The Walkabouts – Devil’s Road (2LP+CD)

In 1996 the walkabouts were at a crossroads. The Seattle band needed a new label, while the major Virgin needed a bit of credibility. The first result of the collaboration was the album “Devil’s Road”. A higher budget enabled the Walkabouts to implement an idea that songwriter Chris Eckman had been haunted for a long time: the band’s songs – bitter ballads and mid-tempo numbers between folk, country and lament – were to be provided with string arrangements. Together with arranger Mark Nichols, Eckman worked on the arrangements, which were recorded in a radio studio in Warsaw with strings of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. It was another milestone on the band’s journey to the eternal search for the perfect song. Eckman: “In any case, the songs have stood the test of time. We played them live for a long time, in very different versions.” And: “The Light Will Stay On” became a small hit. The 180 gram double vinyl comes with two CDs.