The Tractors

The Tractors | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 2, 1994)
• Original Release Date: August 2, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000002VNB
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,705 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #87 in Music > Rock > Roots Rock

Editorial Reviews

Includes CD, Case, Artwork!! Many Minor Scratches. Great Buy! Free Fast 1st Class Shipping!!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great country, boogie, rockabilly, just toe-tappin' stuff!, May 21, 2000

By 

Michael Mullins "zarchasmpgmr" (Roseville, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Tractors (Audio CD)

This is one of the best rockin' albums ever cut. Listen to it and you'll know why this went double platinum in record time. "Baby Likes To Rock It" is the best cut (and inspired "Santa Likes to Rock It" on their Christmas album), but cuts like "The Tulsa Shuffle" and "Tryin' To Get New Orleans" showcase the excellent individual talent in the group. My only disappointment is that it takes too long for them to release new material!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw rural music that rocks, July 8, 2005

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Tractors (Audio CD)

Lead singer Steve Ripley has a rough, rustic voice that has its limitations but is very distinctive, so it's the kind of voice you love or hate. Whatever you think of Steve's voice, what really makes this album is the outstanding quality of the songs and the musicians. As well as singing, Steve also plays guitars and drums. Three of the four other members of the Tractors are multi-instrumentalists so even within the group there are plenty of instruments that they can choose to use. Even so, various guest musicians join in on selected tracks.

The album is book-ended by The Tulsa shuffle, featuring Bonnie Raitt (slide guitar) and J J Cale (guitar) among guest musicians. Two verses sandwiched by the chorus open the album and a different two verses sandwiched by the chorus close the album - the closing track is titled The Tulsa shuffle (revisited). Taken as a whole, the song mentions many types of music but makes clear where the group's roots and influences come from - a mix of western swing and rock'n'roll. The album includes covers of Thirty days (Chuck Berry) and Setting the woods on fire (Hank Williams) but all the other songs are originals.

Between the two halves of that song are many other wonderful songs, some of which are lightweight fun songs but others have a serious message, especially Little man, which pokes fun at bankers, taxmen and politicians, inviting them to see a different side of life in the hope that they would understand the problems of people less fortunate than themselves. Nevertheless, this is mostly a fun album. Highlights among the other songs include I've had enough, Baby likes to rock it, Falling apart and Trying to get to New Orleans.

There are plenty of great songs here although you are not meant to take most of them too seriously. If you are looking for sad, heartbreaking songs, you won't find them here. If you want good-time country music, you'll get plenty here.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Listen without prejudice (thanks George Michael) :), February 5, 2002

By 

M. Hilton "so eclectic it hurts" (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Tractors (Audio CD)

My best friend is a country fan, whereas I lean toward eclectic rock and techno. I often do my best to suffer through his turn to pick the tunes with a smile. However, I find myself popping this CD in of my own accord (much to his shock). This is just great rootsy American party music. It would work just fine next to anything from George Thorogood to the B-52's. The samples and audio-verite bits suggest further unwillingness to be ghettoized as country artists, and the populist lyrics don't sound like the usual country posturing, either.

In short, anyone who likes hooky music with half a beat and half a brain may well like this, if they'd just listen with open ears.