The 21-song set includes the band’s best-known tracks from their first four albums, alongside deep cuts and two songs originally featured on the soundtrack to director Walter Hill’s 1984 cult film, Streets of Fire.

From the outset of their career, with such songs as Marie Marie to Border Radio, it was clear Grammy® winner Dave Alvin would be a songwriter to be reckoned with, and brother Phil brings an unparalleled knowledge of American roots music, giving the band a rock-solid musical foundation.

Mandatory’s track list was chosen with the full cooperation of the band and will be available on CD and digital. Renowned music journalist Chris Morris has contributed new liner notes, calling Mandatory “a definitive sampling of the Blasters’ recorded work from their 1980-1985 heyday.”

1. American Music (2:12)
2. Real Rock Drive (2:07)
3. Flat Top Joint (2:31)
4. Marie Marie (2:09)
5. No Other Girl (2:31)
6. I’m Shakin’ (2:25)
7. Border Radio (2:49)
8. So Long Baby Goodbye (2:26)
9. Hollywood Bed (3:35)
10. Blue Shadows (3:17)
11. One Bad Stud (2:32)
12. Red Rose (2:34)
13. Jubilee Train (3:06)
14. Long White Cadillac (2:57)
15. Trouble Bound (3:50)
16. Dark Night (3:53)
17. Little Honey (3:37)
18. Samson And Delilah (3:49)
19. Help You Dream (3:42)
20. Common Man (3:45)
21. Kathleen (4:57)

This vibrantly wonderful collection opens on the fervent foot-tapper American Music and the swinger Real Rock Drive and they are followed by the guitar-slinger Flat Top Joint, the classic brilliance of Marie Marie, the forthright rocker No Other Girl and the we get the creeoing I’m Shakin’, the piano rock of Border Radio, the harmonica-driven So Long Baby Goodbye, and both the playful Hollywood Bed and the rambunctious Blue Shadows.

Along next is the one-two rock punch of One Bad Stud, the free-wheeling Red Rose, and the sturdy rocker Jubilee Train and they are backed seamlessly by the propulsive Long White Cadillac, the Gospel-tinged Trouble Bound and the Countrified twang of Dark Night, and then we get brought forth the fiddle-tastic Little Honey, the low slung rock of Samson And Delilah, the finger-snapper Help You Dream, the recording rounding out on the rhythmic rocker Common Man, closing on the jaunty piano rock of Kathleen.

The Blasters:
Phil Alvin-Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Alvin-Lead Guitar
John Bazz-Bass
Bill Bateman-Drums
Gene Taylor-Piano
Lee Allen-Tenor Saxophone
Steve Berlin-Baritone Saxophone