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Editorial Reviews

Founder member of THE BLASTERS along with brother Phil. Dave's first of many solo recordings is available after several years in it's original form. Produced by STEVE BERLIN of LOS LOBOS with DAVID HIDALGO of LOS LOBOS also guesting. Recorded in 1986 and first released in 1987. 'Romeo's Escape' proved a landmark album for Dave Alvin who is now acknowledged as one of America's premier roots songwriter / troubadors. Guest musicians include AL KOOPER and singer KATY MOFFAT.

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.55 x 4.97 x 0.54 inches; 3.55 Ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Acadia Records
SPARS Code ‏ : ‎ DDD
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 22, 2007
Label ‏ : ‎ Acadia Records
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FGFTS2
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #280,761 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #956 in Roots Rock (CDs & Vinyl)
- #2,017 in Alt-Country & Americana (CDs & Vinyl)
- #4,012 in Country Rock (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 14 ratings

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4.4 out of 5

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Timothy P. Young

One of the Best Albums EVER

Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2009

Verified Purchase

I know it sounds hyperbolic, but Dave Alvin's debut album, Romeo's Escape (also called Every Night About this Time) is simply one of the best roots-rock/Americana/country albums of the past thirty years. Alvin had played in the Blasters and then, briefly, with X before striking out on his own with this collection. And music lovers everywhere should love him for it.

Alvin benefits from having years of unused songs to fall back on (like so many other debuts from people formerly in groups), including reworks of "Fourth of July" (sung by John Doe on X's See How We Are ) and "Long White Cadillac" and "Border Radio" (sung by brother Phil on the Blasters' Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings (1981-1985) , along with a couple of others). While the original recordings are just fine on their own (terrific, actually), to hear Dave take on his own material with the vocal chops and gusto that he brings to these compositions (even when the arrangements aren't reworked very much) is nothing short of a revelation. These are the songs as they were first heard in the artist's mind, and that's really something to hear.

I don't want to overthink anything, here, but the simple fact is that this album has it all: Strong Songwriting? Check. Awesomely expressive vocals? Check. Perfect arrangements for the songs with tight playing? Rock? Roll? Rave-ups? Ballads? Check, check, check, and check.

Again this is one of the best LPs since Americana became a genre (a bit before, actually), and if you don't have this one, you're missing a very important chapter. Highly, highly recommended.

3 people found this helpful

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Jacob Starr

A True American Singer/Songwriter

Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2008

Verified Purchase

This album is one of the best American roots music offerings since Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited". If you ever wondered what some of the Blasters tunes would sound like with an acoustic guitar, this is it. Even the electric guitars have an acoustic feel and the result is magical. A must have album for folks who think American music ends with Petty, Mellencamp and Springsteen. Dave Alvin achieves sounds and feelings that everyone who lives and loves this country can appreciate.

4 people found this helpful

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Daniel W. Bleier

Before he found his voice

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2014

There is much to like here, but the best songs "Border Radio" and "Fourth of July", had been written by Alvin and recorded elsewhere. Never a question about his writing talents, but it would take a few albums for him to develop into the great artist of "King of California"

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elvistcob@lvcm.com

Very good remake of his Blasters' songs

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2002

I bought this CD at a Dave Alvin concert. Based on the material he played in concert, I would say this is the best of his solo albums. Of course he has the luxury here of recording some of the best of his non-solo stuff.
Dave Alvin was the song-writing part of The Blasters, one of the most enjoyable bands playing American music ever to put out a record. When they were in their prime, nobody did stuff like this better. With his brother Phil doing the singing, they had a distinct sound, and you had to see Phil perform to fully appreciate the whole Blasters experience.
Alas, people don't get along and Dave and the Blasters parted ways. Dave has set off on a solo career that hasn't seemed that successful, and at last checking, the Blasters continue to tour without Dave. Problem is, without Dave to write good songs, the Blasters are probably doomed to being an oldies act.
What makes this album interesting is that you get to hear Dave's songs SUNG by Dave. He will tell you in concert that the idea was strange to him when first proposed, and if you followed the band, you might think the same. No, Dave does not have a smooth voice at all. In fact, it's downright gravelly from countless cigarettes.
But what you do get is the author of some songs singing them the way he thinks they should be sung. If you were a Blasters fan, hearing songs like "Long White Cadillac", "Jubilee Train", and "Border Radio" might take some getting used to, but they come out as equally good interpretations after awhile.
There is feeling to the singing, too. "Border Radio" is slowed down a lot, and you look at it a different way. And you will be hard-pressed to find a more heart-rendering performance than what he does with "Every Night About This Time". He also rocks hard on the album with "Romeo's Escape" and "New Tatto", which balance it out nicely.
There are not that many bands doing this kind of music anymore, so catch Dave or the Blasters if they come to your town.

7 people found this helpful

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Earl D. Brogan

Between Rockabilly and Folk

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2001

This 1986 release by Dave Alvin backed by the Allnighters and featuring guests like Al Kooper and David Hidalgo is firmly on the road between his Blasters and X days and his more recent folkier work like Blackjack David and Public Domain. The cool part is he's been great all along the way and this outing, his first solo work, is great, too. It has cuts that showed up elsewhere like Fourth of July which X did and Alvin redid himself on King of California. They're strong songs, and hearing them recast is a treat, and those unique to this disk are fine, too..
In the liner notes Alvin says this is his first time out singing his songs. Why he waited so long I don't know, but he does fine.
Strong songs, good singing, and inspired playing. Next best thing to saturday night.

8 people found this helpful

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Once a soldier...

Walking Americana.

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2007

In 1986, the LP was called "Romeo's scape". In 1987 it was called "Every night about this time". In 2001 and now, we are back to the original title.

One of the best records ever. Each song a classic. Dylan and Townes are Dave Alvin's peers.Just incredible.

5 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Heart-felt music

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2000

Dave Alvin shows off his song writing chops-- and they are in fine form on this album. Bumming out on a lonely night? Try listening to "Every Night.." or "Border Radio". His words paint a head-filling picture. Wonderful album.

6 people found this helpful

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Reinhard Busse

"American Way Of Life" - aus der Sicht eines kritischen Beobachters ...

Reviewed in Germany on March 11, 2015

Verified Purchase

Der US-amerikanische Country- und Folk-Musiker Dave Alvin wurde am 11. November 1955 in Downey, Kalifornien geboren.
Mit seinem Bruder Dave gründete er die Rockabilly-Band "The Blasters". Ab 1986 widmete er sich seiner Solokarriere - "Romeo's Escape" ist sein Debüt aus dem Jahr 1987 ... die Verkaufserfolge waren allerdings sehr schlecht [Achtung: die CD wird auch unter dem Titel "Every Night About This Time" angeboten!]
Auf "Romeo's Escape" präsentiert sich Dave Alvin als kritischer Beobachter des 'american way of life' - Vergleiche in Bezug auf den frühen Bruce Springsteen zwängen sich geradezu auf. Musikalisch bewegt sich Dave Alvin breitgefächert in den Bereichen von Blues, Country, Roots Rock und Rhythm & Blues. Die "Los Angeles Times" merkte schon damals völlig zu Recht an: "eine der zentralen Persönlichkeiten des Americana-Stils". Und der "Musik Express" attestierte Dave Alvin im August 1987: "Alvin überzeugt durch intelligentes Gitarrenspiel und lyrische Songtexte, die von der anderen/dunklen Seite Amerikas berichten".
Festzuhalten ist: Das Debüt von Dave Alvin bietet starke Songs, guten Gesang und inspirierte Spielfreude [prominenter Gast auf diesem Debüt: Al Kooper (-> Blood, Sweat & Tears)].
Zur CD-Ausgabe:
Original von 1987 // die vorliegende CD von 2006.
All Music & Words by Dave Alvin.
8-seitiges Booklet mit einem Essay zum Werdegang von Dave Alvin von Terry Staunton aus dem Jahr 2006. Die Songtexte liegen leider nicht bei.
Mein Fazit: Auch 28 Jahre nach der Erstveröffentlichung noch durchaus entdeckenswert.
Meine Wertung: 4 Sterne = Gefällt mir. [Differenzierte Bewertung: 4,2 Sterne]
[Reinhard Busse]

One person found this helpful

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Nono melo

Difficile à retrouver, très bon 1er album

Reviewed in France on August 6, 2022

Verified Purchase

J'avais l'album uk demon, difficile de le retrouver en cd. Le son n'est pas trop au rendez-vous, mériterait un bon remaster, et une réédition tout court. Très bon album après les Blasters, et sa participation à X

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