When I get in my rockabilly mood, I inevitably trot out my two Lone Justice albums and get weepy over the lyrics to Don't Toss Us Away. Back in the 80s, they were a band on the verge, opening for U2, an appearance on Saturday Night Live, and respectable radio and MTV airplay. Linda Ronstadt was a fan and personally advocated for Geffen Records to give them a chance. Maria's beauty was likened to the era's other It Girl, Madonna, and her vocals were blessed by Dolly Parton, who said she was "the greatest vocalist any band could ever have." They were a rock critic's darling, their self-titled debut album among the decade's greatest.
So what "didn't" happen?
One theory is that as industry favorites, those two albums were held in such regard that the band could not meet the exceedingly high expectations, and any result outside world domination would be a letdown.
Thinking of what was going on in pop music at the time - Duran Duran new wave, Prince's funk, Madonna's dance pop, salsa pop from Miami Sound Machine, Billy Ocean's sax-heavy light rock, light metal from Bon Jovi - was there any room on the charts for their brand of country rock? I know I loved it, but I can name only one other friend, Liz, who dug it.
Then there was the fact that music in the 1980s was highly visual. This band was heavy on groove but a little light on teenage girl crushable faces. Maria, while beautiful and feisty, resisted becoming a cover girl to sell her music. The record label rebuilt the band around her in search of a more radio-friendly sound and MTV look.
It didn't work, and the band broke up in 1987. Maria pursued a solo career, landing on a few soundtracks, including Pulp Fiction. The rest of the band went on to other acts and session work. There was a record released in 2024, well after two band members Dan Heffington and Gregg Sutton passed away, serving as a sort of reunion/swan song.
I consider my taste to be pretty mainstream but I'm a sucker for acts like this. I have recently started listening to Little Steven's Underground Garage again, and my body seems to crave more of this. I wonder what another indie group from that era, Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, is up to?
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