Uncle Tupelo was a popular music group formed in 1987 in Belleville, Illinois. The founding members were Jay Farrar ( guitar, harmonica, vocals), Mike Heidorn ( drums), and Jeff Tweedy ( bass guitar, guitar, harmonica, vocals). Other members included Ken Coomer ( drums), Max Johnston ( banjo, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, steel guitar), and John Stirratt ( bass guitar). Initally Farrar was the groups creative force, and consequently did most of the singing as well, but towards the end of their run, Tweedy became more or less Farrar's equal when it came to songwriting and singing duties. The band broke up in May 1994, when Farrar left unexpectedly. Tweedy formed the band Wilco, while Farrar formed the band Son Volt. Wilco now eschews the Alt-country label, while Son Volt remains its champion.
The group released four full-length albums during their four year recording career. No Depression (1990), Still Feel Gone (1991), and March 16-20, 1992 (1992) were originally released on the (now defunct) independent record label Rockville. Their major label debut, Anodyne (1993), was released by Sire/Reprise. A remastered compilation of their work, 89/93: An Anthology (2002), was released by Sony, followed by the coordinated re-release of the entire Uncle Tupelo catalog in 2003 by Columbia/Legacy and Rhino.
Each album has a different aspect to it, one of the greatest qualities from four albums in four years. No Depression is a mix of covers of folk songs, and punk/folk originals. Still Feel Gone is their only album of all original tunes. March 16-20, 1992 was recorded and produced by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, and is an all acoustic album of half traditional folk songs, half original songs. Anodyne was recorded in live takes in the studio, with no overdubs.
