The Western Tapes, 1983

by Lone Justice

Overview

With the passage of time, it's becoming increasingly clear that Lone Justice were a great band who did their finest work in the recording studio quite some time before they put out their debut album. While the two LPs Lone Justice released in their lifetime -- 1985's Lone Justice and 1986's Shelter -- were both burdened with misguided production choices and too many guest musicians at the behest of their label, Geffen Records, the 2014 release This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983 captured them live to two-track in a no-frills demo session. The Vaught Tapes documented the interplay between Maria McKee's stellar voice and the band's twangy but powerful take on rock & roll with a energetic simplicity their albums did not, and four years later, Omnivore Recordings have brought out The Western Tapes, 1983, a six-song EP that gives Lone Justice's first demo tape a public airing for the first time. Cut in May 1983, this EP features the group's first lineup, with McKee and guitarist/songwriter Ryan Hedgecock joined by bassist Dave Harrington and drummer Don Willens, and if this rhythm section boasts a bit less snap than the classic lineup with Marvin Etzioni (who produced this session) and Don Heffington, this band still has an energy and freshness that are absolutely winning. Etzioni was also a more savvy producer than Lone Justice usually had behind the controls; the sound is straightforward but full-bodied, he brought out solid performances from everyone on board, and the decision to bring in David Mansfield to add fiddle and pedal steel on some of the tunes was inspired. And Maria McKee's voice is still a thing of wonder all these years later, a pure country instrument that still has the force to sing thoroughly convincing rock & roll. One can't help wish some smart indie label had cut a low-budget album on this band in the manner of the Blasters' outstanding self-titled album for Slash that would have documented their heyday before Geffen got ahold of them. But between The Western Tapes and This Is Lone Justice, we now have some reasonable approximation of it, and this is great fun from a band that had a lot to offer -- more than their best-known work might suggest. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	11/22/2018
Label:	Omnivore
UPC:	0816651017058
Rank:	78460

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lone Justice   Primary Artist
Maria McKee   Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm)
Ryan Hedgecock   Guitar,Vocals
Dave Harrington   Bass
Don Willens   Drums
David Mansfield   Fiddle,Pedal Steel

Technical Credits

Marvin Etzioni   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Liner Notes
Bryan MacLean   Composer
Adam Pike   Post Producer,Tape Transfer
Maria McKee   Composer,Group Member
Ricky Delena   Mixing,Engineer
Glenn Schwartz   Licensing
Lee Lodyga   Project Assistant
Ryan Hedgecock   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Audrey Bilger   Project Assistant
Dutch Cramblitt   Project Assistant
Brad Rosenberger   Project Assistant
Dave Harrington   Group Member
Don Willens   Group Member
Bernie Grundman   Mastering
Cheryl Pawelski   Release Production
Chuck Reed   Crew
Greg Allen   Design,Art Direction,Release Production