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The 21-song set includes the legendary Americana band's best-known tracks from their first four albums, alongside deep cuts and two songs originally featured on the soundtrack to director Walter Hill's 1984 cult film, Streets of Fire. From the outset of their career, with such songs as "Marie Marie" to "Border Radio," it was clear Grammy® winner Dave Alvin would be a songwriter to be reckoned with, and brother Phil brings an unparalleled knowledge of American roots music, giving the band a rock-solid musical foundation. Mandatory's track list was chosen with the full cooperation of the band and will be available on CD and digital. Renowned music journalist Chris Morris has contributed new liner notes, calling Mandatory "a definitive sampling of the Blasters' recorded work from their 1980-1985 heyday."

Media

Track Listing

Bonus Materials

• Two tracks from Walter Hill's 1984 film, 'Streets OF Fire', one non-LP track, 'Kathleen' and 8-page CD booklet

Sales Points

• All original Blasters songs were written by Grammy award winner Dave Alvin
• Includes an 8-page booklet with liner notes from music journalist and band historian Chris Morris
• Features guest performances from legendary New Orleans saxman Lee Allen (Little Richard, Fats Domino, Dr. John), Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and Steve Berlin, Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch, and the Jordanaires (Elvis Presley’s back-up vocalists).
• Their music was also featured in Miami Vice, and the Quentin Tarantino-penned From Dusk till Dawn.
• Liberation Hall plans a catalog campaign to celebrate The Blasters’ 45th anniversary in 2024 with multiple re-releases.
• In their heyday, they toured with The Go-Go’s, The Cramps, The Kinks, Eric Clapton, and Queen…their music fits in everywhere.
• For fans of Stary Cats, X, Dwight Yoakum, Los Lobos, Fabulous Thunderbirds
• Phil Alvin’s long-lost solo album, Un “Sung Stories,” also drops on 3 November.
• Dave Alvin is active and touring with Jimmie Dale Gilmore with new music coming in 2024
• Includes two tracks-“Blue Shadows’ and One Track Mind” from Walter Hill’s 1984 cult classic Streets Of Fire, in which the band also appeared.

Press Quotes

The Full On Romanticism of Rocking and Rolling Rhythm and Blues on One Compilation.

     —The Rocking Magpie

Looking back, it seems unconscionable that The Blasters never really left cult-level status. If The Cramps can have a massive revival thanks to a three-minute dance scene from a Tim Burton Netflix show, surely The Blasters deserves another look as well.

     —Glide Magazine

'In my mind, they were a great band that not enough people found out about. Bill Bateman is one of the best drummers there is, and then of course, there are the Alvin brothers'

     —Henry Rollins, Black Flag

Brothers Phil and Dave Alvin, drummer Bill Bateman, and bassist John Bazz blended muscular rock appropriate to the punk era with rockabilly, early rock-and-roll, and a rootsy sensibility that sounds timeless today.

     —Joe Marchese, The Second Disc

It's a major reissue deal. Mandatory is a set that's addictive. Every track is familiar, catchy & still packs a punch. I'm not concerned about Blasters fans finding this cache to satisfy their habit -- but those who are unfamiliar with this music may not be in shape to withstand the elixir that will assault their senses.

     —John Apice, Americana Highways

The new breed of American rock renaissance that began in the late '70s with such ambitious NY bands as The Ramones and Talking Heads then expanded quickly to LA where groups like X and the Blasters mix hard-edged rock with strong literary twists

     —Robert Hillburn, Los Angeles Times

One of two bands cited as proof that L.A. punks aren't just bigots with mohawks (the other, the Go-Go's, has--gulp!--girls in it), these rock and rollers don't quite fit their rockabilly revivalist pigeonhole

     —Robert Christgau, The Village Voice