Hilltops

Based in Oxford, MS, the Hilltops served as a precursor to the band <a href="spotify:artist:4S0WYuq4dnunQV6cL3I49i">Blue Mountain</a> and the later music career of <a href="spotify:artist:1rudu06OX5io6pslZeboQy">John Stirratt</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:2QoU3awHVdcHS8LrZEKvSM">Wilco</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2Plkkomsc4DKawkCioLKjc">Uncle Tupelo</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:71I7zoXe7aIZvzN19S1gIo">the Autumn Defense</a>). One of the best and most popular bands in the North Mississippi/Memphis region during their late-'80s existence, they successfully mixed country and roots rock with punk -- imagine <a href="spotify:artist:4WPY0N74T3KUja57xMQTZ3">the Replacements</a> if they had come from Dixie. The disparate yet harmonious elements in the music were best shown by Stirratt's tendency towards the punkier side of things, while co-leader <a href="spotify:artist:5C4c9vTz48uHKhm885uA5c">Cary Hudson</a>'s songs were more earthy and had a more overt country influence (though were no less rocking). They released Holler on cassette in 1989 and Big Black River on CD two years later (which would eventually be re-released by <a href="spotify:artist:0t0DDUj3ZxuVZBhlOCmGVS">Hudson</a>'s cousin's label Black Dog Records). After the band's end, <a href="spotify:artist:0t0DDUj3ZxuVZBhlOCmGVS">Hudson</a> and guitarist Laurie Stirratt (sister of John), by now married, moved to Los Angeles where they formed <a href="spotify:artist:4S0WYuq4dnunQV6cL3I49i">Blue Mountain</a> before moving back to Mississippi. <a href="spotify:artist:1rudu06OX5io6pslZeboQy">John Stirratt</a> recorded an album's worth of tracks which would later be released as the Gimmecaps and joined <a href="spotify:artist:2Plkkomsc4DKawkCioLKjc">Uncle Tupelo</a> and then <a href="spotify:artist:2QoU3awHVdcHS8LrZEKvSM">Wilco</a>. ~ Rob Caldwell, Rovi