The Tractors boogie on

Trade Union

The Tractors' music is ideal for those with long memories and can play a little guitar. Stephen King counts himself a fan. This is that flavor of boogie-woogie blues harkening back to when songs could be written and recorded in the same session, including a long lunch break. The handclaps sound like handclaps. Those who insist on deep thoughts or high production polish can file in another line. Bob Dylan recently name-checked Tractors singer/songwriter/leader Steve Ripley as one of his best ...

The Big Night

Although the Tractors have fallen out of the limelight since leaving Arista, Steve Ripley and his band are still turning out high-quality boundary-crossing music. It's country, boogie and swing all rolled into one. Above all, it's highly satisfying. The slow burn of the Elvis classic "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" fits this band perfectly, as does the rocking Rick Vito (Fleetwood Mac) tune "I Was a Bad Boy This Year." Ripley cowrote "Bo Diddley Santa Claus," a little ditty in which Santa gets sick ...

Fast Girl

The Tractors plowed down country fans with their 1994 debut CD. Behind the blockbuster single "Baby Likes to Rock It" the record, a delightful throwback to the days when rock and country were just married and enjoying a boisterous honeymoon, went double platinum. But the band disappeared from view shortly after that when - in the words of Tractors driving force Steve Ripley - country radio found out they weren't young and pretty. They've solved the pretty problem by filling their CD with vintage ...