''West of the West'' is an album by American artist
Dave Alvin
David Albert Alvin (born November 11, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is a former and founding member of the roots rock band the Blasters. Alvin has recorded and performed as a solo artist since the late 1980s a ...
, released in 2006. The album pays tribute to California songwriters. It reached number 35 on the Top Independent Albums chart.
Reception
Writing for
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
, music critic Mark Deming wrote of the album "While in many respects Alvin is still best described as a songwriter who sings, he knows how to tell a story, and he's picked some great ones for this album."
Dan MacIntosh of
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
wrote "Downsides are difficult to find with this new work, because Alvin performs each and every track with an obvious appreciation for the artists who wrote them."
Track listing
#"California Bloodlines" (
John Stewart John Stewart may refer to:
Business
* John Aikman Stewart (1822–1926), American banker
* John Killough Stewart (1867–1938), businessman and philanthropist in Queensland, Australia
* John K. Stewart (1870–1916), American entrepreneur and inve ...
) – 4:27
#"
Redneck Friend
"Redneck Friend" (or, alternately, "Red Neck Friend") is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, released as the first single from his 1973 album '' For Everyman'', and notable for its double entendre lyrics and ...
" (
Jackson Browne
Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and political activist who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States.
Emerging as a precocious teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles, he h ...
) – 5:04
#"
Kern River
The Kern River, previously Rio de San Felipe, later La Porciuncula, is an Endangered, Wild and Scenic river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfiel ...
" (
Merle Haggard) – 4:07
#"Blind Love" (
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...
) – 4:49
#"Here in California" (
Kate Wolf
Kate Wolf (born Kathryn Louise Allen; January 27, 1942 – December 10, 1986) was an American folk singer and songwriter."Kate Wolf", pp. 533–534, in '' All Music Guide'', 2nd edition (1994), edited by Michael Erlewine. San Francisco: Miller ...
) – 4:35
#"I Am Bewildered" (Richard Berry) – 3:44
#"
Sonora's Death Row
"Sonora’s Death Row" is a story song written by California songwriter Kevin "Blackie" Farrell and published by Drifter Music/Bug Music ( BMI)''Sing Out!'', Vol. 39 #4, p. 86, Spring 1995 (seSing Out! index.The early Leo Kottke recording lists the ...
" (Kevin Blackie Farrell) – 5:35
#"Down on the Riverbed" (
David Hidalgo
David Kent Hidalgo (born October 6, 1954, in Los Angeles.) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Los Lobos. Hidalgo frequently plays musical instruments such as accordion, violin, 6-string banjo, cello, requin ...
,
Louie Pérez
Louis Frausto Pérez, Jr. (born January 29, 1953) is an American songwriter, percussionist and guitarist for Los Lobos and Latin Playboys.
Pérez started with Los Lobos playing primarily jarana (a small Mexican guitar) and singing. He is one of ...
) – 4:12
#"Between the Cracks" (Dave Alvin,
Tom Russell
Thomas George Russell (born 1947/1948) is an American singer-songwriter. Although most strongly identified with the Americana music tradition, his music also incorporates elements of folk, rock, and the cowboy music of the American West. Many ...
) – 4:24
#"Don't Look Now" (
John Fogerty
John Cameron Fogerty (born May 28, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Together with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty
Thomas Richard Fogerty (November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990) was an American mu ...
) – 4:02
#"Tramps and Hawkers" (Jim Ringer) – 4:35
#"Loser" (
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician best known for being the principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence ...
,
Robert Hunter) – 4:52
#"
Surfer Girl
''Surfer Girl'' is the third album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released September 16, 1963 on Capitol Records. The album reached number 7 in the US during a chart stay of 56 weeks. This was the first album by the group for which B ...
" (
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...
) – 3:01
#"Boss" (Jack Wenzel) - 2:46 ''(2LP bonus track)''
Personnel
*Dave Alvin – vocals, guitar, National Steel guitar
*
Chris Gaffney – background vocals
*
Bob Glaub – bass
*
Don Heffington
Don Heffington (December 20, 1950March 24, 2021) was an American drummer, percussionist, and songwriter. He was a founding member of the Los Angeles alternative country band Lone Justice, which he performed with from 1982 to 1985. Heffington was ...
– drums, percussion
*Bobby Lloyd Hicks – drums
*Gregory Boaz – bass, double bass
*
Greg Leisz – guitar, slide guitar, baritone guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, lap slide guitar, background vocals
*
Danny Barnes – Banjo
*Kevin Carroll – background vocals
*James Corbitt – background vocals
*Herman Pruitt – background vocals
*Jesus "El Gordo" Cuevas – accordion
*
Christy McWilson
Christy McWilson is an American singer-songwriter based in the Pacific Northwest. She has performed with the Dynette Set, the Picketts, as a solo artist, and with many other artists, including Dave Alvin and The Young Fresh Fellows.
Early life ...
– vocals
*Chris Montez Miller – guitar, slide guitar
*Jack Rudy – harmonica
*Joe Terry – organ
*David Witham – organ
*Gabe Witcher – violin
Production notes
*
Greg Leisz – producer
*Craig Adams – engineer
*Bill Dashiell – engineer
*Jim Scott – mixing
*Beau Fletcher – mixing assistant
*Steven Rhodes – mixing assistant
*Joe Gastwirt – mastering
*Lou Beach – design
*Deone Jahnke – photography
*Issa Sharp – photography
References
{{Authority control
2006 albums
Dave Alvin albums
Yep Roc Records albums