The Best of the Long Ryders is a compilation album by American band the Long Ryders, released on 14 June 2004 by Prima Records.[5] Spanning the Long Ryder's career from 1983 to 1987, the album features 18 tracks from the band's first three studio albums and their debut EP, a 1987 live recording, and three non-album tracks.[6] All tracks have been remastered for this release by Jerome Schmitt and Sid Griffin in April 2004.[7]

The Best of the Long Ryders
Compilation album by The Long Ryders
Released	14 June 2004
Recorded	1983–1987
Genre	Paisley Underground[1] alternative country[2] roots rock[3] Americana[4]
Length	65:01
Label	Prima
Producer	Earle Mankey The Long Ryders Henry Lewy Paul McKenna Will Birch Ed Stasium
The Long Ryders chronology
Three Minute Warnings: the Long Ryders Live in New York City (2003) The Best of the Long Ryders (2004) State of Our Reunion (2007)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Classic Rock	[8]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[9]
Independent on Sunday	[10]
Record Collector	[11]
Uncut	[12]

The album received good reviews from critics. Classic Rock called it a "splendid career overview",[8] Record Collector a "stunning best-of",[11] and Time Out "a rollicking collection of twang and vigour."[13] AllMusic wrote, "while this hardly includes every memorable song the group recorded, their best-known tunes are here ... The Best of the Long Ryders ultimately lives up to its title and is a concise but effective summation of what made them special, and why their music continues to resonate today."[6]

Track listing

Notes

• "Capturing the Flag" was recorded live at the Bottom Line in New York City on 7 May 1987
• "Masters of War" and "I Can't Hide" were recorded for the abandoned 5 by 5 sessions in February 1985.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[7]

The Long Ryders

• Sid Griffin – guitar, autoharp, harmonica, vocals
• Steve McCarthy – guitar, mandolin, banjo, lap steel guitar, vocals
• Greg Sowders – drums
• Tom Stevens – bass, vocals (except 10-5-60)
• Des Brewer – bass, vocals (10-5-60)

Additional musicians

• Gene Clark – vocals on "Ivory Tower"
• Dave Pearlman – pedal steel guitar on "(Sweet) Mental Revenge"
• Will Glenn – violin on "Masters of War"
• Steve Wickham – violin on "If I Were a Bramble and You Were a Rose"
• Christine Collister – vocals on "If I Were a Bramble and You Were a Rose"
• Debbi Peterson – vocals on "I Want You Bad"
• Vicki Peterson – vocals on "I Want You Bad"

Technical

• Will Birch – producer (1–3, 8, 10)
• Ed Stasium – producer (4–7)
• David Van Der Heyden – producer (9)
• Henry Lewy – producer (11–14)
• Paul McKenna – producer (11–14, 17, 18)
• Earle Mankey – producer (15, 16)
• The Long Ryders – producer (15–18)
• Jerome Schmitt – remastering
• Sid Griffin – remastering
• Phil Smee – design
• Greg Sowders – liner notes
• Tom Stevens – liner notes
• Pete Frame – booklet family tree

References