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Hard Line

by The Blasters

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  • Streaming + Download

    Pre-order of Hard Line. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    Purchasable with gift card
    Download available in 24-bit/96kHz.
    releases February 6, 2026

      $12.99 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Packaged in a digi-gatefold wallet with an 8-page booklet with new liner notes from Chris Morris, band interviews and rare photos

    Includes digital pre-order of Hard Line. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    Download available in 24-bit/96kHz.
    shipping out on or around February 6, 2026
    Purchasable with gift card

      $14.99 USD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Original album reprinted with its original album insert with Dave Alvin's lyrics along with an insert featuring new liner notes from Chris Morris, band interviews and rare photos.

    Includes digital pre-order of Hard Line. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    Download available in 24-bit/96kHz.
    shipping out on or around February 6, 2026
    Purchasable with gift card

      $24.99 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    8
    releases

    Get all 8 The Blasters releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Blasters, Hard Line, Non Fiction, American Music, Over There: Live at The Venue London - The Complete Concert, Mandatory: The Best of The Blasters, Dark Night: Live in Philly, and Live 1986. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $78.69 USD or more (25% OFF)

     

1.
Trouble Bound
2.
Just Another Sunday
3.
Hey Girl
4.
Dark Night
5.
Little Honey
6.
Samson And Delilah
7.
Colored Lights
8.
Help You Dream
9.
Common Man
10.
Rock And Roll Will Stand 02:39
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about

After releasing two strong albums for Slash, the Blasters had plenty of critical acclaim and a sizable hometown following, but they hadn't come especially close to landing a hit record, and on the 1985 album Hard Line, they overhauled their approach in the studio in hopes of creating something that sounded more contemporary. Producer Jeff Eyrich pumped up the sound of Bill Bateman's drums (and for a few tracks replaced him with Stan Lynch of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), Dave Alvin's guitar tone got thicker and harder and the emphasis was put squarely on new songs. "Trouble Bound" and "Help You Dream" showed Dave Alvin's gift for writing in traditional styles was as strong as ever. Alvin's songs took on a darker tone on Hard Line, especially the tale of a small town lynching, "Dark Night," the anti-Reagan rant "Common Man," and the busted romance of "Just Another Sunday," while the fiddle-led acoustic arrangement of "Little Honey" serves the tune far better than the version X recorded on Ain't Love Grand (with co-author John Doe on vocals). And the closing track, the rollicking "Rock and Roll Will Stand," is a darkly funny appraisal of the music biz that shows the Blasters knew just what they were getting into by trying to scale the charts, and were prepared for the consequences. Hard Line proved to be the Blasters' final studio album with their original lineup, and while it sounds like an experiment that only partially succeeded, the best moments revealed they could move forward without losing what made them special, they held on to their principles far better than the vast majority of roots rock bands who figured a different producer might get them on the radio.

The 2026 album re-release includes new liner notes by Chris Morris with band interviews and rare photos. Available on February 6 with the band’s second album, The Blasters.

credits

releases February 6, 2026

Dave Alvin: Lead Guitar
Phil Alvin: Vocals, Guitar
Bill Bateman: Drums
John Bazz: Bass
Gene Taylor: Piano

Produced By Jeff Eyrich Except “Just Another Sunday”
Produced By Don Gehman; And “Colored Lights”
Produced By Don Gehman
Executive Producer Little Bastard

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about

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The Blasters Los Angeles, California

The Blasters are one of the bedrock acts that formed the template for the “Americana” music movement. Since their inception in 1979 the core members of the Blasters have been Phil Alvin, his younger brother and the group’s principal songwriter and guitarist Dave Alvin, drummer Bill Bateman, and bassist John Bazz. Dave Alvin is also an accomplished solo artist with two GRAMMY Awards® to his credit. ... more

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