The Slash Years

by Rank and File

Overview

Years before the alt-country scene exploded with the release of Uncle Tupelo's first album, Rank and File were a band of punk rock veterans who embraced the sound and feel of classic country music, but with a stripped-down sound and a lyrical stance that embraced leftist politics and a jaundiced eye toward the hipster music scene. Led by Chip and Tony Kinman of the fabled L.A. punk band the Dils and featuring Alejandro Escovedo before he founded the roots rock band the True Believers and went on to a celebrated solo career, Rank and File recorded two fine albums for the celebrated Los Angeles indie label Slash Records, and The Slash Years includes both of them in their entirety: 1982's lean and two-stepping debut Sundown and 1984's more polished and atmospheric Long Gone Dead -- in addition, the set features four rare non-LP tracks as a bonus. While this features nothing from the band's self-titled 1987 swan song for Rhino Records, it's a thorough collection of the group's best and most celebrated work, and three decades later this music is still smart, high-spirited, and thoroughly engaging; fans of classic country or roots rock will eat this up. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	07/01/2022
Label:	Wounded Bird
UPC:	0664140383326
Rank:	31368

Tracks

1. Amanda Ruth
2. (Glad I'm) Not in Love
3. Rank and File
4. The Conductor Wore Black
5. Sundown
6. I Went Walking
7. Lucky Day
8. I Don't Go Out Much Anymore
9. Coyote
10. Long Gone Dead
11. I'm an Old, Old Man
12. Sound of the Rain
13. Hot Wind
14. Tell Her I Love Her
15. Saddest Girl in the World
16. Timeless Love
17. John Brown
18. Last Night I Dreamed
19. It Doesn't Matter
20. Klansman
21. Post Office
22. Wabash Cannonball
23. White Lightnin'

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rank and File   Primary Artist
Peter Grant   Banjo,Autoharp,Pedal Steel,Slide Guitar
Tony Kinman   Bass,Vocals
Stan Lynch   Drums,Percussion
Chip Kinman   6-String Bass,Harmonica,Vocals,Guitar
Bill Meyers   Wind
Alejandro Escovedo   Vocals,Guitar
Richard Greene   Fiddle
Jeff Ross   Guitar
Slim Evans   Drums

Technical Credits

Bill Daniels   Photography
Tony Chiappa   Assistant
JoAnn Tominaga   Production Coordination
David Egerton   Assistant
Sam Yeates   Illustrations
Jeff Price   Art Direction,Design
Jim Cassell   Assistant
Mark Ettel   Engineer
Jeff Eyrich   Producer
David Kahne   Producer,Engineer
Steve Crimmel   Assistant