Post by erik on May 22, 2021 12:15:42 GMT -5
One of the truly ignored bands of the 1980's was a "cowpunk" band from L.A. called Lone Justice, with a fiery lead singer in Maria McKee. Their biggest hit is in this week's Pop Music Hits Spotlight.
SHELTER (Lone Justice; Geffen; 1986)—One of the most criminally ignored bands of the 1980’s, without exception, was the Los Angeles “cowpunk” band Lone Justice. Formed in or around 1981 in the emerging roots-rock scene of Los Angeles, and combining the aggressive elements of punk-rock with rootsy elements of 1950’s rockabilly and late 1960’s California country, the band was known for, among other things, a feisty lead singer by the name of Maria McKee. Though many people, including Tom Petty and Mike Campbell, band mates in the Heartbreakers, had often been credited for having “discovered” them, their real rise, according to Maria, occurred as the result of taking a break from a performance at a dingy bar in the San Fernando Valley. In this bar, Maria went to the ladies restroom and, much to her shock, encountered one of her heroes, Linda Ronstadt, who had witnessed her and her band’s performance. Within a few weeks, they had gotten signed to the Geffen record label, run by Linda’s former Asylum Records chieftain David Geffen. Geffen had apparently gotten a strong recommendation for the band from Linda, who, at that time, was about to take a big leap into the Great American Songbook via Nelson Riddle. The band lasted only four years from 1984 to 1988, and only resulted in two albums, neither of which necessarily captured the latent C&W-influenced sound of the band. Still, they had their moments in trying to be a more mainstream rock band. Their biggest hit, such as it was, was the title track of their 1986 album Shelter, written by Maria and “Little” Steve Van Zandt (of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), the latter who produced the album. Although it would peak outside the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, at #47, in January 1987, it nevertheless put a significant spotlight on Maria’s fierce and passionate vocals, which earned her well-deserved comparisons to Linda. Following Lone Justice’s breakup, Maria would follow a fairly eclectic career that veered between the C&W-influenced sounds of her former band and quasi-theatrical progressive rock. Her first (self-titled) solo album in 1989 included “Am I The Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way)?”, which was covered eight years later by the Dixie Chicks; and “Drinking In My Sunday Dress”, covered by country singer Susan Haynes in 2006. She also recorded “If Love Is A Red Dress” for the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction.
SHELTER (Lone Justice; Geffen; 1986)—One of the most criminally ignored bands of the 1980’s, without exception, was the Los Angeles “cowpunk” band Lone Justice. Formed in or around 1981 in the emerging roots-rock scene of Los Angeles, and combining the aggressive elements of punk-rock with rootsy elements of 1950’s rockabilly and late 1960’s California country, the band was known for, among other things, a feisty lead singer by the name of Maria McKee. Though many people, including Tom Petty and Mike Campbell, band mates in the Heartbreakers, had often been credited for having “discovered” them, their real rise, according to Maria, occurred as the result of taking a break from a performance at a dingy bar in the San Fernando Valley. In this bar, Maria went to the ladies restroom and, much to her shock, encountered one of her heroes, Linda Ronstadt, who had witnessed her and her band’s performance. Within a few weeks, they had gotten signed to the Geffen record label, run by Linda’s former Asylum Records chieftain David Geffen. Geffen had apparently gotten a strong recommendation for the band from Linda, who, at that time, was about to take a big leap into the Great American Songbook via Nelson Riddle. The band lasted only four years from 1984 to 1988, and only resulted in two albums, neither of which necessarily captured the latent C&W-influenced sound of the band. Still, they had their moments in trying to be a more mainstream rock band. Their biggest hit, such as it was, was the title track of their 1986 album Shelter, written by Maria and “Little” Steve Van Zandt (of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), the latter who produced the album. Although it would peak outside the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, at #47, in January 1987, it nevertheless put a significant spotlight on Maria’s fierce and passionate vocals, which earned her well-deserved comparisons to Linda. Following Lone Justice’s breakup, Maria would follow a fairly eclectic career that veered between the C&W-influenced sounds of her former band and quasi-theatrical progressive rock. Her first (self-titled) solo album in 1989 included “Am I The Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way)?”, which was covered eight years later by the Dixie Chicks; and “Drinking In My Sunday Dress”, covered by country singer Susan Haynes in 2006. She also recorded “If Love Is A Red Dress” for the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction.