This disc gets off to a fun start with a cover of "21 Days In Jail," a song originally recorded by Magic Sam, who included it as the flip side to his 1958 single "Easy Baby." Like Magic Sam's recording, this track moves at a good clip. This is some delicious rock and roll, and that guitar lead in the middle is wonderful. This song was an outtake from the American Music album, and was included on the 1997 double album version of that record. Also from those American Music outtakes comes "Love 24 Hours A Day," which was written by Ted Jarrett, and was a single for The Midnighters, where it was titled "It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)." It's another gem, a perfect song for The Blasters, Phil delivering a strong vocal performance, and Dave providing a lively lead on guitar. "Baby, my days and nights are lonely/I need your love in every way." Sticking with songs from the 1950s, The Blasters next give us "I Fell In Love," a song Ken Cook recorded in 1958. Phil is clearly having a good time singing it. There is certainly something catchy about this song, in part because of the guitar line. There is also some good stuff on drums.
The Blasters deliver a fantastic cover of Howlin' Wolf's "So Glad," also from the 1950s. These American Music outtakes are so good, and this one in particular has some great stuff on guitar and keys. And Phil delivers some powerful work on harmonica. This track is a highlight, with all the right energy. That's followed by a cover of Floyd Dixon's "I'm Ashamed Of Myself," here titled "Ashamed Of Myself." The first line is "Oh well, time to rise and shine," and that's a line I think many of us utter every morning. I'm digging this song's bass line. And Dave Alvin delivers a good guitar lead in the middle. The final of the American Music outtakes included here is a cover of Ray Harris' "Lonely Wolf," here listed as "Lone Wolf." "I'm like a lonely wolf/I'm on the prowl tonight." Oh yes! This song has a great rhythm that won't quit, pushing everything forward, onward.
The disc's next two tracks come from soundtrack to the 1984 movie Streets Of Fire. I need to revisit that movie. I remember liking it, but not loving it when I was a kid. The reason I was excited to see it then was because I'd been (and still am) such a big fan of Eddie And The Cruisers, which Michael Paré starred in the previous year. Besides that, both movies have music at their centers. The first of the two songs is "One Bad Stud," a lively number written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and originally recorded by The Honey Bears in 1954. The band is totally cooking here, and on this track, they are joined by Lee Allen and Steve Berlin on saxophone, adding to the song's appeal. Lee Allen and Steve Berlin also join the group on "Blue Shadows," the other track from Streets Of Fire. It is the first original song on this disc, written by Dave Alvin, and it features some delicious work by Gene Taylor on keys.
Then we get a cover of "Justine," a song released as a single by Don And Dewey, a track with the energy and feel of a Little Richard record. When I think of the name Justine, I think first of the Marquis de Sade, and then of Lawrence Durrell, but this song has enough power and energy to push all other Justine references from my mind. The Blasters deliver a fantastic rendition. It contains some great stuff on keys. And John Doe joins the band on vocals for this one. Plus, Lee Allen and Steve Berlin are again on saxophone. This track is a whole lot of fun. It was a Non Fiction outtake. The next two tracks are also outtakes from Non Fiction, the band's 1983 LP. Both were previously included on the 2002 two-disc set Testament (The Complete Slash Recordings). The first is a cover of "Leave My Money Alone," a blues number from Lonesome Sundown. It's another track to feature some wonderful stuff from Gene Taylor. These guys deliver a cool rendition. The second, interestingly, is "Flat Top Joint," a song the band had included on the first album, American Music. This isn't the first song from that album that the band decided to re-record. Both its title track and "Marie Marie" were recorded again for the band's second album. This new version of "Flat Top Joint" didn't make it onto Non Fiction, but I'm happy to have it here. It's a strong rendition. This song was written by Dave Alvin.
The final three tracks on this disc are outtakes from Hard Line, the band's 1985 album (which, by the way, was re-issued recently). On the CD case, the order of the first two of these songs is reversed. The first is actually "Can't Stop Time," not "Cry For Me." It's an original number by Dave Alvin, a song with a cheerful sound, featuring Lee Allen and Steve Berlin on saxophone. "Everyone knows you can't stop time." Then we get the cover of "Cry For Me Baby," which was recorded by Elmore James And His Broomdusters. Here it is listed as "Cry For Me." These guys deliver a really good and energetic rendition. This track features more delicious work on keys, as well as some great stuff on guitar. "Well, I cried so much for you/Baby, that's nothing new/Lord, I wish I had a dollar/For the times I've cried for you." The final track is "Kathleen," an outstanding and seriously fun number, featuring Lee Allen and Steve Berlin on saxophone. Gene Taylor again gives us some excellent stuff on keys, and Dave is totally rocking that guitar. Everything sounds right. "So tonight, Kathleen, we can be what we want to be/It's only you and me tonight, Kathleen." And the band stretches out a bit here, which is great.
CD Track List
- 21 Days In Jail
- Love 24 Hours A Day
- I Fell In Love
- So Glad
- Ashamed Of Myself
- Lone Wolf
- One Bad Stud
- Blue Shadows
- Justine
- Leave My Money Alone
- Flat Top Joint
- Can't Stop Time
- Cry For Me
- Kathleen
Rare Blasts: Studio Outtakes And Movie Magic 1979-1985 is scheduled to be released on CD on April 17, 2026, and on vinyl on April 18th.
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