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Daddy Rollin’ Stone

Posted by Lance Davis - July 30, 2013 - Blasters, Dave Alvin, Johnny Thunders, Otis Blackwell, Phil Alvin, Phil Lynott, Sex Pistols, Small Faces, Steve Marriott, The Who, Thin Lizzy

Last time out I analyzed Phil Alvin’s underrated 1986 LP, Un “Sung Stories.” Of that album’s 10 songs, only 2 were written after 1940, but only 1 of those sounded like it: “Daddy Rollin’ Stone.” Where the rest of Un “Sung” was old blues, jazz, country, and pop, “Daddy” was unique in hinting at […]

The Vinyl File: Phil Alvin – Un “Sung Stories”

Posted by Lance Davis - July 8, 2013 - Big Joe Turner, Bing Crosby, Blasters, Cab Calloway, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Otis Blackwell, Peetie Wheatstraw, Phil Alvin, Sun Ra, Vinyl File

In August 1986, Phil Alvin released his debut solo album in the wake of The Blasters‘ unfortunate dissolution. They had one of the great first runs in American music history (roughly 1980-85), but with brother Dave jumping ship for X in March, not to mention pianist Gene Taylor quitting after a famously terrible gig […]