Insurgent Country, Vol. 1: For A Life Of Sin CD

The compilation that introduced Chicago's Bloodshot label to an unsuspecting world is something of an alt country primer, with contributions from such future stars of the then-fledgling genre as Freakwater, the Bottle Rockets, Robbie Fulks, and the Handsome Family. Highlighting the musical diversity and fertility of the early-1990s Chicago insurgent country scene, as well as its deeper musical roots, the collection also includes both 1950s and contemporary recordings by the Sundowners, a country combo which held sway for decades at a downtown dive bar called the RR Ranch, next to the city's Greyhound bus station. They don't come more authentic than that.

Includes liner notes by Jon Langford.

Personnel: Peter Houpt, Jon Langford, Brett Sparks, Brian Henneman (vocals, guitar); Brigid Murphy, Skipper (vocals); Andon T. Davis (guitar, mandolin); Tom Parr, Kelly Kessler (guitar); Tom Meltzer (electric guitar); Jim Becker (dobro, mandolin); Tracy Dear (mandolin); Michael Colligan (clarinet); Tony Maimone (bass guitar); Brian Doherty (drums, background vocals); Goodtime, Mark Ortmann, Perry LaFine, Chris Russell, Mike Werner (drums); Captain Stubby & The Buccaneers (background vocals).Option (11-12/94, p.116) - "...Compilation of Chicago neo-country recordings from new bands who like old stuff as it's trickled down through Slim Whitman and Boxcar Willie....Some of these kids...manage to integrate the country and bluegrass stuff they profess to with contemporary rock aesthetics..."