Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
From the time the Blasters began making waves on the California rock scene, the standard line always was that Dave Alvin was the group's great songwriter and Phil Alvin was the great singer. And when Dave launched his solo career in 1987, he was frequently saddled with the criticism that he wasn't much of a vocalist compared to his brother. While dozens of blues and roots rock performers have built solid careers without singing any better than Dave Alvin, it's true that on Romeo's Escape and Blue Blvd his rough, flinty voice lacked the natural grace and projection of Phil's work with the Blasters. But on 1994's King of California, Alvin recorded a few new songs alongside a stack of classics from his back catalog (and some well-chosen covers) with a small acoustic combo backing him up. Suddenly freed from having to shout over a high-powered rock band, Alvin proved on this release just how good of a vocalist he really was. While Alvin's natural instrument still shows certain limitations on King of California, when allowed to play with the nooks and crannies of his voice he reveals a subtle but dramatic sense of phrasing and a marvelous feel for the characters he created; he's still no Al Green, but as a musical storyteller he's mighty impressive. Of course, it helps that he has a bunch of superb songs to work with here, including "Barn Burning," "Fourth of July," "Border Radio," and "Little Honey," and that the great Greg Leisz is on hand to anchor the band, produce the sessions, and play marvelous slide guitar. While King of California was often lumped in with the then-fashionable unplugged craze, in retrospect it was the album where Dave Alvin's abilities as a performer began to catch up with his gifts as a songwriter, pointing the way for his later albums Blackjack David and Public Domain.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Rosie Flores, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Lewis Simpkins, ComposerLyricist - Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist - Peter Chatman, ComposerLyricist - L.C. Frazier, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist - Tom Russell, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - John Nommensen, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Darrell Edwards, ComposerLyricist - Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - GEORGE JONES, ComposerLyricist - Dave Alvin, MainArtist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Greg Leisz, Producer, Recording Producer - Dave Alvin, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Traditional Arrangement, ComposerLyricist - Dave Alvin, Producer, Recording Producer, MainArtist - Katy Moffatt, MainArtist
℗ 2008 Craft Recordings.
Chris Bellman, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Leisz, Mandolin, Dobro, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Merle Haggard, ComposerLyricist - Dave Alvin, Producer, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Executive Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Paul DuGre, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Russell, Producer, Executive Producer, Recording Producer - James Intveld, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Craft Recordings.
Album review
From the time the Blasters began making waves on the California rock scene, the standard line always was that Dave Alvin was the group's great songwriter and Phil Alvin was the great singer. And when Dave launched his solo career in 1987, he was frequently saddled with the criticism that he wasn't much of a vocalist compared to his brother. While dozens of blues and roots rock performers have built solid careers without singing any better than Dave Alvin, it's true that on Romeo's Escape and Blue Blvd his rough, flinty voice lacked the natural grace and projection of Phil's work with the Blasters. But on 1994's King of California, Alvin recorded a few new songs alongside a stack of classics from his back catalog (and some well-chosen covers) with a small acoustic combo backing him up. Suddenly freed from having to shout over a high-powered rock band, Alvin proved on this release just how good of a vocalist he really was. While Alvin's natural instrument still shows certain limitations on King of California, when allowed to play with the nooks and crannies of his voice he reveals a subtle but dramatic sense of phrasing and a marvelous feel for the characters he created; he's still no Al Green, but as a musical storyteller he's mighty impressive. Of course, it helps that he has a bunch of superb songs to work with here, including "Barn Burning," "Fourth of July," "Border Radio," and "Little Honey," and that the great Greg Leisz is on hand to anchor the band, produce the sessions, and play marvelous slide guitar. While King of California was often lumped in with the then-fashionable unplugged craze, in retrospect it was the album where Dave Alvin's abilities as a performer began to catch up with his gifts as a songwriter, pointing the way for his later albums Blackjack David and Public Domain.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:34
- Main artists: Dave alvin
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Craft Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc. ℗ 2019 Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.