Phil Alvin "Unsung Stories" 1986

Real interesting choice of material, but the real clue is that (and how?) Alvin got Sun Ra and the Arkestra to participate on three tracks. They're outstanding, but it is an all round very loving recreation of some largely forgotten forms of American musical forms.

This is a very interesting album from Phil Alvin, who along with his brother Dave was a driving force behind the great L.A roots band The Blasters. On this, his first solo effort he teams up with the likes of Sun Ra and his Arkestra, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band to run down a group of depression era Americana. The songs run from Folk, Blues, and wild 20's and 30's era Jazz. This is a great trip into the dustbowl days of American music. Unsung Stories pays tribute to the music of the past, rather than treating it as something quaint. Ultimately that is what makes the album work. - timregler

traxfromwax:
1. Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn 2. Next Week Sometime 3. The Ballad of Smokey Joe 4. Death in the Morning 5. The Old Man of the mountain 6. Daddy Rollin' Stone 7. Titanic Blues 8. Brother Can You Spare a Dime 9. Collins Cave 10. Gangster's Blues