80's alternative country videos (check 'em out here)
 

Leather Face's Jason and the Scorchers thread made me think how fun it would be to post alternative country bands (cowpunk anyone?) from the 1980's. ONLY the 1980's. Feel free to add your own. I'll update as I see fit with many of these fantastic acts.

Up first is the Long Ryders with a hooky monster from '85. Every one of their albums were worthwhile, but they never quite got the credit they deserved.

"Looking For Lewis and Clark" by The Long Ryders 1985
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0saf-DKQoM8" ></embed>

"Rank & File" by Rank & File 1982 (with a young Alejandro Escovedo)
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SgNkHtej_5U" ></embed>

"Bigger Stones" by Beat Farmers (live 1985)
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KxOMHIUaKPM" ></embed>

I'll probably post more Beat Farmers. Country Dick Montana had some hilarious tunes ("Happy Boy" and more). RIP.

Knitters, Green on Red, Mekons, Lone Justice.

I was not that big a country fan back in this era, so I didn't give these bands as much of a chance as I should have. I may go back and explore some of these. I had that Long Ryders cassette---great single!!

Here's a couple alternative acts that had some country influences....

One of my favorite X songs, (with a fan-made video):

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8sxaeJv54og&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8sxaeJv54og&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

And some classic Wall of Voodoo:

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kvnin-u75qY&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kvnin-u75qY&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JegJYlZ7UQE&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JegJYlZ7UQE&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

I also don't know much Alt. Country from the 80s. At that time I still thought all country music and Hee-Haw went hand in hand.

However, here's one brilliant 1988 song that did a lot to change that opinion. Admittedly, it was the Mary Chapin Carpenter version I first heard, but it was Lucinda's self-titled album that I wound up buying for this song:

Lucinda Williams - Passionate Kisses
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C2U5_TDHYic" ></embed>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d58mn7ZTZvg
I used to be in an alt country band and we played this by The Long Ryders.
Good thread

BTW-how the hell do you post the you tube clips like that?
Please help!

Funny, I searched each of these bands today on YouTube and came up with very little actual 80's footage that I wanted to use . I'd love to find mid-80's Mekons in their country phase.

Ky-Fi, thanks. Saw a Blasters vid today that had Billy Zoom on guitar ('87?). I know X had Dave Alvin for a bit... swicheroo briefly.

That Lucinda Williams album is still my favorite recording she's done.

Here's a Lone Justice song from '85. It's a live performance of "Cactus Rose" on IRS The Cutting Edge and is the b-side to "Ways To Be Wicked":
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6HweF7baKw4" ></embed>

All you have to do is go to the youtube video (on the youtube site) , and highlight and copy the 'embed' code in the upper right corner under the "about this video" section. Then paste that code in your post here.

I love "Gunslinger Man"! I had that all set to post, but think "Looking For Lewis and Clark" is a bit better and in the same style.

Allright,let's see if this works.
Hollywood Hills by the Beat Farmers.
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iquVd12M4lQ&rel=0&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iquVd12M4lQ&rel=0&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

"Happy Boy" by The Beat Farmers (silly stuff, but maybe their best known tune)

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J40rLaARx00&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J40rLaARx00&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

"Big Ugly Wheels" by The Beat Farmers (a tad bit less novelty with Country Dick)

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OBow8518hMc&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OBow8518hMc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

from AMG-

"On a cold November night in 1995, Country Dick Montana was on-stage at the Long Horn bar, doing what he loved most, performing, when he collapsed and died. He was only 40 years old, and his solo career was barely out of the starting gate. He had finished recording his excellent solo debut album only weeks before his sudden death."

Even easier: take the youtube video code -- everything after the = sign in the URL -- and stick it between {yt} and {/yt} tags only with brackets instead of braces.

Is Lone Justice considered alternative country?

The rules for this are very loose, but why not? They were mainly played by college radio and if that's not a country sound with a different bent, what is?

"Diamond Mine" by Blue Rodeo (1989 title track from the great white north):

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L6lNVWM_3ko&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L6lNVWM_3ko&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

Re: 80's alternative country videos (check 'em out here)
 

This might be a good thread to show off some videos I shot of an 80's Alt/Folk/Americana guy (Dave Alvin of the Blasters, The Knitters, etc....) right now...He is touring right now was just a couple of women, including a great slide guitarist...Plus I include a clip from a video I shot in 2004...2 Blasters songs and Ashgrove...

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3HSwXuFBbVw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3HSwXuFBbVw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/avLazOti1Pk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/avLazOti1Pk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/em3t-NCDw7E&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/em3t-NCDw7E&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Re: 80's alternative country videos (check 'em out here)
 

Jason & The Scorchers:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9unLB8lNCJ8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9unLB8lNCJ8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

This is one of the most intense performances I've seen of any band.

Re: 80's alternative country videos (check 'em out here)
 

Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys