featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
August 7, 2024
Scott Foley, purveyor of dust
In honor of the news of Lone Justice's forthcoming Viva Lone Justice record, this week we focus the Lookback Machine on our thirty favorite cuts from Maria McKee and her trailblazing band.
One of our favorite Lone Justice memories is blasting "Inspiration" across a late night record store shortly after Shelter's release. The band was one of our gateway artists into roots music, and even with just two releases to their credit, Lone Justice has continued to serve as one of the sturdier roots in our musical tree. While Maria McKee's first couple solo records followed much in the spirit of her band's output, her Life Is Sweet stands as our favorite of their entire oeuvre. As a songwriter and a musician, the 1996 record served as an iconoclastic leap forward from what had preceded it. McKee's albums have proven sporadic since that point, and she has largely retreated from touring and pubic appearances.
Incidentally, while we recently set out the parameters of these favorites lists, including cover songs only as an exception, welcome to our first exception. Maria McKee's take on Richard Thompson's "Has He Got a Friend For Me" is a phenomenal standout from her catalog. Richard and Linda Thompson's original from I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight really needed no improvement, but we'd be remiss to overlook it.
We're reserving judgement about the content of Viva Lone Justice for the time being, uncertain if we'll be hearing more archival recordings or something more recent, especially in light of the passing of Don Heffington. Nevertheless, the news provides a fine excuse for this week's Episode of Lookback Machine. As always, we encourage you to agree or disagree in the comment field provided. Or just enjoy the damn thing.
MARIA McKEE & LONE JUSTICE: thirty favorites
- "East Of Eden" Lone Justice (UMG, 1985)
- "Don't Toss Us Away" Lone Justice
- "Sweet Sweet Baby (I'm Falling)" Lone Justice
- "You Are the Light" Lone Justice
- "I Found Love" Shelter (UMG, 1986)
- "Shelter" Shelter
- "Wheels" Shelter
- "Inspiration" Shelter
- "Dixie Storms" Shelter
- "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)" Maria McKee (Geffen, 1989)
- "Panic Beach" Maria McKee
- "Breathe" Maria McKee
- "Has He Got a Friend For Me (Richard Thompson cover)" Maria McKee
- "Only Once" You Gotta Sin To Get Saved (UMG, 1993)
- "I Can't Make It On My Own" You Gotta Sin To Get Saved
- "I Forgive You" You Gotta Sin To Get Saved
- "You Gotta Sin To Get Saved" You Gotta Sin To Get Saved
- "Scarlover" Life Is Sweet (Geffen, 1996)
- "This Perfect Dress" Life Is Sweet
- "Absolutely Barking Stars" Life Is Sweet
- "Life Is Sweet/Afterlife" Life Is Sweet
- "Show Me Heaven" Days Of Thunder (Geffen, 1990)
- "To the Open Spaces" High Dive (Fire, 2003)
- "High Dive" High Dive
- "Turn Away" Peddlin' Dreams (AFAR, 2005)
- "Peddlin' Dreams" Peddlin' Dreams
- "Late December" Late December (AFAR, 2007)
- "A Good Heart" Late December
- "Effigy Of Salt" La Vita Nuova (AFAR, 2020)
- "Page Of Cups" La Vita Nuova
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