Down by the Old Mainstream


Down by the Old Mainstream is the debut album by American alternative country band Golden Smog, released in 1995. Its title is from a line in both the Wilco song "Someday Soon" from the album, Being There, and from "Radio King", the last track on this album.

Background

Golden Smog was a loosely connected group of musicians comprising, at various times, members of Soul Asylum, the Replacements, Wilco, the Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, the Honeydogs and Big Star. Golden Smog's lineup has often changed, but relative constants who appear on all the recordings are guitarists Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy and Gary Louris, along with bassist Marc Perlman.

Reception

Writing for AllMusic, music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "a loose, relaxed affair that sounds like it was a lot of fun to record...it has an offhand, relaxed charm that is sometimes lacking from Jayhawks and Soul Asylum albums. Not all of the songs are first rate—'Pecan Pie' and 'Red Headed Stepchild' are a bit too cute to be effective—but the performances are full of grit and fire, which is what makes Down By the Mainstream such an engaging listen." Jeff Gordinier of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Golden Smog’s comfort food cries out for a little spice, but it warms you up, nonetheless."

Track listing

  1. "V"
  2. "Ill Fated"
  3. "Pecan Pie"
  4. "Yesterday Cried"
  5. "Glad & Sorry"
  6. "Won't Be Coming Home"
  7. "He's a Dick"
  8. "Walk Where He Walked"
  9. "Nowhere Bound"
  10. "Friend"
  11. "She Don't Have to See You"
  12. "Red Headed Stepchild"
  13. "Williamton Angel"
  14. "Radio King"

Personnel

The band members of Golden Smog used pseudonyms in the credits.
  • Rodney Amber – organ, piano
  • Andrew Conlee – background vocals
  • Jarret Decatur – Chamberlin, drums, guitar, Bass, harmonica, mandolin, piano, slide guitar, tambourine, vocals, background vocals
  • Anthony James – vocals
  • Michael Macklyn – guitar, piano, slide guitar, vocals, background vocals
  • Leonardson Saratoga – drums, sound effects, tambourine, background vocals
  • David Spear – guitar, vocals, background vocals
  • Scot Summit – bass, guitar, vocals, background vocals
  • Raymond Virginia – bass, E-Bow, fuzz bass, guitar, mandolin, background vocals

Production notes

  • Sir James Bunchberry – engineer, mixing, producer
  • Clive Mills – executive producer
  • Scott Hull – mastering
  • Rip Nordhaugan – photography
  • Brent Sigmeth – assistant engineer
  • Michael Sommens – drawing
  • Ken Lau – photography
  • Kraig Jarret – art direction, design