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Groupe
Country Rock US formé en 1981 par
Jason Ringenberg et composé de
Warner Hodges,
Jeff Johnson et
Perry Baggs.
A
country/hard rock band formed by Illinois native
Jason Ringenberg in 1981, Jason
and the Scorchers came careening onto the indie rock scene seemingly out of
nowhere (truth was, it was Nashville) with a debut EP whose most killer track (among
a slew of killer tracks) was a fire-breathing cover of Bob Dylan's "Absolutely
Sweet Marie." This amalgam of speedy hard rock fused with
Ringenberg's decidedly country
twang, along with the band's ability to deftly negotiate between Rolling
Stones-style stomps and quieter, more melodic acoustic country music, led to
Jason and the Scorchers becoming a critically lauded and fairly popular '80s
band. Capitalizing quickly on the notoriety brought by their debut EP, the
Scorchers kicked out two fine LPs (Lost & Found and Still Standing)
that sounded perfect for radio, but not so slick as to sound manufactured. With
Ringenberg's yowling voice
pushed way up front, the band's sonic power came from the synchronous playing of
Nashville rock veterans
Warner Hodges (guitar),
Jeff Johnson (bass), and
Perry Baggs (drums). Sharing similar musical backgrounds that valued the
music of Hank Williams and
Johnny Cash as much as
the Stones or
Beatles, these guys could crank out mega-amped hard rock one minute and
sound like the Flying Burrito Brothers the next, all of it done with great skill and
excitement. Despite their obvious talent, by the release of 1986's
Still Standing, it seemed as though the band wasn't going anywhere.
They had achieved a modicum of success but weren't able to break through to mass
acclaim, partly because they came along just before the explosion of country
radio in the late '80s/early '90s. Hence, rock radio was reluctant to play them
because they sounded too country, and country radio thought they were too rock;
it's an old story that usually spells doom for the band in question. After a
three-year break that saw
Johnson's departure, the Scorchers released a desultory third album (Thunder
and Fire) that sounded like a desperate attempt at hard rock credibility.
They broke up soon after. Ringenberg went on to record country-oriented solo work, re-formed the
original Scorchers in 1994, and released a modest reunion record (A
Blazing Grace) that sounded like the Scorchers of old. Two years later,
the reunited Scorchers released
Clear Impetuous Morning;
Midnight Roads followed in 1998.
Rock on Germany appeared three years later, Halcyon Times arrived in
2010.
http://jasonandthescorchers.com/
Talents : Jason Ringenberg : Singer, Guitar, Harmonica - Warner Hodges : Guitar - Jeff Johnson : Bass - Perry Baggs : Drums
Style musical : Country Rock, Rock 'n' Roll, Roots Rock, Cowpunk, College Rock, Americana, Heartland Rock
Years in activity :
| 1910 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 2000 | 10 | 20 |
DISCOGRAPHY
Single & EP
| 1982 | EP 12" PRAXIS MAKES 003 (US) |
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JASON & The NASHVILLE SCORCHERS - Reckless Country Soul EP - Shot Down Again / Broken Whiskey Glass / I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry |
| 1983 | EP 12" PRAXIS ? (US) |
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JASON & The NASHVILLE SCORCHERS - Absolutely Sweet Marie / Help There's A Fire / I Can't Help Myself / Hot Nights In Georgia / Pray For Me, Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now) / Harvest Moon / Both Sides Of The Line |
| 1985 | SP EMI AMIRICA B-8369 (US) |
. |
Golden Ball And Chain / Greetings From Nashville |
| 1985 | EP 12" EMI 12EA 192 (US) |
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White Lies / Are You Ready For The Country / Honky Tonk Blues |
Albums
| 11/1982 | LP 12" Praxis ? (US) |
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Country Soul - Shot Down Again / Broken Whiskey Glass / I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry / Jimmie Rodgers’ Last Blue Yodel / Help! There’s A Fire / I’d Rather Die Young - Candy Kisses / Pray For Me Momma (I’m A Gypsy Now) / Hello Walls / If You’ve Got The Love (I’ve Got The Time) / Gone, Gone, Gone / Pista | ||
| 1983 | LP 12" Praxis SP5406TR (US) |
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Fervor - Absolutely Sweet Marie / Help Theres A Fire / I Cant Help Myself / Hot Nights In Georgia / Pray For Me Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now) / Harvest Moon / Both Sides Of The Line |
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| 198? | LP 12" PA PAP-001 (US) (350 copies) |
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Rock On Germany - Lost Highway / Last Time Around / Are You Ready For The Country / I Can’t Help Myself / You Got Luv / Shop It Around / Broken Whiskey Glass / Help, There’s A Fire / Hot Nights In Georgia / Pray For Me / Mama (I’m A Gipsy Now) / Travilin‘ Band / Change The Tune / Harvest Moon / Absolutely Sweet Marie / If Money Talks / I Really Don’t Want To Know / White Lies / Around And Around / Honky Tonk Blues |
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| 1985 | LP 12" EMI 17153 (US) |
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LOST & FOUND - Last Time Around / White Lies / If Money Talks / I Really Don't Want To Know / Blanket Of Sorrow / Shop It Around / Lost Highway / Still Tied / Broken Whiskey Glass / Far Behind / Change The Tune | ||
| 1986 | LP 12" EMI 17219 (US) |
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STILL STANDING - Golden Ball And Chain / Crashin' Down / Shotgun Blues / Good Things Come To Those Who Wait / My Heart Still Stands With You / 19th Nervous Breakdown / Ocean Of Doubt / Ghost Town / Take Me To Your Promised Land | ||
| 12/1989 | LP 12" A & M 5264 (US) |
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THUNDER & FIRE - When The Angels Cry / Now That Your Mine / You Gotta Way With Me / My Kingdom For A Car / Close Up The Road / Lights Out / Find You / Bible And A Gun / Six Feet Under Ground / No Turning Back / Away From You | ||
| 10/1992 | CD EMI 95321 (US) |
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ESSENTIAL VOL. 1 - ARE YOU READY FOR THE COUNTRY - Absolutely Sweet Marie / Help There's A Fire / I Can't Help Myself / Hot Nights In Georgia / Pray For Me, Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now) / Harvest Moon / Both Sides Of The Line / Last Time Around / White Lies / If Money Talks / I Really Don't Want To Know / Blanket Of Sorrow / Shop It Around / Lost Highway / Still Tied / Broken Whiskey Glass / Far Behind [long version] / Change The Tune / Are You Ready For The Country / Greetings From Nashville [studio outtakes] / Honky Tonk Blues [live] / Absolutely Sweet Marie [live] | ||
| 02/1995 | CD MAMMOTH 101 (GER) |
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A BLAZING GRACE - Cry By Night Operator / 200 Proof Lovin' / Take Me Home, Country Roads / Where Bridges Never Burn / The Shadow Of Night / One More Day Of Weekend / Hell's Gates / Why Baby Why / Somewhere Within / American Legion Party | ||
| 1996 | CD MAMMOTH 127 (GER) |
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RECKLESS COUNTRY SOUL - Shot Down Again / Broken Whiskey Glass / I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry / Jimmie Rodgers' Last Blue Yodel / Help! There's A Fire / I'd Rather Die Young - Candy Kisses / Pray For Me Momma (I'm a Gypsy Now) / Hello Walls / If You've Got The Love (I've Got The Time) / Gone, Gone, Gone | ||
| 09/1996 | CD EMI 53929 (US) |
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BOTH SIDES OF THE LINE - Absolutely Sweet Marie / Help There's A Fire / I Can't Help Myself / Hot Nights In Georgia / Pray For Me, Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now) / Harvest Moon / Both Sides Of The Line / Last Time Around / White Lies / If Money Talks / I Really Don't Want To Know / Blanket Of Sorrow / Shop It Around / Lost Highway / Still Tied / Broken Whiskey Glass / Far Behind / Change The Tune | ||
| 10/1196 | CD MAMMOTH 980147 (US) |
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CLEAR IMPETUOUS MORNING - Self-Sabotage / Cappuccino Rosie / Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man / Going Nowhere / Uncertain Girl / 2 + 1 = Nothing / Victory Road / Kick Me Down / Everything Has A Cost / To Feel No Love / Walking A Vanishing Line / Tomorrow Has Come Today / Jeremy's Glory / I'm Sticking With You | ||
| 05/1998 | 2 CD MAMMOTH 980180 (US) |
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MIDNIGHT ROADS & STAGES SEEN :
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| 03/2001 | CD COURAGEOUS CHICKEN 2 (US) |
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ROCK ON GERMANY - Lost Highway / Last Time Around / Are You Ready For The Country / I Can't Help Myself / If You've Got The Love (I've Got The Time) / Shop It Around / Broken Whiskey Glass / Help There's A Fire / Hot Nights In Georgia / Pray For Me, Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now) / Travelin' Band / Change The Tune / You Win Again / Harvest Moon / Absolutely Sweet Marie / If Money Talks / I Really Don't Want To Know / White Lies / Around And Around / Honky Tonk Blues | ||
| 01/2002 | CD YEP ROC 2031 (US) |
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WILDFIRES AND MISFIRES - TWO DECADES OF OUTTAKES AND RARITIES - Absolutely Sweet Marie / Shop It Around / Lost Highway / Long Black Veil / Tear It Up (with Link WRAY) / Absolutely Sweet Marie / Shop It Around / Lost Highway / Long Black Veil / Tear It Up / If Money Talks / Polk Salad Annie / Don't Stop Doin' / Comin' 'Round / Fallen Angel / Too Much Too Young / Break Open The Sky / The Slow Train Never Ends / Window Town / Buried Me Like A Bone / Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town / Jimmie Rodgers' Last Blue Yodel / Cappuccino Rosie / Gospel Plow | ||
| 03/2008 | CD Caroline Distribution 156742 (US) |
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Lost & Found / Fervor - Last Time Around / White Lies / If Money Talks / I Really Don't Want To Know / Blanket Of Sorrow / Shop It Around / Lost Highway / Still Tied / Broken Whiskey Glass / Far Behind / Change The Tune / Absolutely Sweet Marie / Bob Dylan / Help, There's A Fire / I Can't Help Myself / Hot Nights In Georgia / Pray For Me, Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now) / Harvest Moon / Both Sides Of The Line | ||
| 08/2008 | 2 CD EMI / Evangeline 8200 (UK) |
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EMI YEARS :
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| 03/2010 | CD Jerkin' Crocus JERK 24 (US) |
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Halcyon Times - Moonshine Guy - Releasing Celtic Prisoners / Beat On The Mountain / Mona Lee / Fear Not Gear Rot / Mother Of Greed / Gettin' Nowhere Fast / Land Of The Free / Golden Days / Deep Holy Water / Twang Town Blues / Days Of Wine And Roses / Better Than This / When Did It Get So Easy (To Lie To Me) / We've Got It Goin' On |
© Rocky Productions 28/10/2014
