| State of Our Reunion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Live album by | ||||
| Released | October 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 30 June–8 July 2004 | |||
| Venue |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 69:18 | |||
| Label | Prima | |||
| The Long Ryders chronology | ||||
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State of Our Reunion is a live album by American band the Long Ryders, released in October 2007 by Prima Records. [1] It was recorded in 2004 in the UK on the band's first tour in 17 years. [2]
Between their formation in 1982 and their breakup in 1987, the Long Ryders took roots rock into "newfound, mutinous territory", according to Eric Thom of Exclaim! magazine, "blending an allegiance to traditional country with the country rock of the Byrds and Burritos, and marrying it to the "couldn't care less" passion of punk." [2] The band enjoyed airplay on college radio and critical success during their five-year run but failed to achieve much mainstream success. They would later prove to be a major influence on the alternative country movement that would emerge in the early 1990s. [3] Writing for The Sunday Times in 2007, Stewart Lee stated, "For a moment, they could have been bigger than the Beatles, but now the Long Ryders nestle alongside Big Star and the Flamin' Groovies as one of the great lost groups." [4]
In 2003, a European booking agent approached the band about putting together a Long Ryders reunion for shows in the UK, Spain and the Netherlands in the summer of 2004. [5] [6] "It was a relief to remove all doubt that the roaring beast that was the Long Ryders remains fully intact from the first notes we played in rehearsal after 17 years," bassist Tom Stevens said. "If anyone had any confusion or doubts over the cliché of the band being greater than the sum of its parts, the example was loud and clear during each of our 2004 shows. The looks on people's faces were priceless as well." [5] The tour was a success for fans and band alike, [5] and a show from Dingwalls in London was later documented on the 2009 DVD State of Our Reunion. [7]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Classic Rock | 7/10 [8] |
| The Great Rock Discography | 6/10 [9] |
| Maverick |   [10] |
| Uncut | [11] |
Eric Thom of Exclaim! magazine felt that the band was in "remarkable form" and that "a favourite era for many is reclaimed, rejuvenated and lovingly reinvigorated." [2] Jerry Ewing, writing for Classic Rock , stated that the band's lineup "remind everyone why they're still held in such high esteem." [8] Country music magazine Maverick wrote, "If ever there was a good reason for a band to record a new album after two decades, this is it." [10] Stewart Lee, writing for The Sunday Times , described the band's songs as "timeless slabs of Americana" and "templates for every contemporary music-magazine cover-mounted roots rock band." [4] Uncut's Gavin Martin was less positive, rating the album two out of five stars and writing, "a rough-and-ready approach to toe-tapping outlaw/honky tonk pastiches ... hit the mark, but the attraction is limited – the Ryders remaining a well-intentioned but pale reflection of their inspirations." [11]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "So You Wanna Be a Rock n' Roll Star?" | Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman | 3:01 |
| 2. | "Lights of Downtown" | Stephen McCarthy | 2:58 |
| 3. | "You Don't Know What's Right, You Don't Know What's Wrong" | McCarthy, Des Brewer | 4:23 |
| 4. | "A Stitch in Time" | Tom Stevens | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Prairie Fire" | Sid Griffin, Greg Sowders | 2:56 |
| 6. | "Wreck of the 809" | McCarthy, Stevens | 4:05 |
| 7. | "Gunslinger Man" | Griffin | 3:11 |
| 8. | "Years Long Ago" | Stevens | 4:08 |
| 9. | "I Can't Hide" | Cyril Jordan, Chris Wilson | 3:08 |
| 10. | "Ivory Tower" | Barry Shank | 3:38 |
| 11. | "Capturing the Flag" | Griffin, McCarthy, Stevens, Sowders, Will Birch | 4:20 |
| 12. | "Band Introduction (Glasgow)" | 1:35 | |
| 13. | "I Had a Dream" | McCarthy | 4:05 |
| 14. | "Final Wild Son" | Griffin, McCarthy | 2:53 |
| 15. | "Sweet Mental Revenge" | Mel Tillis | 3:02 |
| 16. | "State of My Union" | Griffin, Sowders | 5:12 |
| 17. | "Looking for Lewis and Clark" | Griffin | 3:45 |
| 18. | "Louisville" | Jann Browne, Pat Gallagher | 3:29 |
| 19. | "10-5-60" | Griffin, Shank | 3:48 |
| Total length: | 69:18 | ||
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes. [12]
Gillian Howard Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, bluegrass, country and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely reminiscent of past rural forms."
The Long Ryders are an American alternative country and Paisley Underground band, principally active between 1982 and 1987, who have periodically regrouped for brief reunions. In 2019 they released a new studio album – their first in 32 years – and announced a series of tour dates to follow.
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Albert Sidney "Sid" Griffin is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist-mandolinist, bandleader, and author who lives in London, England. He led the Long Ryders band in the 1980s, founded the Coal Porters group in the 1990s, has recorded several solo albums and is the author of volumes on Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons and bluegrass music.
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State of Our Union is the second studio album by American band the Long Ryders, released in September 1985 by Island Records. It was a success at college and alternative radio stations in the US and reached number 66 on the UK Albums Chart as well as number 2 on the UK Country Chart. The single "Looking for Lewis and Clark" peaked at number 59 on the UK Singles Chart but was never released commercially in the US.
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Gregory Michael Sowders is an American drummer and music publisher. He is a founding member of alternative country and Paisley Underground band the Long Ryders, and Senior Vice President and Head of A&R at Warner Chappell Music in the United States.
Thomas Howard Stevens was an American bassist, guitarist, singer, and songwriter, often associated with the Paisley Underground and alternative country movements as bassist for roots rock band the Long Ryders. He was a member of Magi and Danny & Dusty, and recorded as a solo artist. In his solo work, Stevens incorporated elements of folk rock, country, psychedelia and garage rock into his music, and released what music reviewer Stewart Lee calls "fascinatingly different solo albums." Stevens was based in Los Angeles in the 1980s, but later returned to his native Indiana.
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