Welcome to Spotiforgotten. Here I will cover great music that is sadly unavailable to stream on Spotify (or Apple, which has a nearly identical library)
As I have previously stated, nothing can piss me off quicker than an incomplete playlist. Having three-quarters of a band’s catalog available really sticks in my craw. This is doubly so when the missing album is the best one. I fucking hate licensing and copyright law.
From Austin, TX in the 1990’s came the true sound of Bakersfield. It makes sense, as Buck Owens himself was a native Texan. The Derailers captured the sound nothing less than perfectly. There was nothing fake or retro about them. While remaining true to tradition, the songs felt new and fresh. Helmed by the singer/songwriter duo of Tony Villanueva and Brian Hofeldt, The Derailers' 2nd release, Reverb Deluxe, can only be described as a flawless record. There is not a single skippable song to be found. From 2-steppin’ shuffles, to heart-wrenching ballads, to Buckaroos-style instrumentals, to a boppin’ rockabilly number, and even a song en Español. This is the apex of modern Real Country Music.
All good things must come to an end, though. Around 2005, I went again to see The Derailers live. Wait a second…Where is Tony? With a new lineup and different sound, The Derailers all but died for me that night. A Nashville songwriter by trade, Tony Villanueva had retired from the band and moved with his family to Portland, OR, to live quietly, preaching the Lord's Word. While still notches above most other bands, they have never again been able to capture the magic of what I have deemed “The Tony Years.” Reverb Deluxe is the best time capsule available from that era.
