and-roll, and a rootsy sensibility that sounds timeless today." -- Joe Marchese, The Second Disc

"Mandatory is a set that's addictive. Every track is familiar, catchy & still packs a punch." -- John Apice, Americana Highways

"The new breed of American rock renaissance that began in the late '70s with such ambitious NY bands as The Ramones and Talking Heads then expanded quickly to LA where groups like X and the Blasters mix hard-edged rock with strong literary twists." -- Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times