Discography

Albums

September November

September November

CD CDBRED878, LP BRED878

New studio album by The Long Ryders, the follow up the critically acclaimed ‘Psychedelic Country Soul’. The album’s songs are all originals by guitarist/ mandolinist Sid Griffin (author of the Bob Dylan ‘Basement Tapes’ book Million Dollar Bash) and guitarist/pedal steel player Stephen McCarthy (who also plays with the Jayhawks and the Dream Syndicate) with help from longtime drummer Greg Sowders.

Produced by Ed Stasium, best known for his long relationship as producer and engineer for the Ramones. Ed has also produced two previous Long Ryders’ records and worked with Smithereens, Soul Asylum, Motörhead, Marshall Crenshaw, Living Colour, the Hoodoo Gurus and Julian Cope.

Long Ryder guitarist/mandolinist Sid Griffin states September November is “two thirds the distilled alt- country genre we helped found back in the 1980s, one third Paisley Underground adventurism yet seasoned with a dash of our own crazed soulfulness thrown in.”

Psychedelic Country Soul

Psychedelic Country Soul

CD CDBRED734, CD (US) OV-326, LP BREDD734

The Long Ryders, founders of alt-country in the 1980s, saddle up for the first time in thirty years with their biggest and best slice of Americana yet, the aptly named Psychedelic Country Soul. The album was produced by Ed Stasium (Ramones, Belinda Carlisle, The Smithereens) and features a eleven Ryder originals and a cover of their friend Tom Petty’s great song, “Walls.”

Recorded in Los Angeles at Dr. Dre’s studio, Psychedelic Country Soul is, in Long Ryder Sid Griffin’s own words, “the album we were always trying to make… each flavor which made the band unique is there be it C&W, rock ’n’ roll, troubadour folk music, raw R&B, or out-there psychedelia.” The Long Ryders (Griffin, ex-Jayhawk Stephen McCarthy, song publisher Greg Sowders and NASA veteran Tom Stevens) are supplemented on the album by old friends The Bangles on harmony vocals and stellar sideman Dave Perlman (Everly Bros. Hoyt Axton) on pedal steel guitar.

Yet, ultimately the album is The Long Ryders. With Griffin’s familiar electric 12-string guitar, McCarthy’s virtuoso Clarence White licks, Tom Stevens earthy bass and Greg Sowders swingin’ drums, Psychedelic Country Soul is an album for 2019 made with the flavors of yesterday which has the sound and the spirit of tomorrow. Get ready for the ryde of your life.

State Of Our Union, 3CD Boxset - CRCDBOX67

State Of Our Union, 3CD Boxset

CRCDBOX67

“Sid says this was The Long Ryders shot at the world title and how wonderful it is to have it back on the market again.

In addition to containing the original album, which is still the band’s biggest selling LP, and the hit single Looking For Lewis And Clark this reissue contains over two dozen unreleased Long Ryder performances!”

This 3-CD version overseen by Tom Stevens contains the re-mastered album, a set of demos from the band’s archive, and a legendary show from London’s Mean Fiddler. Re-mastered by Andy Pearce the recordings, in Sid’s opinion, have never sounded so good.

A new booklet designed by Phil Smee contains many rare photos and memorabilia and liner notes by Sid Griffin.

Two-Fisted Tales, 3CD Boxset - CRCDBOX68

Two-Fisted Tales, 3CD Boxset

CRCDBOX68

“Produced by the legendary Ed Stasium (the Ramones, Belinda Carlisle, The Smithereens), Two-Fisted Tales was the Long Ryders final album and interestingly enough Sid Griffin’s favourite one.

Featuring the singles I Want You Bad and Gunslinger man and now including demos and a live concert this is The Long Ryders going all-out, guns a-blazing!”

This 3-CD version overseen by Tom Stevens contains the re-mastered album, a disc of demos from the band’s personal archives and a memorable live show from Palm Springs. Re-mastered by Andy Pearce the recordings, in Sid’s opinion, have never sounded so good.

A new booklet designed by Phil Smee contains many rare photos and memorabilia from the band’s own collections as well as liner notes by bassist Tom Stevens.

Final wild Songs - CRCDBOX2

Final wild Songs

CRCDBOX21

The Long Ryders were formed by several American musicians influenced by Gram Parsons and the Byrds, with country and punk rock influences. The band featured Sid Griffin on guitar, autoharp, and harmonica, Stephen McCarthy, guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, and banjo, Des Brewer, bassist, (later replaced by Tom Stevens) and Greg Sowders, playing drums and percussion.

With a sound reminiscent of The Clash meeting Buffalo Springfield, but with a harder edge, they anticipated the alternative country music of the 1990s by a decade. This 4-CD career overview has been compiled with both Sid Griffin and Tom Stevens from original tapes (where they exist) – the entire band has contributed a track by track breakdown for the set.

Re-mastered by Andy Pearce.

Native Sons Reissue - Prima SID024

Native Sons (Deluxe Reissue)

Prima SID024

Native Sons is the album which Jeff Tweedy, Chris Robinson, Kurt Cobain and Gary Louris all bought and loved, influencing their own styles. It was a huge hit on the College Radio/Alternative Charts in the USA in 1984 and by spring 1985 it was number two on the New Musical Express Indie Chart, held off the top spot by the Smiths’ Meat Is Murder. Native Sons is now re-released with the entire 10-5-6- EP added as well as three tracks from the abandoned 5 By 5 sessions at A&M Studios, the Long Ryders’ first three demos and the B-side Close To The Light, a completely different mix to the LP version. This is the LP which kick-started Americana and put the “alt” into Alt-Country!

Final Wild Son/ Still Get By/ Ivory Tower/ Run Dusty Run/ (Sweet) Mental Revenge/ Fair Game/ Tell It To The Judge On Sunday/ Wreck Of The 809/ Too Close To The Light/ Never Got To Meet Her/ I Had A Dream/ Join My Gang (first of sixfrom tracks 10-5-60 EP)/ You Don’t Know What’s Right, You Don’t Know What’s Wrong/ 10-5-60/ Born To Believe In You/ The Trip/ And She Rides/ Time Keeps Travelling (first of three tracks from abandoned “5 by 5” sessions)/ I Can’t Hide/ Masters Of War/ Still Get By( first of three tracks Radio Tokyo sessions, 1983)/ 10-5-60/ And She Rides/ Too Close To The Light (b-side mix, UK only)

State Of Our Reunion - Prima SID021

State Of Our Reunion Live 2004

Prima SID021

For their first live gigs in seventeen years (!) the Long Ryders knew the pressure was on. But they kicked ass and took names and you can hear the results on this stellar recording from their London gig. Cut on a hot summer night the sold out venue turned punters away and the result was a classic live album which can be filed next to Get Your Ya-Ya’s Out, Live At The Apollo or Kick Out The Jams. Featuring the classic lineup of ex-Jayhawk Stephen McCarthy, Indiana state senator Tom Stevens, publishing mogul Greg Sowders and Dylan author Sid Griffin.

So You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star?/Lights Of Downtown/You Don’t Know What’s Right, You Don’t Know What’s Wrong/A Stitch In Time/Prairie Fire/Wreck Of The 809/Gunslinger Man/Years Long Ago/I Can’t Hide/Ivory Tower/Capturing The Flag/Band Introduction (Glasgow)/I Had A Dream/Final Wild Son/(Sweet) Mental Revenge/State Of Our Union/Looking For Lewis & Clark/Louisville/10-5-60

The Best of the Long Ryders - Prima SID016

The Best of the Long Ryders

Prima SID016

The first ever single CD Long Ryders compilation features tracks from across their entire career and from every label the band were on. Featuring liner notes from the rhythm section of Tom Stevens and Greg Sowders as well as Pete Frame’s very informative Long Ryders Family Tree this release includes over a dozen previously unseen photographs of the band in their heyday. This is the one Long Ryders CD to have if you only want one and an excellent introduction to the Founding Fathers of alt-country. Officially Prima Records bestselling CD as of May 1, 2008.

Looking For Lewis & Clark (long version) / Lights Of Downtown / Years Long Ago / Gunslinger Man / I Want You Bad / A Stitch In Time / Man Of Misery / If I Were A Bramble And You Were A Rose / Capturing The Flag (live) / State Of My Union / Final Wild Son / Ivory Tower / (Sweet) Mental Revenge / I Had A Dream / You Don’t Know What’s Right, You Don’t Know What’s Wrong / And She Rides / Masters Of War / I Can’t Hide

Three Minute Warnings - Prima SID015(CD)

Three Minute Warnings

Prima SID015(CD)

A great recording of the Long Ryders show at the Bottom Line in New York City on 7th May 1987 which was broadcast live on FM radio. A showcase for a rocking fine band, Sid’s hair looks perfect on the front cover and the CD booklet has notes by the band’s long time manager John Guarnieri. The CD features previously unseen photographs of the band in action. This is rock and roll which emphasises the “roll” part as much as the rock! The album is hotter than a pepperoni and jalapeno sandwich with horse radish.

Prairie Fire/Lights Of Downtown/Man Of Misery/A Stitch In Time/State Of My Union/Harriet Tubman’s Going To Carry Me Home/Capturing The Flag/Long Story Short/Baby’s In Toyland/I Want You Bad/Spectacular Fall/I Had A Dream/You Just Can’t Ride The Boxcars Anymore/Gunslinger Man/Looking For Lewis & Clark/Prisoners Of Rock/10-5-60

The Long Ryders Anthology - Polygram Records 314 558 280

The Long Ryders Anthology

Polygram Records 314 558 280(USA)(2xCD)

Released in July 1998, this 40 track compilation covers every period of The Long Ryders’ influential existence. Every note has been expertly remastered by sonic expert Bill Inglot so the sound quality throughout is stunning. All the unreleased tracks were mixed by Sid Griffin in Los Angeles in early 1998. The Light Gets In The Way is listed on the CD as being the album version but sounds like the demo version to everyone in the Prima Records Office. The long version of Looking For Lewis And Clark from the ten inch single release makes its first appearance on CD. Unfortunately this wonderful compilation has only been released in the USA and is now out of print.

Disc One: 10-5-60 / And She Rides / Born To Believe In You / You Don’t Know What’s Right, You Don’t Know What’s Wrong / Join My Gang / Final Wild Son / Ivory Tower / Still Get By / Run Dusty Run/(Sweet) Mental Revenge / Fair Game / Too Close To The Light / I Had A Dream / I’ll Get Out Somehow / Masters Of War/I Can’t Hide / Lights Of Downtown/Mason-Dixon Line / Capturing The Flag/Years Long Ago Disc Two: Looking For Lewis And Clark (long version)/ State Of My Union/Two Kinds Of Love/If I Were A Bramble And You Were A Rose / Christmas In New Zealand / Basic Black / Pushin’ Uphill / He Can Hear His Brother Calling / 17 Ways /He’s Got Himself A Young Girl (And He Can’t Keep Up)/ Gunslinger Man / I Want You Bad / A Stitch In Time / Baby’s In Toyland/Harriet Tubman’s Gonna Carry Me Home / The Light Gets In The Way / Spectacular Fall/Flak Jacket / Ring Bells / Prisoners Of Rock’N’Roll (live)

BBC Radio One Live In Concert - WINCD 058

BBC Radio One Live In Concert

Windsong WINCD 058 (CD)

A 1994 release of recordings made and broadcast by the BBC. Recorded live at the Mayfair Club, Newcastle, 3.6.87, except for the last four tracks which were recorded for the Andy Kershaw show at the Chester Rendezvous Club, 15.10.85. A very well recorded live performance captured with typical great care by BBC engineers, an especially noteworthy achievement when you consider a rather ugly fight broke out in the mosh pit during the Chester performance which involved a good half dozen male Brits whopping the beejeezus out of each other for about fifteen minutes till order was restored. NOW OUT OF PRINT but God gave us eBay so go for it!

Prairie Fire/A Stitch In Time/Harriet Tubman’s Gonna Carry Me Home/I Want You Bad/I Had A Dream/You Just Can’t Ride The Boxcars Anymore/Gunslinger Man/Looking For Lewis And Clark/Ivory Tower/Final Wild Son/State Of My Union/Lights Of Downtown

Metallic B.O. - Prima SID001

Metallic B.O.

r.o.w.y.c.b. prod 002(CASS); Overground OVER16(CD); Prima SID001(CD)

A compendium of live tracks, out takes and snippets of radio interviews. The original release was an 86 minute Long Ryders authorized fan club cassette, which was edited for CD reissue by Overground and, more recently, Prima Records by omission of the tracks marked *.

Now officially out of print. Shame!

You’re Gonna Miss Me/Route 66/Brand New Heartache/Prisoners Of Rock’N’Roll/Dirty Old Town/Is Anyone Going To San Antone*/BillyJean/Circle ‘Round The Sun/I Want You Bad*/Six Days On The Road/Anarchy In The U.K./What Goes On*/Masters Of War/Sandwich Man/Greenville Trestle*/Blues Theme/P.I.L. Theme/I Shall Be Released

Two Fisted Tales

Two Fisted Tales

Island ILPS9869(LP), 7 90594-2(CD); Prima SID005(CD)

The Long Ryders’ final studio album from 1987, reissued in a deluxe edition containing four bonus tracks, marked * above, by Prima Records in February 1996. The new edition also includes heartfelt sleeve notes by Long Ryders’ drummer Greg Sowders who is now a song publishing expert at Warner-Chappell in his native Los Angeles (or so he says.)

Gunslinger Man/I Want You Bad/A Stitch In Time/The Light Gets In The Way/Prairie Fire/Baby’s In Toyland/Long Story Short/Man Of Misery/Harriet Tubman’s Gonna Carry Me Home/For The Rest Of My Days/Spectacular Fall/Ring Bells*/State Of My Union(live)*/Time Keeps Travelling*/Baby We All Gotta Go Down(live)*

State Of Our Union

State Of Our Union

Island ILPS9802(LP); Prima SID003(CD)

The band’s most well known and highest charting album and one which features their biggest chart hit. Reissued by Prima Records in a remastered and extended form including the bonus tracks marked *. Universal Records (UK) almost released this CD once again in summer 2004 on the strength of the Long Ryders State Of Our Reunion Tour but at the last second cancelled their plans.

Looking for Lewis and Clark/Lights of Downtown/WDIA/Mason-Dixon Line/Here Comes That Train Again/Years Long Ago/Good Times Tomorrow, Hard Times Today/Two Kinds Of Love/You Just Can’t Ride The Boxcars Anymore/Capturing The Flag/State Of My Union/If I Were a Bramble and You Were a Rose*/Southside of the Story*/Child Bride*/Christmas in New Zealand*

A Conversation With The Long Ryders

A Conversation With The Long Ryders

Island LR1(LP)

A promotional LP containing interviews with the Long Ryders in between the album tracks. Copies are occasionally seen in specialist record shops and on eBay going for ridiculous prices.

Native Sons

Native Sons

Frontier (LP,CD); Zippo ZONG(CD)003 (LP,CD); Demon/Diabolo DIAB821(CD)

The first full length album, and a fixture of the indie charts in 1984. The Frontier and Zippo CD versions include the 10-5-60 mini album, but the latest Demon/Diabolo version (1996) does not. This classic is from the days when only The Smiths were a more popular indie band than the Ryders in Europe and when only The Replacements were a more popular indie band in the USA.

Final Wild Son/Still Get By/Ivory Tower/Run Dusty Run/(Sweet) Mental Revenge/Fair Game/Tell It To The Judge On Sunday/Wreck Of The 809/Too Close To the Light/Never Got To Meet The Mom/I Had A Dream

10-5-60

10-5-60

PVC PVC5906(LP); Zippo ZANE004(LP)

The first release in 1983 by the Long Ryders with Des Brewer on bass. Reissued by Demon/Zippo in the UK in 1987 with an extra track, The Trip, dating from 1985, and included on some CD releases of Native Sons.

Join My Gang/I Don’t Care What’s Right, I Don’t Care What’s Wrong/10-5-60/The Trip*/And She Rides/Born to Believe In You

DVDs

State Of Our Reunion Live 2004 DVD

State Of Our Reunion Live 2004

SIDVID022

The DVD release of live footage of the Long Ryders reunion tour in 2004 is available on Prima DVD.

Included as extras is some footage of the band live in the UK in March 1985 as well as larkin’ about in the A&M Studios with Ed Stasium in autumn 1986!

So You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star? / Lights Of Downtown / You Don’t Know What’s Right, You Don’t Know What’s Wrong / A Stitch In Time / Gunslinger Man / Wreck Of The 809 / Years Long Ago / And She Rides / I Can’t Hide / Capturing The Flag / Ivory Tower / I Want You Bad / I Had A Dream / Final Wild Son / (Sweet) Mental Revenge / State Of Our Union / Looking For Lewis & Clark - Plus Five bonus videos: Gunslinger Man (Official Video) / A Stitch In Time (Official Video) / I Had A Dream (Live) / State Of Our Union (Live) / Anarchy In The UK (Live)

Rockin’ At The Roxy DVD

Rockin’ At The Roxy

Classic Pictures DVD1093X

In 1986 a Long Ryders show at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood was taped for TV broadcast in Europe. This has just been released on DVD by Classic Pictures. Bonus materal includes an exclusive and quite wonderful five song solo session by Sid Griffin recorded in late 2001 in Shepperton, England.

Long Ryders live in 1986: Lights Of Downtown/Good Times Tomorrow, Hard Times Today/Run Dusty Run/You Just Can’t Ride The Boxcars Anymore/Time Keeps Travelling/Ivory Tower/Capturing The Flag/Too Close To The Light/I Had A Dream/Final Wild Son/Wreck Of The 809/State Of My Union/Still Get By/Looking For Lewis And Clark/Tell It To The Judge On Sunday/10-5-60
Sid Griffin solo session, 2001: Jimmy Reed/Flak Jacket/Capturing The Flag/Faithless Disciple/Emily In Ginger

Singles

Live EP: Copenhagen '23

Live EP: Copenhagen '23

September, November Sometime c/w Ivory Tower, I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better. Released September 15, 2023 (File, MP3, WAV)

Tom Tom

Tom Tom

Released January 21, 2022 (File, MP3, WAV)

Down To The Well

Down To The Well

c/w If You Want To See Me Cry File (Dry Eye Remix)
Released September 4, 2020 (File, MP3, WAV)

Bear in the Woods single

Bear in the Woods

Prima SIDHIT007

Released April 18, 2017 (File, MP3, WAV)

I Want You Bad single

I Want You Bad

Island (12)IS730

c/w Ring Bells, State Of My Union(live) (7", 12")

Gunslinger Man (Promo)

Gunslinger Man (Promo)

Island Records PR2016

c/w I Want You Bad, Prairie Fire (7", 12")

State Of Our Union Tour single

State Of Our Union Tour 7"

Ariola 108565

Looking For Lewis And Clark c/w Lights Of Downtown, Here Comes That Train Again, State Of My Union (7")

Looking For Lewis And Clark (extended)

Looking For Lewis And Clark (Extended version)

Island 10IS237

c/w Child Bride, Southside Of The Story, If I Were A Bramble And You Were A Rose (10")

Looking For Lewis And Clark

Looking For Lewis And Clark

Island ISD237

c/w Child Bride & Southside Of The Story c/w If I Were A Bramble And You Were A Rose (2 x 7")

Tell It To The Judge On Sunday

Tell It To The Judge On Sunday

Lolita 10005

c/w Fair Game (7")

I Had A Dream

I Had A Dream

Zippo 45-2

c/w Too Close To The Light (Buckskin Mix) (7")

RELEASES AS "THE SPINNING WIGHATS"
  • Christmas In New Zealand LYN16928 (7" flexidisk) - A very rare flexidisk, given away at a few selected gigs. Since included on the Prima reissue of State Of Our Union and on The Long Ryders Anthology - Bandcamp link.
  • Encore From Hell, 10-5-60 BOB11 (7" flexidisk) - Given free with Bucketful Of Brains issue 17, Encore From Hell features Sid reading reviews of the State Of Our Union album, both tracks are live recordings.
  • Baby We All Gotta Go Down What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen - Number 6 (LP) - A live version of a song originally recorded by Danny & Dusty (who included several Long Ryders) for the LP The Lost Weekend. Included on the Prima deluxe edition of Two Fisted Tales. WANWTTS was an innovative fanzine which combined a magazine with a full length vinyl LP.
  • I Can't Hide Real.006, 10072915 (7" flexidisk) - A cover of the Flamin' Groovies song given free with issue 28 of The Bob magazine. This version gained a more official release in 1998 on The Long Ryders Anthology.