Search - New Riders of the Purple Sage :: Marin County Line

A CD actually WAS made!

Mark L. La Rue | Portland, OR USA | 07/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with all Keith said in his review. Although NRPS music will appeal almost exclusively with those who knew them in the beginning and perhaps saw them multiple times as I did, a new listener might find themselves surprised at the fine musical talent that NRPS always presented. Perhaps a bit dated by theme and occassional subject matter, NRPS carved out a unique cultural niche for itself. Original in their musical vision, they got their version of early Country/Rock fusion off to a grand start with Jerry Garcia on the pedal steel guitar, charting new musical territory and creating the Western Mystic theme in one fell swoop via "Dirty Business" on their first album.



But Marin County line to me was their high water mark. It also marks the high water mark of one of the best friendships of my life with a guy who is now famous for being the first Micro-Brewry Brewmaster in the U.S. since prohibition. I was best man at his wedding and this album played over and over at the reception. Over the years it came to remind me of some of the best times of my life and so many wonderful visits at his family ranch in the Napa Hills as well as those mystic two week hiking expeditions into the Trinity Alps. NRPS was nearly a soundtract for all of this and we raised a glass or two while watching at least one live performance.



I have searched for years and inquired and conjoled the present NRPS management/association to reproduce this album as a cd. I had no idea it had actually been done in 1993 and no one has informed me. I found a copy at Amazon.com simply by accident and ordered one of the few available immediately. This is a fine album with a wide range of musical subject matter that somehow NRPS makes relevant and related - from "Green Eyes a'Flasin" with its great lead break, "Old Jasper," (- I almost thought I was becoming "Old Jasper" myself at one point) -

to a pirate mutiny song.



I am also glad to see that the reconstituted band is touring and holding up the old NRPS banner. See ya soon, boys."