Dave Alvin Rides Again

 

STINKY SEZ: Thanks to all the kind folks who commented!  As promised, here are more Dave Alvin Rarities!

It’s a testament to how respected Dave Alvin was that—although he was a “newly solo” act releasing his first album—he was interviewed on the radio show InnerView.  Other acts interviewed for the show were The Kinks, Steve Miller, Heart, UFO, The Allman Brothers, Alice Cooper, Blondie, Cheap Trick, Rockpile, Van Halen, Yes, & Al Stewart (the only other solo singer/songwriter included).  

At this stage in Dave’s career he’d been the songwriter/sideman to his brother Phil in The Blasters, and got some additional cred when Shakin’ Stevens covered his composition MARIE MARIE.

This syndicated radio LP doesn’t even show up on discogs, so it’s safe to say that it’s rare. 

All of the songs are album cuts from his first solo record ROMEO’S ESCAPE, except the last cut, which is Dave playing/singing a Bill Moore song to wrap up the interview.

Included in the same file is a compilation of Dave playing Extended Live Versions of a selection of his songs from several sources.  They average 8 minutes long, which gives Dave a little more of a chance to show off his fiery guitar chops than  he usually does on record.  I love Dave’s always tasteful playing, and I'm pretty sure the piano on Out In California might be supplied by The Skeletons' keyboardist, who was playing with Dave when I saw him!