| Hard Line | |
| Type: | Studio |
| Artist: | the Blasters |
| Cover: | Hard.line.jpg |
| Genre: | Roots rock |
| Label: | Slash[1] |
| Producer: | Jeff Eyrich |
| Prev Title: | Non Fiction |
| Prev Year: | 1983 |
| Next Title: | The Blasters Collection |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
Hard Line is the fourth album by the American roots rock band the Blasters, released in 1985.[2] [3] Dave Alvin quit the band shortly after the album's release.[4] The album peaked at No. 86 on the Billboard 200.[5]
The song "Dark Night" was featured in the film From Dusk Till Dawn.[6]
The album was produced by Jeff Eyrich, who had attended the same high school as the Alvins.[7] [8] John Cougar Mellencamp wrote and produced one song; Mellencamp's producer, Don Gehman, produced "Just Another Sunday".[7] The album was recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville.[9] Stan Lynch, David Hidalgo, and Larry Taylor appear on Hard Line.[10]
Trouser Press wrote that the "highlights include 'Trouble Bound' and 'Help You Dream', both featuring the Jordanaires."[11] The Washington Post thought that "Dave Alvin's songwriting has grown dramatically -- the melodies are finally as prominent as the rhythms, and the lyrics tell the hand-me-down stories of the best folk songs."[7] The Chicago Tribune called Dave Alvin "one of the most underrated lyricists in popular music."[12] The Los Angeles Times wrote that "the Blasters [have] become secure enough musically to lower the instrumental voltage and let Phil Alvin’s vocals take center stage."[13] The Sun Sentinel opined that "the Blasters sound as if they took a long trip through the United States and sponged up every pop music form they ran into."[14]
All tracks written by Dave Alvin, except where noted.