Along with luminaries like R.E.M., The B-52's, Pylon, Love Tractor helped establish the college town of Athens, Ga., as a mecca of alternative music in the early '80s. Comprised of guitarist Michael Richmond, multi-instrumentalist Armistead Wellford, drummer Kit Schwartz, and guitarist Mark Cline, the band's earliest material was instrumental. However, this approach set them clearly apart from other acts on the crowded Athens scene, and helped win them a deal with DB Records. 1982's Love Tractor documented their formative approach, which touched heavily on fusion and even cocktail music. By their 1983 follow-up, Around the Bend, Richmond was taking the occasional stab at singing; after the 1984 EP 'Til the Cows Come Home, Love Tractor resurfaced in 1987 with This Ain't No Outerspace Ship, a full vocal exercise. The quartet enlisted Mitch Easter to produce 1989's Themes from Venus. By 1991 the group decided to take a break. Love Tractor returned in 2001 with The Sky at Night, which featured original members Richmond, Wellford, and Cline; former R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry helped out with percussion chores. In 2016 Love Tractor reformed for Athens Popfest with Cline, Wellford, Richmond and drummer Andrew Carter joined by guests Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers, and Elephant 6 associate Bryan Poole as well as Kevin Dunn of the Fans. Love Tractor has been performing each year since then. The s/t Love Tractor was re-released in Nov. 2020. ~ Jason Ankeny & Mark Deming, Rovi