Product Description
It can be difficult to capture the live power of band on a studio recording. Thankfully, Lone Justice (Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock, Marvin Etzioni, and Don Heffington) went into Suite 16 Studios in December of 1983 and laid down much of the set list they were packing Los Angeles area clubs with.

Recorded direct to 2-track tape by engineer David Vaught and with no overdubs, those twelve tracks can finally be heard in their entirety as This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983. As Billboard’s Chris Morris writes in his liner notes, the release “offers the best representation of the band in its infancy—hot, full of piss and vinegar, and ready to take on the world.”

Nine of these twelve tracks are previously unissued, and include originals (including “Soap, Soup And Salvation”, which would appear on their Geffen debut two years later) to the covers they made their own in concert (Johnny Cash and June Carter (Cash)’s “Jackson” and “Nothing Can Stop My Loving You,” written by George Jones and Roger Miller.)

Available on CD and LP (with the first pressing on translucent red vinyl), in addition to Morris’ liners, the package contains an essay from the band’s Ryan Hedgecock, as well as a remembrance of David Vaught from Marvin Etzioni and an loving endorsement from Dolly Parton. With unseen photos and memorabilia, this collection is what Lone Justice fans have been waiting for. This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983 takes us back to a time when music had an energy that was hard to contain. Thanks to that studio in Van Nuys, CA, and this release, Justice has been served!

1. Nothing Can Stop My Loving You
2. Jackson
3. Soap, Soup And Salvation
4. The Grapes Of Wrath
5. Dustbowl Depression Time
6. Rattlesnake Mama
7. Vigilante
8. Working Man’s Blues
9. Cactus Rose
10. When Love Comes Home To Stay
11. Cottonbelt
12. This World Is Not My Home

All tracks previously unissued, except 6, 8 & 12

CD
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FYTPKIE/?tag=imwan-20

Vinyl
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FYTPKJI/?tag=imwan-20

Very cool-Lone Justice (at least, version 1) was one of my favorite bands to see in Los Angeles clubs. Cactus Rose was the "B" side of Ways To Be Wicked. It hasn't made the transition to CD until now. Definitely on my acquisition list for 2014! The first CD was great but I don't listen to the follow up (Shelter) as much...less a band than a Maria McKee solo disc. This should show the band at it's best.

I'll pick this up at some point, too... nice to have something from the early days in what should be good quality.

I think I have some of this on a boot somewhere, but it will be a must buy for me; I collect Maria McKee. I also still need to get her Live at The BBC cd, it's been dirt cheap lately on ebay.

S.O.W, If any LJ fans haven't heard MM's 1st & 3rd solo albums, imo they are both masterpieces.

So Geff, you're not a fan of You Gotta Sin To Get Saved? That's my favorite of her solo albums.

I own it, but it's my least favorite of all of her albums. I'm not a country fan. For me, that one swings a little too far from country rock, alternative rock & folk to straight country.

I am so pathetic. I'm glad this thread made me go upstairs & look at my collection. I own Maria at the BBC; I just neglected to add it to the Excel list of my collection. Saved me from buying something I already own!

It's been about 10 years since I played them so I could be wrong, but I thought her first solo album had much more of a country vibe, while You Gotta Sin... was more soul/gospel influenced. I hated her third album when it first came out...it was a little too experimental for my tastes at the time...but I eventually came around to it. I'm glad she doesn't stick to one sound or genre.

That's part of what I so like about her, is that she is way out there at times! I always felt that #3 had a large Ziggy era Bowie influence.

I love "Life is Sweet." I have the first two solo albums, too, as well as two or three after "Life is Sweet," but I hardly listen to any of those. The first five tracks of "Life is Sweet" are knockouts, and the title track is great...sort of a calming come-down from the wildness of some of the earlier tracks.

Yeah, I'm not getting the country connection with "You Gotta Sin..." it was much more blue-eyed soul a la Van Morrission than country. That one was my fav of hers as well.

Life Is Sweet was quite a shock for me after You Gotta Sin. I really hated it when it came out but love it now that years have past. It was much more alt than I was ready for from her at the time.

I loved Life is Sweet the instant I heard it. I was the opposite with Sin; I can play it now, when it came out I couldn't sit through it at all.

Saw the second incarnation of Lone Justice at the Bayou in DC in December 1986.

Listening to this for the first time right now.

I did not expect this to be so country. I'm really glad they went through major stylistic changes before the 1st LJ album, or I would have probably never heard Maria McKee, who is one of my favorites.

This release is only for HARD CORE Americana & country fans, & HARD CORE McKee fans.

IMO, it sucks.

I've really enjoyed this CD. True, the sound is more Americana than what appeared on the first LJ album, but I think the music sounds fresh and crisp.

I just don't like country. Don't like opera either. If you like country, it's probably fine!

Country and opera... add 'em to the sig!

If there was only enough room..........

I reviewed this for American Songwriter when the album came out. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

http://www.americansongwriter.com/2014/ ... apes-1983/

Very nice write up! And I love this early version of "Soap, Soup and Salvation"...such a great song.