More ”Alternative” Than You’ll Ever Be (Randy Layton’s Long Strange Trip)

John Thompson March 30, 2023

Randy Layton may not be a household name, but that’s not the point with people like him. Layton has been advocating for some of the most important – if not famous and successful – artists of the last forty years through his label Alternative Records and his previous work with the enormously influential Sacramento label Exit Records. He was all about the “Alternative” back when that word meant something. Layton has helped release projects by The 77s, Vector, Steve Scott, 2 Pound Planet, Robert Vaughn and the Shadows, and many others. Although we have heard pieces of this conversation here and there on previous episodes of the show, we finally unspool the whole enchilada and get the full story of Layton’s formative years in the 70s, his early years as an importer of rare music from the UK and Europe, his work with some of our favorite artists, and some recent reissues as well. Along the way, we catch a glimpse of the power behind his story, and our own. Spoiler alert – it’s about a lot more than music.

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If you dig this conversation (and who wouldn’t), don’t miss our write-up on Layton’s reissue of the amazing Robert Vaughn and the Shadows album Love and War and this piece on his reissue of the bizarrely obscure power-pop masterpiece by Two Pound Planet.

We have also featured many of the beneficiaries of Layton’s largesse on previous episodes, including:

Michael Roe

Charlie Peacock

Steve Scott

Jimmy Abegg

Plus – the mega episode on the mothership itself:

The Cornerstone Festival: 10 Years Gone (and counting…)

Randy Layton Song List

Opening

Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul:

Full Circle (True Tunes podcast theme version)

Sonny Richter:

7th and Union

Set One

77s:

UUUU; Tattoo; Mercy Mercy (Demo)

Piertro Dinzee:

When You Get What You Wanted (Ext version)

Steve Scott:

Broken Mirror (Unreleased “Moving Pictures” session)

Excerpt from Rock & Religion – Alpha Band #RR70 5.79

Excerpt from Rockscope – The Doors 1981

The Doors:

Riders on the Storm (L.A. Woman sessions)

Spanish Caravan (Rough mix)

Vector:

The Hunger and the Thirst

After The Fire:

Laser Love; 1980-F

Ishmael United:

Jesus Trip

Writz:

Private Lives

Fish Co:

60’s Children

Set Two

Robert Vaughn & The Shadows:

White Trash Working Man Blues; Tattoo (Track); Stone Cold Rhythm Shake; Justice (Early version); Surf Instrumental #1 (Alternate); Love Came Falling Down (Demo); Writing on the Wall (Demo)

Vector:

Surrender

John Nau:

Story of U & I (Track, Bootlevel outtake version)

77s:

A Different Kind of Light (Live); Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba; Outskirts; Don’t Say Goodbye (TV Mix); Nowhere Else (Live); Love Without Dreams (Basic track); Jesus (Live)

Michael Roe:

Honey Run (Track); The Boat Ashore (Track)

Two Pound Planet:

Sinister Sun; Tuesday’s Garden

Set Three

Sonny Richter:

Instrumental #2; Limehouse Blues; Old Joe Clark; Seven Come Eleven; Acoustic ’70 #1

Eagle Park Slim:

Northwest Blues; Hollywood Labor Star

Steve Scott:

King for the Day; Touch (Live, 3-24-84); Where the Wasteland Ends (“Love in the Western World” rough sketch)

Eddie Quinteros: