The Best of the Long Ryders

The Best of the Long Ryders is a compilation album by American band the Long Ryders, released on 14 June 2004 by Prima Records. Spanning the Long Ryder's career from 1983 to 1987, the album features 18 tracks from the band's first three studio albums and their debut EP, a 1987 live recording, and three non-album tracks. All tracks have been remastered for this release by Jerome Schmitt and Sid Griffin in April 2004.

Reception
The album received good reviews from critics. Classic Rock called it a "splendid career overview", Record Collector a "stunning best-of", and Time Out "a rollicking collection of twang and vigour." AllMusic wrote, "while this hardly includes every memorable song the group recorded, their best-known tunes are here ... The Best of the Long Ryders ultimately lives up to its title and is a concise but effective summation of what made them special, and why their music continues to resonate today."

Track listing

 * Notes
 * "Capturing the Flag" was recorded live at the Bottom Line in New York City on 7 May 1987
 * "Masters of War" and "I Can't Hide" were recorded for the abandoned 5 by 5 sessions in February 1985.

Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.


 * The Long Ryders
 * Sid Griffin – guitar, autoharp, harmonica, vocals
 * Steve McCarthy – guitar, mandolin, banjo, lap steel guitar, vocals
 * Greg Sowders – drums
 * Tom Stevens – bass, vocals (except 10-5-60)
 * Des Brewer – bass, vocals (10-5-60)
 * Additional musicians
 * Gene Clark – vocals on "Ivory Tower"
 * Dave Pearlman – pedal steel guitar on "(Sweet) Mental Revenge"
 * Will Glenn – violin on "Masters of War"
 * Steve Wickham – violin on "If I Were a Bramble and You Were a Rose"
 * Christine Collister – vocals on "If I Were a Bramble and You Were a Rose"
 * Debbi Peterson – vocals on "I Want You Bad"
 * Vicki Peterson – vocals on "I Want You Bad"
 * Technical
 * Will Birch – producer (1–3, 8, 10)
 * Ed Stasium – producer (4–7)
 * David Van Der Heyden – producer (9)
 * Henry Lewy – producer (11–14)
 * Paul McKenna – producer (11–14, 17, 18)
 * Earle Mankey – producer (15, 16)
 * The Long Ryders – producer (15–18)
 * Jerome Schmitt – remastering
 * Sid Griffin – remastering
 * Phil Smee – design
 * Greg Sowders – liner notes
 * Tom Stevens – liner notes
 * Pete Frame – booklet family tree