Roots Heartland

History

Coalesced in the early-to-mid 1980s as artists reacting against synth-pop reached back to American rock's roots, foregrounding tradition. John Fogerty's 1985 'Centerfield' comeback and Tom Petty's roots-leaning records modeled the approach; the Georgia Satellites and the Del-Lords carried garage-roots energy, feeding the broader Americana and roots-rock revival that followed.

Defining artists

• John FogertySpotifyYouTube
• Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersSpotifyYouTube
• The Georgia SatellitesSpotifyYouTube
• The Del-LordsSpotifyYouTube
• Dave EdmundsSpotifyYouTube
• Los LobosSpotifyYouTube

Essential listening

• Centerfield — John FogertySpotifyYouTube
• The Old Man Down the Road — John FogertySpotifyYouTube
• Keep Your Hands to Yourself — The Georgia SatellitesSpotifyYouTube
• Get Tough — The Del-LordsSpotifyYouTube
• Don't Worry Baby — Los LobosSpotifyYouTube

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Days_(album)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centerfield_(album)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Georgia_Satellites
• https://www.discogs.com/release/1181220-Los-Lobos-Dont-Worry-Baby-Will-The-Wolf-Survive