Ignored             Obscured              Restored

Happy 250th Independence Day!

What better way to celebrate than with some good old American music?  And by that, I mean “American Music” by the Blasters — two minutes of straight-ahead, American Graffiti-style rock ’n’ roll.

The Blasters were led by songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Dave Alvin, along with his brother Phil.  Dave would later spend time with X and the Knitters, but the Blasters remained his most enduring musical vehicle.

Their debut album, also titled American Music, was released in 1980 on the independent Rollin’ Rock label.  It was a master class in American roots music, blending rockabilly, blues, country, jazz, swing, R&B, and early rock ’n’ roll into a sound that felt both timeless and fresh.  Think of it as the next link in a chain stretching from Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry to Creedence Clearwater Revival.  The album included the version of “American Music” featured here.  (It was recorded for their critically acclaimed, self-titled, second album.)

So fire up the grill, grab a hot dog, an ice cream cone, and a few sparklers, and celebrate America’s 250th birthday with “American Music,” a song that captures the spirit of the day as perfectly as its title.

Enjoy… until next week.