Blasters, The - The Blasters
Blasters, The - The Blasters
Format: Vinyl LP
UPC: 810177210924
Release Date: 02/06/26
Condition: N
Low stock: 1 left
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When punk rock began exploding in the late 1970s, more than a few fans of the new music declared the only hope for rock & roll was to throw away it's past and start over, but thankfully, a few people knew better than that. Dave and Phil Alvin were a pair of brothers from Downey, CA who'd been raised on a steady diet of what they called "American Music" - blues, rockabilly, country, jazz, swing, R&B, and early rock & roll.. The Alvin brothers formed a band called the Blasters that approached the classic styles of the past with the energy and insouciance of punk rock, and their music taught a new generation that rock & roll was hard, wild, and manic fun even before it was called rock & roll. The Blasters, the album, is divided roughly half-and-half between originals and covers, and the classic tunes cover a broad enough spectrum to show off the full range of what the musicians could do, while Dave Alvin's songs were the work of a writer who knew how to tell a compelling story with strong characters in a few well-chosen words, married to melodies that rocked hard and sweet. Phil Alvin's vocals hit an ideal grace note between reverence and gonzo passion, and with Dave's guitar, John Bazz's bass, and Bill Bateman's drums turning up the heat behind him, the Blasters took the group's tough, heartfelt music and put it on plastic for the ages in near flawless form. (It didn't hurt that they also had some excellent guest musicians on board who later became full members of the band - Gene Taylor on piano, Steve Berlin or baritone sax, and New Orleans R&B legend Lee Allen on tenor sax.) The Blasters wasn't the only great album this group would make, but it was certainly their best, catching them when they were still fresh but with just enough seasoning to bring out their best performances; it's practically impossible to imagine the roots rock scene of the '80s and onward existing without this album as a roadmap.
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RETURNS
Items may be returned within 90 days of the delivery date.
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GRADING
GRADING
Yellow Racket assigns condition based on the Goldmine Standard for grading records.
New (N) (Not typically included in the Goldmine Standard)
New records are purchased directly from the label, distributor, or registered wholesaler. Records are still sealed. Jackets may have slight shelf wear, but media has never been played.
Mint (M)
Still sealed. Never played. No observable flaws. Items have been purchased secondhand.
Near Mint (NM)
A Near Mint (NM) record will play perfectly, with no imperfections during playback. The record should show no obvious signs of wear.
The cover (and any additional packaging) has no creases, folds, seam splits, cut-out holes, or other noticeable defects.
Very Good Plus (VG+)
A Very Good Plus (VG+) record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.
Defects should be more of a cosmetic nature, not affecting the actual playback as a whole. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches.
The disc and LP cover may have slight signs of wear, and may be gently marred by spindle marks, paper scuffs, wrinkled corners, etc.
Very Good (VG)
Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident, but will not overpower the music. Disc may have light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
Labels, jackets, and inserts will have visible cosmetic flaws such as wrinkles, cut-outs, slight splitting, etc. However, it will usually have less than a dozen minor flaws.
Good (G)
A record in Good condition can be played through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise, scratches, and visible groove wear. A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear, or other defects will be present.
While the record will be playable without skipping, noticeable surface noise and "ticks" will almost certainly accompany the playback.
Poor (P), Fair (F)
The record may be cracked, badly warped, or won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve may be water damaged, split, or heavily marred by wear and writing.
