Austin-to-L.A. transplants the Textones were one of the few post-new wave "roots rock" bands of the mid-'80s to deserve the appellation. (Unfortunately, they're mostly remembered, if at all, only as the band Kathy Valentine left to join the Go-Go's.) Unlike the terribly overrated Lone Justice or the beer salesmen in the Long Ryders or the Del Fuegos, Carla Olson and company came off like a punkier version of the Gram Parsons-era Byrds, with a poppy edge on unexpected covers like the Searchers' "Silver" and Neil Sedaka's "Keep a Walkin'." Although Olson ditched the Textones name fairly early in her career, her smoky voice (think Lucinda Williams with Janis Joplin's accent) and proto-alt-country mentality remain constant through this well-chosen, reverse-chronology collection. Pay particular attention to the pair of remixed tracks from 1993's Within an Ace, which sound worlds better now. This album far surpasses the earlier Carla Olson best-of, 1995's A Wave of the Hand. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
George Callins (Dulcimer), Ric Albin (Vocals), Markus Cuff (Drums), Bill Cooper (Engineer), Brian Brown (Guitar (Electric)), Barry Goldberg (Piano), Michael Stone (Producer), Gene Clark (Vocals), George Callins (Vocal Harmony), Bobby McDonald (Guitar (Bass)), Brian Brown (Guitar (Rhythm)), Barry Goldberg (Organ), Saul Davis (Track Notes), Mick Taylor (Slide Guitar), Steve Moore (Tambourine), Brad Gilderman (Producer), Mare Winningham (Vocals), Roscoe Beck (Guitar (Acoustic)), Todd Wolfe (Guitar), Tom Morgan, Jr. (Flute), Glen Fujiwara (Digital Compilation), Lisa Johnson (Photography), Greg Sutton (Guitar (Bass)), Greg Sutton (Guitar (Acoustic)), Albert LaRoche (Guitar (Bass)), Michael Huey (Percussion), Roscoe Beck (Guitar (Bass)), George Callins (Producer), Billy Sullivan (Engineer), Ian McLagan (?), Billy Sullivan (Drums), Alberto Fortis (Wurlitzer), Gene Clark (Guitar), Alan Verhines (Photography), Tom Morgan, Jr. (Organ), Thomas Holst (Guitar (Electric)), Billy Sullivan (Vocals), Carla Olson (Vocals), Don Henley (Vocals (Background)), Saul Davis (Compilation), Howie Epstein (Vocal Harmony), Mikal Reid (Keyboards), Phil Seymour (Drums), Joe Read (Vocals), Michael Huey (Producer), Joyce Rooks (Vocals), The Textones (Producer), Charles Rook (Producer), Pat Robinson (Vocals), Joe Sublett (Saxophone), Barry Goldberg (Producer), Mick Taylor (?), Mikal Reid (Producer), Don Henley (Vocal Harmony), Billy Sullivan (Tambourine), Carla Olson (Tremolo), Jesse Sublett (Guitar (Bass)), Tom Morgan, Jr. (Vocal Harmony), George Callins (Mandolin), George Callins (Vocals), Rick Novak (Engineer), Steve Gonsouling (Trombone), Sticky Bomb (Drums), Mark Lindsay (Vocals), Mare Winningham (Vocal Harmony), Denis Bennarosh (Percussion), Greg Sutton (Guitar (12 String Electric)), Joe Chiccarelli (Engineer), Mark Lindsay (?), Mick Taylor (Guitar), Carla Olson (Guitar (Rhythm)), Mikal Reid (Guitar (Bass)), Rick Hemmert (Drums), Roger Harris (Producer), Gene Clark (Producer), George Callins (Dobro), Percy Sledge (Vocals), Pat Burnett (Engineer), Ian McLagan (Piano), Carla Olson (Guitar (Acoustic)), Stefan Bjork (Guitar (Bass)), Michael Huey (Drums), Michael Stone (Engineer), Ry Cooder (Slide Guitar), Jim Lacey-Baker (Guitar), Carla Olson (Guitar (Tremolo)), Thomas Gabrielsson (Producer), Billy Sullivan (Vocal Harmony), Richard Podolor (Producer), Dominic Camardella (Organ), George Callins (Guitar (12 String)), Charles Rook (Engineer), Gary Nichamin (Photography), Ric Albin (Harmonica), Joyce Rooks (Vocal Harmony), Tom Morgan, Jr. (Saxophone), Pat Robinson (Piano), Carla Olson (Slide Guitar), Robert Matheu (Photography), Joe Read (Guitar (Bass)), Carla Olson (Producer), Brad Gilderman (Engineer), Mikal Reid (Engineer), Darrell Leonard (Trumpet), David Provost (Guitar (Bass)), Joe Read (Vocal Harmony), Don Henley (Vocals), Gene Clark (Vocal Harmony), Pal Wiken (Accordion), George Callins (Guitar), Mikal Reid (Percussion)
