For those not in the know, singer-songwriter-musicologist Phil Alvin drew from the deep well of American blues, jazz (both hot and avant garde), R&B, gospel, and early 20th century popular song for the collection’s material.

He is joined on the album by the 1994 edition of the Blasters and an illustrious lineup of guests: Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Chicago blues ace Billy Boy Arnold, New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band, blues shouter Top Jimmy of Top Jimmy & the Rhythm Pigs, and L.A. street musician Jerome Bowman.

In addition to being available on CD and digital, County Fair 2000 will make its vinyl debut in a gatefold LP package; due to time limitations, the LP will omit four songs from the original track list. Those songs will, however, appear on CD and digital.

1. County Fair
2. Wreck Your V-8 Ford
3. The Blue Line
4. That Thing
5. Turnin’ Blues Into Gold
6. Starlight
7. Keep In Touch
8. What’s the Reason I’m Not Pleasin’ You
9. She Loves So Good
10. Callin’ Corinne
11. The Terror
12. Oh Doctor
13. Mr. Satellite Man
14. Low Down Rhythm
15. Danny Boy’s Mourning Sunset: Old Rugged Cross
16. Ankh / Didn’t He Ramble

County Fair 2000 received a warm reception from media upon its 1994 release, even if it struggled to find commercial success, and opens on that gently frenetic title track, and backs it up with the rambunctious, harmonica-driven Wreck Your V-8 Ford, the groovy blues of The Blue Line, the low slung That Thing and then we get brought forth the triumphantly-hued Turnin’ Blues Into Gold, the lonesome ode Starlight, the turbo-charged Keep In Touch and the playful What’s the Reason I’m Not Pleasin’ You.

Along next is the melodic She Loves So Good and the gritty Callin’ Corinne, and they are in turn backed by the Charleston-imbibed The Terror, the impassioned Oh Doctor, the old school blues of Mr. Satellite Man, and then comes the spirited Ragtime vibe of Low Down Rhythm, the resounding Danny Boy’s Mourning Sunset: Old Rugged Cross rounding things out, the smooth elegance of Ankh / Didn’t He Ramble closing the recording.

The Blasters appear on four tracks (“County Fair,” “The Blue Line,” “Keep In Touch,” and “Mr. Satellite Man”).

Official Purchase Link