Biography
Emerging alongside figures such as R.E.M., the B-52's, and Pylon, Love Tractor played a key role in turning Athens, Georgia into a hub for alternative sounds during the early 1980s. Their blend of ringing guitar lines, adventurous melodies, and driving beats demonstrated that a group could pursue intelligent, artistic, and ambitious ideas without losing the ability to sustain an all-night dance floor. Although the band began strictly as an instrumental unit, documented on the self-titled 1982 debut, they later developed lyrics matching the wit and appeal of their compositions; the results appeared on 1987's This Ain't No Outer Space Ship and 1989's Themes from Venus, both more polished and assured yet equally enjoyable. The 2001 release The Sky at Night marked a solid return, while a 2020 single signaled ongoing activity that also encompassed fresh editions of the 1982 album Love Tractor and the 1983 set Around the Bend.
Guitarists Mark Cline and Michael Richmond joined multi-instrumentalist Armistead Wellford to form Love Tractor in 1980. Early rehearsals and shows relied on a drum machine, with Bill Berry contributing percussion for a short time until commitments to R.E.M. took precedence; Kit Swartz eventually joined on drums. Because the group lacked funds for a PA system, their first recordings stayed instrumental, a choice that distinguished them within Athens's competitive local circuit and secured a contract with the independent DB Records. The 1982 album Love Tractor captured this initial style, drawing heavily from fusion and lounge traditions. Richmond began occasional vocals on the 1983 follow-up Around the Bend. The 1984 EP 'Til the Cows Come Home introduced drummer Andrew Carter. After signing with Bigtime Records, an alternative label handled by RCA, the band worked with producer Pat Irwin of the Raybeats on 1987's This Ain't No Outer Space Ship, their first album for the new imprint; the fully vocal collection included a version of the Gap Band's "Party Train" issued as a single. When Bigtime folded shortly afterward, the quartet returned to DB and enlisted Mitch Easter for 1989's Themes from Venus, which consisted mostly of vocal tracks yet closed with the instrumental "Nova Express," neatly completing an early circle. In 1991 the members chose to step away from the industry.
Throughout the break, Wellford performed with Gutterball alongside Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate, Bob Rupe of the Silos, Stephen McCarthy of the Long Ryders, and Bryan Harvey and Johnny Hott of House of Freaks. Cline pursued travel and studies in Italian opera and ancient languages, while Richmond focused on art history. Multiple attempts to finish a comeback record eventually succeeded with 2001's The Sky at Night, featuring Richmond, Wellford, Cline, and Bill Berry on drums. A changed lineup in 2005—Richmond plus Billy Holmes, Ben Holst, Tom Lewis, and Darren Staley—produced Black Hole, shifting toward progressive-rock influences. The same musicians delivered Green Winter in 2006. Later that year Richmond and Holmes, joined by Nathan Collins and John Guthrie, issued the holiday collection Before and After Christmas.
After another period of inactivity, the 2015 AthFest event in Athens presented "We Love Tractor," a tribute concert uniting Mark Cline and Armistead Wellford with guests including Joe Rowe of the Glands, Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers, and Elephant 6 associate Bryan Poole. Strong audience reaction prompted Cline, Richmond, and Wellford to resume live performances in January 2020; the reunited lineup, again with drummer Kit Swartz, released a new single for Record Store Day in October 2020 containing reworked versions of "60 Degrees and Sunny" b/w "FEST-ivals." Before the year ended, the band also issued a remixed and remastered edition of the 1982 debut on vinyl, CD, and digital formats, with Bill Berry assisting the studio work. The reissue series continued in 2021 with an expanded Themes from Venus containing six bonus tracks. At the same time the group recorded fresh material and booked shows for 2022. In January 2023 the B-52's closed their farewell tour in Athens with Love Tractor opening. The campaign advanced further in September 2023 when Propeller Sound Recordings released a new edition of Around the Bend featuring remastered audio plus alternate mixes of "Cutting Corners" and "Timberland."
Guitarists Mark Cline and Michael Richmond joined multi-instrumentalist Armistead Wellford to form Love Tractor in 1980. Early rehearsals and shows relied on a drum machine, with Bill Berry contributing percussion for a short time until commitments to R.E.M. took precedence; Kit Swartz eventually joined on drums. Because the group lacked funds for a PA system, their first recordings stayed instrumental, a choice that distinguished them within Athens's competitive local circuit and secured a contract with the independent DB Records. The 1982 album Love Tractor captured this initial style, drawing heavily from fusion and lounge traditions. Richmond began occasional vocals on the 1983 follow-up Around the Bend. The 1984 EP 'Til the Cows Come Home introduced drummer Andrew Carter. After signing with Bigtime Records, an alternative label handled by RCA, the band worked with producer Pat Irwin of the Raybeats on 1987's This Ain't No Outer Space Ship, their first album for the new imprint; the fully vocal collection included a version of the Gap Band's "Party Train" issued as a single. When Bigtime folded shortly afterward, the quartet returned to DB and enlisted Mitch Easter for 1989's Themes from Venus, which consisted mostly of vocal tracks yet closed with the instrumental "Nova Express," neatly completing an early circle. In 1991 the members chose to step away from the industry.
Throughout the break, Wellford performed with Gutterball alongside Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate, Bob Rupe of the Silos, Stephen McCarthy of the Long Ryders, and Bryan Harvey and Johnny Hott of House of Freaks. Cline pursued travel and studies in Italian opera and ancient languages, while Richmond focused on art history. Multiple attempts to finish a comeback record eventually succeeded with 2001's The Sky at Night, featuring Richmond, Wellford, Cline, and Bill Berry on drums. A changed lineup in 2005—Richmond plus Billy Holmes, Ben Holst, Tom Lewis, and Darren Staley—produced Black Hole, shifting toward progressive-rock influences. The same musicians delivered Green Winter in 2006. Later that year Richmond and Holmes, joined by Nathan Collins and John Guthrie, issued the holiday collection Before and After Christmas.
After another period of inactivity, the 2015 AthFest event in Athens presented "We Love Tractor," a tribute concert uniting Mark Cline and Armistead Wellford with guests including Joe Rowe of the Glands, Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers, and Elephant 6 associate Bryan Poole. Strong audience reaction prompted Cline, Richmond, and Wellford to resume live performances in January 2020; the reunited lineup, again with drummer Kit Swartz, released a new single for Record Store Day in October 2020 containing reworked versions of "60 Degrees and Sunny" b/w "FEST-ivals." Before the year ended, the band also issued a remixed and remastered edition of the 1982 debut on vinyl, CD, and digital formats, with Bill Berry assisting the studio work. The reissue series continued in 2021 with an expanded Themes from Venus containing six bonus tracks. At the same time the group recorded fresh material and booked shows for 2022. In January 2023 the B-52's closed their farewell tour in Athens with Love Tractor opening. The campaign advanced further in September 2023 when Propeller Sound Recordings released a new edition of Around the Bend featuring remastered audio plus alternate mixes of "Cutting Corners" and "Timberland."
Albums
Love Tractor [Remixed & Remastered]
2022
Before and After Christmas
2006
Green Winter
2006
Black Hole
2005
The Sky At Night
2001
Themes From Venus (Remastered Expanded Edition)
1989
Around The Bend
1983
Singles
