Those Jangly Eighties, Vol 4: Green On Red

For the background on this series, see here.]

Although considered part of the "paisley underground," I think Green On Red are more accurately described as part of the second wave of Americana/alt-country bands, picking up where Gram Parsons and Commander Cody, et al., left off.

My favorite Green On Red album is the under-appreciated No Free Lunch, released in 1985. Here Green On Red sound like the perfect rootsy American bar band (and the year could be 1969, 1985, or 2008).

In keeping with my policy of leaving you wanting more (and hopefully buying the album), I'm having a difficult time choosing which tracks to feature. The record is uniformly solid. So if you like these, you're going to like the rest:

Green On Red – Keep On Moving
Green On Red – (Gee Ain't It Funny) How Time Slips Away

(buy album).

As much as I like Green On Red's cover version, you really can't top Willie's original:

Willie Nelson - Funny How Time Slips Away (buy album).

(This song is best enjoyed with Wild Turkey on the rocks.)

While I'm on the subject Green On Red, I need to give a shout out to ex-Green On Red guitarist, Chuck Prophet, who has released a string of high-quality rock albums over the past 15 years.

This track from his 2002 album "No Other Love" is one of the alltime best laid-back, summery rock songs. Unfortunately, most people have never heard of it.

Chuck Prophet - Summertime Thing (buy album).

Line that makes me laugh: "Go ask your dad for the keys to the Honda..." (Somehow it's just not the same as a T-Bird.)