Dave Alvin, the group's primary songwriter, left the band in 1986 for a critically-acclaimed solo career. He was initially replaced on guitar by Hollywood Fats (birth name: Michael L. Mann) who appeared with them at Farm Aid. Phil Alvin has led various incarnations of The Blasters intermittently since then, including a few reunion tours and live albums of the original lineup. Personnel as of 2008 was Phil Alvin together with John Bazz, Keith Wyatt, and Bill Bateman.
The Blasters stink of rockabilly. A unique part of the Los Angeles punk scene of the 1980s, they project the essence of small streets of post-war neighborhoods, car culture and the sun-bleached concrete of Downey, California. They are lead by Phil Alvin's soulful bellowing about causing chaos, chasing women and the loss of the citrus groves. Influenced by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and many others who came and went during the 1950's, The Blasters play the songs of the working man's curse and rock and roll romance. Founding members Phil Alvin and John Bazz, with the addition of Keith Wyatt on lead guitar and Jerry Angel on drums, are carrying on their hard-won legacy of one of the most credible and recognizable bands in Americana music.
The Blasters first started playing in the late 70's, hammering out burning rhythm & blues and roots-influenced rock and roll in biker bars in their hometown of Downey, California. It wasn't long before word about the band's searing live sets spread to Los Angeles, and the band carved out a name for itself in the city's burgeoning club scene. Along with X and Los Lobos, the Blasters became an LA favorite. They enjoyed a punk rock following to their bluesy straightforward rock, playing to the fans of the newfangled American punk rock movement that was just at its beginning. Their debut recording on the small but feisty Rollin' Rock label has since become a coveted collector's item.
Soon thereafter, they began attracting the attention of other record companies. The band was on the crest of the wave during the resurgence of American roots rock, a genre they helped define with their debut album "American Music." Many have tried to imitate The Blasters' sound but no one has been able to harness the passion and perseverance with which they play. With a tradition of producing timeless and meaningful songs, touring extensively, and collaborating with some of the most respected roots rock artists, like John Cougar Mellencamp and Lee Allen.
The Blasters have continually stayed true to their original vision: to play songs built on America's greatest musical traditions. Upon Dave Alvin's departure to pursue a solo career in August of 1986, the band was as strong as ever and riding high on their success. After rigorously touring, The Blasters took some time off the road to reflect and work on new material. At that time, a number of major films hit theaters featuring The Blasters tunes including Bull Durham ("So Long Baby, Goodbye) and Some One To Watch Over Me ("Marie, Marie").
The Blasters spent the next few years attempting to find a guitar player suitable to measure up to the impeccable standards by which The Blasters play. The band met veteran guitar maestro, Keith Wyatt. 4-11-44 is The Blasters' fifth studio album. It is fourteen tracks of their signature rock and blues. Phil Alvin's vocals are as powerful and true as they ever were and the band follows through with steady, raucous riffs and rhythms. Their music continues to be used frequently in dark, pulp films and television shows such as From Dusk to Dawn, Streets of Fire, and Six Feet Under. Originally released in the UK in 2004, 4-11-44 was released on Rainman Records in August of 2005.
Border Radio
The Blasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Blasters' "Border Radio" is a song that tells the story of a woman who is waiting for her man to return, and the only thing that keeps her hope alive is the Border Radio. The song opens with the woman waiting for her man, who is still missing. The nights are long, and she feels the hours move painfully slow. However, she tries to remember the heat of his touch and finds solace in the Border Radio's music. She calls toll-free and requests an old song they used to listen to together. She prays that wherever he is, he's listening to the Border Radio too.
The chorus is the announcement of the next song on the radio, and it is dedicated to a man who's gone. The radio is powerful, with fifty thousand watts out of Mexico, and it's the Border Radio. The woman thinks of her son sleeping in his room and how her man won't be there to see him grow. She hopes for a change in her life and keeps listening to the Border Radio. However, she finds it challenging to concentrate on the music they play because she misses her man so much. One more night, and her man is still gone, leaving her alone with the Border Radio.
Overall, the song is an ode to the Border Radio, a radio station that played music from across the border between the US and Mexico. It sent out a 50,000-watt signal, and people from both sides of the border could hear the music. It played a significant role in shaping the music scene in Texas and influenced many artists in the country and rockabilly genres.
Line by Line Meaning
One more midnight, her man is still gone
It is another lonely night for the woman as her man is still absent
The nights move too slow
The slow pace of time only accentuates the woman's loneliness
She tries to remember the heat of his touch
The woman attempts to recollect the warmth and passion that her man brought into her life
While listening to the Border Radio
The Border Radio serves as a source of companionship and entertainment for the woman amidst her sadness
She calls toll-free and requests an old song
The woman contacts the radio station and requests for a nostalgic tune that invokes memories of her and her man
Something they used to know
The song is one that both the woman and her partner were familiar with at some point in their lives
She prays to herself that wherever he is,
The woman hopes that her partner is safe and well, wherever he may currently be
He's listening to the Border Radio
The woman imagines her partner tuning into the same radio station as hers for a sense of connection
This song comes from nineteen sixty-two
The radio announcer introduces the vintage song that the woman requested
Dedicated to a man who's gone
The song is dedicated to individuals who have lost someone dear to them, like the woman has lost her partner
Fifty thousand watts out of Mexico
The radio station's powerful broadcast reaches out to listeners across vast distances, including the woman's location
This is the Border Radio
The announcer reminds listeners of the name of the radio station
She thinks of her son, asleep in his room
The woman reflects on her child who is unaware of the difficult situation that his mother is going through
And how her man won't see him grow
It saddens the woman that her partner will miss out on seeing their son grow up
She thinks of her life and she hopes for a change
The woman considers her current circumstances and desires for a positive transformation
While listening to the Border Radio
The Border Radio continues to offer solace and comfort to the woman as she contemplates her life
They play her tune but she can't concentrate
Despite the radio station playing the woman's requested song, her thoughts continue to be preoccupied with her absent partner
She wonders why he had to go
The woman is troubled by the uncertainty and confusion surrounding her partner's disappearance
One more night and her man is still gone
The woman resigns to another night without her man, unsure of when he will return
She's listening to the Border Radio
The Border Radio remains a faithful source of companion for the woman as she endures her solitude
This is the Border Radio
The announcer reminds listeners once again of the name of the radio station
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVE ALVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rat Terrier DogMa
Oh man. This brings me back to the days of my youth. Excellent tunes. Give me the Blasters, Femmes, and Gun Club any day.
Chris J Hutchins
Love this album! Glad to see it up! The Blasters some of the best 80's music!!!
East West Buffet
I delivered papers to the young carriers over the graveyard shift during one college summer and listened to 91X FM our Mexican border radio that came in loud and clear up in the San Fernando Valley. The Blasters played all over the LA area in those days. Man these guys rocked.
Frank Snyder
HELL YES.
L. R.
This song is dedicated to a man who's gone RIP Gene Taylor.
🎶🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎶🙏😔
joseph lemko
I have been a fan of this group since the mid-1980s.✌
Darlene Taylor
They bring to me the energy and twang that really doesn't exist anymore.l watched them in concert in Phoenix in the 90,s they were awesome
Dane Claussen
I heard them multiple times in Oregon in the 1980s: Portland, Eugene. Wow.
duquegab
This is one of the most incredible records .......i had a copy since 82 or 83 My favorite band ever..and that's saying a lot
Tim McAndrew
great stuff-one of the alltime great bands