Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels

Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels (born on October 28, 1936) is an American musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is perhaps best known for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and multiple other songs he has written and performed. Daniels has been active as a singer since the early 1950s. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on January 24, 2008.

Daniels was born October 28, 1936, in Wilmington, North Carolina, and raised on a musical diet that included Pentecostal gospel, local bluegrass bands and the rhythm & blues and country music from Nashville's 50,000-watt radio stations WLAC and WSM. Daniels grew up in the small town of Gulf located in Chatham County, North Carolina. His childhood home still stands in Gulf but is currently in a state of disrepair. He graduated from high school in 1955. Already skilled on guitar, fiddle, banjo, and mandolin, Daniels formed a rock 'n' roll band and hit the road.

Daniels enjoys hunting, fishing, skydiving, and other outdoor activities. He is a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Daniels married his wife, Hazel, in 1963. Together, they have one son, Charlie Daniels, Jr.  On January 15, 2010, Daniels was rushed to the hospital after suffering a stroke while snowmobiling in Colorado. He recovered and was released 2 days later.

Website

http//www.charliedaniels.com

ZZ Top -Mascelero

Mascelero

 I have to admit, they frustrated me with some of the material on Antenna and XXX. But Mescalero has a lot of harmonica and steel pedal guitar on it, getting back to a Texas Blues sound but mellower and slower than Rhythmeen. "Piece" has some pretty passages and a metal-sounding rhythm groove near the end. Billy Gibbons' Gretsch guitar sounds awesome on this whole recording, especially his leads. "Que Lastima" kind of grows on you. "What is it Kid" has a great bass line: go Dusty! "Tramp" takes an old blues progression and makes it sound positively innovative. I love that song;Billy alternates between his low-pitched speaking voice and a higher singing voice. The ending chord progression on Liquor is awesome, even though the song borrows the same fadeout technology the band used on "Loaded," it works. But don't change CD's just yet: the hidden track under #16 is really well done. I'm sure you'll know the song. All I can say is, you guys let me down for a long time, but this release is really good. I'm really happy with it.

Duane Allman

Duane Allman

Howard Duane Allman (November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971) was an American guitarist, session musician and the primary leader and co-founder of the The Allman Brothers Band, until his death in a motorcycle accident in 1971 at the age of 24.

The Allman Brothers Band was formed in 1969 and, unusual for the time, based in the Southeastern United States. In the early 1970s the band was hugely successful. Duane is best remembered for his brief but influential tenure in the band, and in particular for his expressive slide guitar playing and inventive improvisational skills. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Allman at #2 in their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, second only to Jimi Hendrix and in 2011 he was ranked #9. His tone (achieved with a Gibson Les Paul and two 50-watt bass Marshall amplifiers) was named one of the greatest guitar tones of all time by Guitar Player.

A sought-after session musician both before and during his tenure with the band, Duane Allman performed with such established stars as King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Herbie Mann. He also contributed heavily to the 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos.

Duane Allman’s skills as a guitarist were complemented by personal qualities such as his intensity, drive and ability to draw the best out of others in making music. He is still referred to by his nickname "Skydog".

Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident only months after the release and initial success of At Fillmore East.  While in the western part of Macon on October 29, 1971 during a band break from touring and recording, Allman was riding his motorcycle at high speed toward an intersection as a flatbed truck carrying a lumber crane approached. The flatbed truck stopped suddenly in the intersection, forcing Duane to swerve his Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycle sharply to the left to avoid a collision. As he was doing so, he struck either the back of the truck or the ball on the lumber crane and was immediately thrown from the motorcycle. The motorcycle bounced up in the air and landed on Allman and proceeded to skid another 90 feet with Duane pinned underneath, crushing his internal organs. Though he was still alive when he arrived at the hospital, despite emergency surgery, he died several hours later from massive internal injuries.

After Allman's funeral and some weeks of mourning, the five surviving members of the Allman Brothers Band carried on, resuming live performances and finishing the recording work interrupted by Duane's death. They named their next album Eat a Peach for Duane's response to an interviewer's question: "How are you helping the revolution?" Allman replied: "There ain't no revolution, only evolution, but every time I'm in Georgia I 'eat a peach' for peace." Released in February, 1972, this double album contains a side of live and studio tracks with Allman, two sides of "Mountain Jam", recorded with Duane at the same At Fillmore East stand in March, and a side of tracks by the surviving five member band.

Bass guitarist Berry Oakley died less than 13 months later in a similar motorcycle crash with a city bus, three blocks from the site of Duane Allman's fatal accident. Oakley's remains were laid to rest beside Duane Allman's in Macon, Georgia's Rose Hill Cemetery.

Site
http://www.duaneallman.info/

Dylan and the Dead-Relased Album

Dylan and the Dead

Over the years, I held off on purchasing this disc due to the almost uniformly scathing reviews blasting it - some of the most virulent and sarcasti. However, the intriguing pairing of these two classic artists (and I'll admit like other reviews state - the beyond cool album cover) got the better of me and I bought it used as a hedge.

I've taken a listen - what do I think? a) Dylan and The Dead is not the place to start your collection of either artist; b) There are better commercially available live albums of each artist individually; and c) keeping those caveats in perspective, this is a ragged, free-wheeling, and ultimately satisfying performance that I will go back to from time to time, because I seek out this type of music for the feel and inspiration it gives me.

Contrary to what I have read, Dylan's vocals are acceptable, and they are intriguing for what he chooses to include and leave out given the generally accepted crossroads he was at in his career. The Dead's sound is unmistakable, and provides an interesting filter to standard and not so standard selections within Dylan's substantial song catalog.

Finally, I find this unique album (it will never happen again with all the same key players present) every bit as listenable as any of the countless live Dave Matthews/Phish/String Cheese Incident/You Name It albums out there that I have heard bits and pieces of but would never be motivated to purchase based on their meandering sound and lack of songcraft.

All and all, a worthy album that you will be surprised by if you are a fan of either artist, given the amount of negative reviews associated with it.

The Eagles

The Eagles

Early Eagles

The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner.

With seven number-one singles, six Grammys, five American Music Awards, and six number one albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s. At the end of the 20th century, two of their albums, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and Hotel California, ranked among the 20 best-selling albums in the U.S. according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Hotel California is ranked 37th in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and the band was ranked No. 75 on the magazine's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

They have sold over 120 million albums worldwide—100 million in the U.S. alone—including 42 million copies of Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975). They are the fifth-highest-selling music act and highest-selling American band in U.S. history. No American band sold more records than the Eagles during the 1970s.

The Eagles released their self-titled debut album in 1972, which spawned three Top 40 singles: "Take It Easy", "Witchy Woman", and "Peaceful Easy Feeling". Their next album, Desperado (1973), was less successful than the first, reaching only No. 41 on the charts; neither of its singles reached the Top 40. However, the album contained two of the band's most popular tracks: "Desperado" and "Tequila Sunrise". They released On the Border in 1974, adding guitarist Don Felder midway through the recording of the album. The album generated two Top 40 singles: "Already Gone" and their first Number One, "Best of My Love".

It was not until 1975's One of These Nights that the Eagles became America's biggest band. The album included three Top 10 singles: "One of These Nights", "Lyin' Eyes", and "Take It to the Limit". They continued that success in late 1976 with the release of Hotel California, which would go on to sell over 16 million copies in the U.S. alone. The album yielded three Top 20 singles, "New Kid in Town", "Hotel California", and "Life in the Fast Lane". They released their last studio album for nearly 28 years in 1979 with The Long Run, which spawned three Top 10 singles: "Heartache Tonight", "The Long Run", and "I Can't Tell You Why".

The Eagles disbanded in July 1980 but reunited in 1994 for the album Hell Freezes Over, a mix of live and new studio tracks. They have toured intermittently since then and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2007, the Eagles released Long Road Out of Eden, their first full studio album in 28 years. The album would top the album charts, release five singles to the Adult Contemporary Charts, and win the band two Grammys. The next year they launched the Long Road Out of Eden Tour in support of the album. The band members have discussed the possibility of making another album.

Emmylou Harris-Evangeline

Evangeline

For whatever reason, there has been a delay in releasing a digital version of this album that I have owned in both vinyl and cassette formats. Fortunately, it is available now for both longtime Emmylou fans and newbies who have learned to appreciate her through her recent Alternative/Americana releases. Originally released to mixed reviews, the album as a whole has held up well and is worthy of inclusion in Emmylou's catalog of quality music, with her voice in fine form while continuing to push the boundaries of conventional (at the time) country music. Worth noting: "Spanish Johnny" has backing vocals by Waylon Jennings, "Hot Burrito #2" was written by her mentor Gram Parsons, "Mister Sandman" contains all vocal overdubs by Emmylou herself, and "Evangeline" was, allegedly, the impetus towards the Trio album, as both were recorded with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt singing harmony. Oh, and "I Don't Have To Crawl" actually had a video that played on cable's WTBS Night Tracks, for those of us old enough to remember those early basic cable days. A classy good album by a classy artist.

George Grantham

George Grantham (born Cordell, Oklahoma, 20 November 1947) is a drummer and vocalist best known for his work with pioneering American country-rock band Poco.

Grantham and pedal steel guitarist sensation Rusty Young were members of a Denver-based psychedelic rock act Boenzee Cryque when Young left the band in mid-1968 for Los Angeles. There he fell in with Buffalo Springfield members Richie Furay and Jim Messina as they wrapped up that act's final album.[1]

With Buffalo Springfield disintegrated, Furay, Messina, and Young joined together to create a new band, Pogo, shortly rechristened Poco after copyright concerns forced a change.

Needing a drummer, Young recruited Grantham, who shortly became part of Poco's founding line-up. A talented singer, Grantham's backup vocals were an important element of the band's distinctive harmony sound.

Grantham remained a member of various Poco line-ups through 1977, a span of ten studio albums and two live releases. He returned in 1985, and was part of four of five band incarnations before departing again 1990. Reunited once more in 2000, he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2002 and was unable to rejoin the band again until some vocals-only appearances in 2009.

Grantham also found time to play most of the drums on Neil Young's self-titled 1969 debut solo album, and later worked on recordings by Rick Roberts and the self-titled album by Gunhill Road, as well as on Furay's first solo album after his exit from the group in the mid-'70s. Poco's constant near-misses with success wore the membership down across a decade of hard work, however, and Grantham left the band in 1978. He subsequently played and sang on a string of Ricky Skaggs releases, as well as recording with Richie Furay, Ronnie McDowell, and Steve Wariner. He returned to Poco as a guest musician in the early '80s, and as a full member of the band for the reunion of the 1968 lineup on Legacy (1989), and the tour that followed. He later resumed working alongside Young and Paul Cotton in a revived version of Poco, which included the album Running Horse (2002). On July 29, 2004, however, Grantham suffered a crippling stroke in the middle of a show. He was forced to leave the group and give up performing. He has since made major strides to recovery, and in a statement in 2007, said that he hopes someday to resume performing.

George is far left

ZZ Top - First Album

First Album

ZZ Top, or as many people would call them, That Little Ol' Band From Texas, is truly a band with staying power. 14 albums (Well, soon to be 15), 40 years, and NO lineup changes, they are truly one of a kind and a rare breed indeed. It's hard to imagine this band any other way: The gutsy vocals and deep-fried pickings of Billy Gibbons, the rattling bass of Dusty Hill, and the excellent drumming of Frank Beard (the only one without a beard, thank you very much). The band has virtually reinvented the blues, almost to a self-parody of sorts (I'm of course talking about their 80's blunders, which they have made up for with their more recent heavy albums). But all seriousness aside, they are just a good fun rock and roll band, and that's all their music is.

ZZ Top's first album, which came out in 1971, is a fantastic introduction to their boogie rock stylings. While it doesn't have any of the big hits that became their calling cards, it does establish their sound, their attitude, and their quirks. The songwriting is already unique in itself, using clever double entendres in their sexual repertoire. Each song just hits hard, whether it's the radio-friendly Somebody Else Been Shaking Your Tree, the mean riffing of Brown Sugar, or the laidback grooves of Squank and Backdoor Love Affair.

The band also doesn't mind getting a little heavy in the riff department, as songs like Going Down To Mexico showcase a mean British side to their blues rock. One can say that Billy was a fan of Black Sabbath during this time even! Also, what's prevalent on here and not on future releases are slow ballads, and Old Man is definitely one of those, a slow burner with a lot of soul.

All in all, it's a great intro to the world of Top; slick but unpolished, raw but professional, bluesy and rocking all at the same time. That's the Top for ya. 

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan  born (Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and artist. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of Dylan's early songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems for the US civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the culture of folk music behind, Dylan's six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in 1965. His recordings employing electric instruments attracted denunciation and criticism from others in the folk movement.

Dylan's lyrics incorporated a variety of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences. They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed hugely to the then burgeoning counterculture. Initially inspired by the songs of Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Hank Williams, and the music and performance styles of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley, Dylan has both amplified and personalized musical genres. His recording career, spanning fifty years, has explored many of the traditions in American song—from folk, blues and country to gospel, rock and roll, and rockabilly to English, Scottish, and Irish folk music, embracing even jazz and swing. Dylan performs with guitar, keyboards, and harmonica. Backed by a changing line-up of musicians, he has toured steadily since the late 1980s on what has been dubbed the Never Ending Tour. His accomplishments as a recording artist and performer have been central to his career, but his greatest contribution is generally considered to be his songwriting.

Since 1994, Dylan has published three books of drawings and paintings, and his work has been exhibited in major art galleries. As a songwriter and musician, Dylan has received numerous awards over the years including Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards; he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Pulitzer Prize jury in 2008 awarded him a special citation for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." In May 2012, Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

Origins of Country rock
Dylan's next release, Nashville Skyline (1969), was virtually a mainstream country record featuring instrumental backing by Nashville musicians, a mellow-voiced Dylan, a duet with Johnny Cash, and the hit single "Lay Lady Lay." Variety magazine wrote, "Dylan is definitely doing something that can be called singing. Somehow he has managed to add an octave to his range." Dylan and Cash also recorded a series of duets, but only their recording of Dylan's "Girl from the North Country" was used on the album.

In May 1969, Dylan appeared on the first episode of Johnny Cash's new television show, duetting with Cash on "Girl from the North Country", "I Threw It All Away" and "Living the Blues". Dylan next travelled to England to top the bill at the Isle of Wight rock festival on August 31, 1969, after rejecting overtures to appear at the Woodstock Festival far closer to his home.

His Website
www.bobdylan.com
 

Hearts and Flowers Band

Hearts and Flowers

Hearts & Flowers was a Los Angeles folk-rock club band, perhaps most significant as one of the groups that launched the career of Eagles' founding member and guitarist-songwriter, Bernie Leadon. The lineup included Larry Murray (vocals, guitar), Dave Dawson (vocals, guitar, autoharp) and Rick Cunha (vocals, guitar). Leadon replaced Cunha on their second album in 1968. Among venues they played during the mid-1960s, were Los Angeles clubs Ledbetter's, Doug Weston's Troubadour, and the Ashgrove. After recording two albums without major success, the group disbanded in 1968.

Hearts and Flowers released two good LA country folk-rock records in the late 60′s and left behind a plethora of outtakes. Of Horses, Kids and Forgotten Women from 1968 is arguably their crowning achievement. Larry Murray, Dave Dawson and Rick Cunha had made up the first lineup of Hearts and Flowers, all coming from an early to mid 60′s folk mindset. In the summer of 67 they released Now Is The Time For…. to critical acclaim. By the time of their second album Bernie Leadon of Eagles, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Dillard & Clark fame had replaced Rick Cunha.

Of Horses, Kids and Forgotten Women has a few strong covers in Highway In The Wind and She Sang Hymns Out Of Tune. The harmonies were radiant and the band preferred acoustic instruments over electric. Some of the compositions have attractive string, harpischord and horn arrangements. But it is the originals that really grab the ear.

Second Hand Sundown Queen, When I Was A Cowboy, Legend Of Ol’Tenbrookes and the beautiful Extra Extra medley are classy, early country rock songs that have definitely stood the test of time well. The sound here is very close to the quieter moments on Buffalo Springfield’s Last Time Around or even the Beau Brummels on their fabulous Triangle album.


Hearts and Flowers were one of the most eclectic groups on the Southern California folk-rock scene in the '60s, skewing more to the folk side of the equation and often adding flourishes of psychedelia and, most importantly, bluegrass and country music. The group was founded by guitarist Larry Murray, a Georgia native who had come to California in the late '50s and played with a bluegrass group called the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers. At various points, the Barkers' membership included Chris Hillman and Bernie Leadon, and they recorded a rare album for Crown in 1962 before breaking up. Murray went on to play in several other bands, including another one with Hillman called the Green Grass Group, before forming Hearts and Flowers with vocalist/guitarist Dave Dawson and vocalist Rick Cunha, who had worked together as a folk duo in Hawaii. The trio played the Los Angeles club scene, sometimes by themselves, sometimes with a rhythm section, and eventually landed a deal with Capitol. Their debut album, Now Is the Time for Hearts and Flowers, was released in 1967 and echoed work by the Byrds, the Stone Poneys, and the Dillards. Its eclectic originals and wide-ranging taste in covers meant that it didn't sell very well, however, and at Capitol's urging, the group underwent an overhaul, adding Terry Paul and Dan Woody to flesh out their live sound, though both left before the group completed its second album. So too did Cunha, who was replaced on guitar by Leadon. The group's sophomore effort, Of Horses, Kids and Forgotten Women, was released in 1968 and featured more elements of pop and psychedelia than their debut, in spite of the fact that the band had taken to playing folk-rock arrangements of country tunes almost exclusively at their live shows. Of Horses didn't sell either, and the group disbanded not long afterward. Murray and Cunha both went on to release solo country-rock albums.

Ronnie Van Zant

Ronnie Van Zant

With the Neil Young Tshirt

Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was the older brother of the founder and vocalist of 38 Special, Donnie Van Zant, and of current Lynyrd Skynyrd lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant.
He was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, to Lacy (1915–2004) and Marion (1929–2000) Van Zant. Van Zant aspired to be many things before finding his love for music. Notably, Ronnie was interested in becoming a boxer (as Muhammad Ali was one of his idols) and in playing professional baseball. Ronnie also tossed around the idea of becoming a stock-car racer. In fact, he would say that he was going to be the most famous person to come out of Jacksonville since Lee Roy Yarbrough.
Van Zant formed Skynyrd late in the summer of 1964 with friends and schoolmates Allen Collins (guitar), Gary Rossington (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass), and Bob Burns (drums). Lynyrd Skynyrd's name is a mock tribute to a gym teacher the boys had in high school, Leonard Skinner, who disapproved of male students with long hair.

The band's national exposure began in 1973 with the release of their debut album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), which has a string of hits and fan favorites including: "I Ain't the One", "Tuesday's Gone", "Gimme Three Steps", "Simple Man," and their signature song, "Free Bird", which he later dedicated to the late Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band.[citation needed]

Lynyrd Skynyrd's biggest hit single was "Sweet Home Alabama" from the album Second Helping. "Sweet Home Alabama" was an answer song to Neil Young's "Alabama" and "Southern Man." Young's song "Powderfinger" on the 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps was reportedly written for Skynyrd, and Van Zant is pictured on the cover of Street Survivors wearing a T-shirt of Young's Tonight's the Night.

Black Oak Arkansas

Black Oak Arkansas

---------------------
Black Oak Arkansas is an American Southern rock band named after the band's hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas. The band reached the height of its fame in the 1970s with ten charting albums released in that decade. Their style is punctuated by multiple guitar players and the raspy voice and on-stage antics of vocalist Jim "Dandy" Mangrum.
The group, originally called "The Knowbody Else", was formed in 1965 in Black Oak, Arkansas, by Ronnie "Chicky Hawk" Smith (vocals), Rickie Reynolds (guitar), Stanley Knight (guitar), Harvey Jett (guitar), Pat Daugherty (bass), and Wayne Evans (drums). Their first PA system was stolen from Monette high school. Members of the group were subsequently charged in absentia with grand larceny and sentenced to 26 years at the Tucker Prison Farm (this sentence was later suspended). This led to their retreat to the hills of rural northcentral Arkansas where they lived off the land and refined their musical style.[1] They also lived in Long Beach, Mississippi and played at the local Lobe theater/dance hall and the short-lived venue, "The Black Rainbow." Some of their influences during this time were the Beatles and the Byrds. At some point the band and Ronnie "Chicky Hawk" Smith agreed that a mutual friend named James "Jim Dandy" Mangrum would make a better front man, Ronnie Smith agreed that he would make a better stage production manager.
After several trips to Los Angeles, California, in 1970, the band was signed by Atco Records (whose parent label Atlantic Records once had a partnership with Stax) and rechristened "Black Oak Arkansas". Their self-titled debut album Black Oak Arkansas was released in 1971 while the band toured extensively, gaining a reputation as a live act. The twin album releases that followed in 1972, Keep the Faith and If an Angel Came to See You, Would You Make Her Feel at Home, expanded on the group’s eclectic musical style.

In 1973, Black Oak Arkansas released their fourth album Raunch 'N' Roll Live. It was their fifth album, High on the Hog, released later that year, that established solid commercial success by peaking at number 52 on the Billboard albums chart. Vocalist Ruby Starr also toured with the band during this period. Her raspy voice can be heard on the group's remake of LaVern Baker's 1957 hit "Jim Dandy," which reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.


    Black Oak Arkansas (Atco, 1971) US No. 127
    Keep The Faith (Atco, 1972) US No. 107
    If An Angel Came To See You Would You Make Her Feel At Home? (Atco, 1972) US No. 93
    Raunch 'N' Roll Live (Atlantic, 1973) US No. 90
    High on the Hog (Atco, 1973) US No. 52
    Street Party (Atco, 1974) US No. 56
    Ain't Life Grand (Atco, 1975) US No. 145
    X-Rated (MCA, 1975) US No. 99
    Live! Mutha (Atco, 1976) US No. 194
    Balls Of Fire (MCA, 1976) US No. 173
    Live On The King Biscuit Flower Hour 1976 (Capricorn 1998)
    10 Yr Overnight Success (MCA, 1976)
    Race With The Devil (Capricorn, 1977)
    I'd Rather Be Sailing (Capricorn, 1978)
    Rebound (Goldwax, 1992)
    King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Black Oak Arkansas (King Biscuit Entertainment, 1999)
    The Wild Bunch (Dead Line/Cleopatra, 1999)
    Live (EMI-Capitol Special Markets, 2000)
    Keep the Faith: Live (Disky, 2004)
    Live at Royal Albert Hall (S’More Records, 2005)
    The Complete Runch ‘N’ Roll Live (Rhino Handmade, 2007)
    The Knowbody Else (Cleopatra, 2008)

Glenn Frey- The allnighter

The Allnighter

A hot summer evening, your car, your girl, and Glenn Frey's 'The Allnighter' is all you need to bring back the memories of those nights you spent cruising the streets & highways and listening to the hottest tunes of the day. Even after 15 years or so, Glenn's masterpiece of Rock & Romance still sounds fresh and only a first-time listener would have trouble singing along.
The title track kicks things off with a fast-paced tale of a casanova-style encounter, then "Sexy Girl" echoes every man's memory of the one girl they hopelessly loved but could only dream about making their own. "I Got Love" sounds even more cheerful, while "Somebody Else" is an anthem for confrontation. Two unmistakable slow-dance gems arrive in the lonely and apologetic ballads, "Lover's Moon" and "Let's Go Home" But in between is the album's coolest song, "Smuggler's Blues", in which Glenn puts the pedal down and weaves a story of danger and frustration over the problem which still plagues society today. "Living In Darkness" is another rocker overshadowed a little by the patriotic finger-snapper, "Better In The U.S.A". The Al Green-ish closer "New Love" is one more ode to romance lost and found.
All in all, there is nothing on 'The Allnighter' to miss and much that you'll want to hear over and over. Some would say it's best appreciated while driving, but others might want to just sit outside, crack open a drink and let it play. I say it doesn't matter, You'll love this album either way, and it's still Mr. Frey's best work. Get this one in your player soon!

38 Special

38 Special

38 Special (also written .38 Special or Thirty-Eight Special) is an American rock band that was formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida. The band's first two albums had a strong southern rock influence. By the early 1980s, 38 Special shifted to a more accessible arena rock style without abandoning its southern rock roots. This shift helped to usher in a string of successful albums and singles.

Their breakthrough hit was "Hold On Loosely" (1981). "Caught Up in You" (1982) and "If I'd Been the One" (1983) both hit No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Album Rock Tracks chart. "Back Where You Belong" (1984) continued the annual sequence of radio favorites. In 1985 they had another hit with "Teacher Teacher," written by Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams. The song climbed to #4 on the Billboard Top Tracks Chart / spent (10 weeks on the chart). Their last well known hit was "Second Chance" (1989) was a No. 1 hit on Billboard's adult contemporary chart.

In 2007, 38 Special was the opening act on Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr.'s Rowdy Frynds Tour, and on September 27, 2008, they filmed a CMT Crossroads special with country singer Trace Adkins, performing both artists' hits from over the years. In 2009, 38 Special opened for REO Speedwagon and Styx as part of the "Can't Stop Rockin' Tour."

As of 2011, the lineup consists of Don Barnes, Donnie Van Zant, guitarist Danny Chauncey, bassist Larry Junstrom, keyboardist Bobby Capps and drummer Gary Moffatt.
Current members

    Donnie Van Zant (vocals, guitars) 1974–present
    Don Barnes (vocals, guitars, mandolin, keyboards, harmonica) 1974–1987, 1992–present
    Larry Junstrom (bass, guitar) 1977–present
    Danny Chauncey (guitars, backing vocals) 1987–present
    Bobby Capps (vocals, keyboards) 1991–present
    Gary Moffatt (drums, percussion) 1997–present

Past members

    Jeff Carlisi (guitars) 1974-1996
    Jack Grondin (drums, percussion) 1974-1991
    Steve Brookins (drums, percussion) 1974–1987
    Ken Lyons (bass) 1974–1977
    Carol Bristow (backing vocals) 1977-1987
    Dale Krantz (backing vocals) 1977-1979
    Nancy Henderson (backing vocals) 1980-1981
    Lu Moss (backing vocals) 1981-1984
    Steve McRay (keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals) 1986-1987
    Lynn Hineman (backing vocals) 1986-1987
    Max Carl (vocals, keyboards) 1987–1992
    Scott Meeder (drums, percussion) 1991-1992
    Scott Hoffman (drums, percussion) 1992–1997
    Donny Baldwin (drums, percussion - fill-in for Scott Hoffman) 1996

Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh

Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (born November 20, 1947)[1] is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands: the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles. He has also experienced success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B. King and Dan Fogelberg. He holds the 54 spot in Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
In January 1968 he replaced Glen Schwartz as lead guitarist for the James Gang, an American power trio. Walsh proved to be the band's star attraction, noted for his innovative rhythm playing and creative guitar riffs. In particular he was known for hot-wiring the pickups on his electric guitars to create his trademark "attack" sound.[2] The James Gang had several minor hits and became an early album-oriented rock staple for the next two years, including James Gang Live at Carnegie Hall. In November, 1971 Walsh left the group and formed the group Barnstorm, although their albums credited Walsh as a solo artist. Walsh and Barnstorm released their debut, the eponymous Barnstorm in 1972. The album was a critical success, but had only moderate sales. The follow-up The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get (1973) was titled under his own name (although officially a Barnstorm album) and was Walsh's commercial breakthrough. The first single "Rocky Mountain Way" received heavy airplay and reached #23 on the US Top 40 chart. In 1974 Barnstorm disbanded and Walsh continued as a solo artist.

In December 1974, Walsh released an official solo album, So What and in March 1976, a live set, You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind. These would be his last solo albums until 1978. On December 20, 1975 he joined the Eagles as Bernie Leadon's replacement. His addition steered the band toward a harder-edged sound and away from their early country-style work, and he was featured prominently on their multi-million-selling album Hotel California, co-writing the Top 20 hit "Life in the Fast Lane" (with Don Henley and Glenn Frey) and "Pretty Maids All in a Row" (co-written with former Barnstorm drummer Joe Vitale).

As the Eagles struggled to record the follow-up to Hotel California, Walsh re-ignited his solo career with the well-received album But Seriously, Folks... (1978) which featured his hit comic depiction of rock stardom, "Life's Been Good". Walsh also contributed "In the City" to The Warriors soundtrack (1979), a song penned and sung by Walsh that was later rerecorded for the Eagles The Long Run album.
Walsh married Marjorie Bach (sister of Barbara Bach) in Los Angeles on December 13, 2008, making him a brother-in-law of Ringo Starr.

Walsh's daughter, Lucy Walsh, is also a musician; she has worked with Ashlee Simpson and others, and released her debut album, Lost in the Lights, in spring 2008.[citation needed]

Walsh's eldest daughter, Emma Kristen, was born in 1971 and died in 1974 at the age of only 3 as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident on her way to nursery school. Her story inspired the track "Song For Emma" on his album So What released later that year. In her memory, he had a fountain and memorial plaque placed in a park in which she played; North Boulder Park in Boulder, Colorado. While touring with singer Stevie Nicks in 1984, Walsh took Nicks to the park's fountain; Nicks subsequently immortalized this story in her song "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You" on her 1985 album Rock A Little. Nicks stated in a 2007 interview with the UK's The Daily Telegraph that Walsh had been "the great love of her life."

Marshall Tucker Band-Face Down in the Blues

Face Down in the Blues

This band might have the name "The Marshall Tucker Band", and Doug Gray is certainly the singer, but rest assured, they're NOT the Marshall Tucker Band that most of is long time fans know and love. What do they lack? Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell, Paul Riddle. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think that Jerry Eubanks is on this disc either. In my opinion, without these guys they just don't have the same fire and jam-a-bility that the Tucker Boys of old had. It's true, this CD is better than some of their other "recent" releases. Call me old fashioned, but if I want to hear Tucker do the blues, I'll throw on my well worn Where We All Belong disc, or the newer release, Stompin' Room Only (Unreleased Live Recording).   The faces have changed, but the feeling you get from Marshall Tucker band is still there as evidenced from the standout cut "Like Good Music". Productions values are early ninety's clean sound with a hint of over production trying to capture the sound of the lost(dead) members. Overall, very reasonable effort with a couple of blue's numbers thrown in for good measure.

Wet Willie

Wet Willie is an American band from Mobile, Alabama, U.S. They were best known for their hit "Keep On Smilin'," reaching #10 on the Billboard Chart in August 1974, but had a number of charted songs in the 1970s utilizing their soulful brand of Southern rock.

Wet Willie put out several albums on Capricorn Records between 1971 and 1977. Along with a "Greatest Hits" album released on Polydor Records, they also released 2 more final studio albums on Epic Records, although some hits collections and further live recordings have been released as recently as 2006. Perhaps their best-known LP is the 1973 live album, Drippin' Wet, but their main claim to fame is the hit single, "Keep On Smilin,'" which reached #10 on the Billboard singles chart. They also enjoyed some other Billboard-charted songs with "Country Side Of Life," "Everything That 'Cha Do" (Will Come Back To You), "Leona," and from their Epic Records period, "Street Corner Serenade" and "Weekend" from the LP's Manorisms and Which One's Willie? They toured and recorded extensively from 1969 through the early Eighties, and they still perform today in two slightly different versions, depending on whether Jimmy Hall is present. When Hall is with the band, it is billed as Wet Willie; otherwise, it is billed as The Wet Willie Band.

Dickey Betts

Dickey Betts

Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts (born December 12, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his instrumental "Jessica" in 1996 Recognized as one of the finest rock guitar players of all time, he had early on in his career one of rock’s finest guitar partnerships with the late Duane Allman introducing melodic twin guitar harmony and counterpoint which "rewrote the rules for how two rock guitarists can work together, completely scrapping the traditional rhythm/lead roles to stand toe to toe". Dickey Betts was ranked #58 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list in 2003, and #61 on the list published in 2011.

In 1969, Duane Allman had parlayed success as a session player into a contract with former Otis Redding manager Phil Walden. Walden planned to back a power trio featuring Allman, who needed to put together the rest of the band. When Allman organized jam sessions as part of his effort to recruit Oakley for the group, Betts sat in. During those jams twin guitar parts, influenced by the harmonized fiddle and guitar parts Betts had heard on bluegrass and Bob Wills records growing up, began to emerge and give the sound a unique flavor. Those harmonies gave the putative power trio an additional guitarist (the band eventually grew to six members) and Dickey Betts the opening for stardom as a co-founder and key contributor to the Allman Brothers Band. In addition to the harmonies, his melodic, country-esque lead guitar style contrasted perfectly with Duane's fiery, blues/jazz-based style. He also wrote songs including "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and "Blue Sky" that became radio and concert staples.

After the death of Duane Allman in late 1971, Betts became the band's sole guitarist and also took on a greater singing and leadership role. Betts, over the course of one night's traveling, practiced slide guitar intensively in order to cover the majority of Duane's parts. He went on to write such Southern Rock classics as "Jessica" and the Allmans' biggest commercial hit, "Ramblin' Man".

Jessica was inspired by his daughter, Jessica Betts, born on May 14, 1972 to Betts' third wife, Sandy Bluesky Wabegijig, a Native American whom Betts married in 1973. The pair was divorced in 1975 and Betts married Paulette, a close friend and personal assistant of entertainer Cher (to whom Gregg Allman was married during the mid- to late-1970s). Betts has four children total: Kimberly from his first marriage to Barbara Hudgins, Christy from his second wife, Dayle, Jessica from his third union to Sandy and his only son, Duane from his marriage to Paulette. Betts is currently wed to Donna. They have been married for over twenty years.

Betts's first solo album, Highway Call, was released in 1974, and featured the late fiddle player Vassar Clements. After the Allmans fell apart in 1976, Betts released more albums, starting with Dickey Betts & Great Southern in 1977, which featured the hit "Bougainvillea", co-written with future Hollywood star Don Johnson. In 1978 he released an album entitled Atlanta's Burning Down.

The Allman Brothers reformed in 1979 for the album Enlightened Rogues with two members of Great Southern replacing ABB members unwilling to participate in the reunion: guitar player Dan Toler (for pianist Chuck Leavell) and bassist David Goldflies. Several albums would follow with various personnel changes until steadily declining record and concert ticket sales and tensions around management issues led the group to again disband in 1982.

Creedence Clearwater Revival-1st Album

Creedence Clearwater Revival

This was the debut album by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It established their highly original sound, which was a lot different than any of the other bands that came out of the San Francisco scene (like CCR did). While they did have their sound down, John Fogerty's songwriting wasn't quite as good as it would later be. It's notable that the two chart singles from the album, "Suzie Q" and "I Put a Spell On You" are covers of songs from the '50s (by two guys named Hawkins who were of no relation to each other). The other cover song on the album was the more recent "Ninety-Nine and a Half" by Wilson Pickett. John Fogerty's original songs are good, but he got ever better as he went along. The best original song on the album, in my opinion, is "Walk on the Water", which Tom Fogerty co-wrote with John. This song actually dates from the pre-Creedence days, when the band was known as the Golliwogs. This is a very good album by CCR, but the best was yet to come.

An interesting aspect of this album is that it shows the development of the band. Three tracks (Spell, Susie Q and 99 ½) are covers, exciting live act staples and honed to the max. Two are self penned blues, Working Man ("don't take me on a Friday Lord, that's when I get paid..." ) bearing resemblance to the slower Penthouse Pauper from Bayou Country, and Get Down Woman, a straight slow blues sung and played well. The final three album tracks which include the first single Porterville, are a hangover from their days as The Golliwogs pop rock unit, similar in parts to The Yardbirds, Electric Prunes and Nuggets' series garage bands. The songs are replete with background vocals, harmonies and psychedelic guitar breaks, but the lyrics portend some dark destiny, later realised more fully in Bad Moon Rising, Run Through the Jungle and Fogerty's solo Old Man down The Road.

New Riders of the Purple Sage

New Riders of the Purple Sage

In the summer of 1969, John Dawson was looking to showcase his songs while Jerry Garcia was looking to practice his brand new pedal steel guitar. The two played in coffeehouses and small clubs initially, and the music they made became the nucleus for a band—the New Riders of the Purple Sage.

That same year, David Nelson, expert in both country and rock guitar, joined the group on electric lead guitar. Filling out the rhythm section in those early days were Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and engineer Bob Matthews on bass, who was later replaced by Phil Lesh. In 1970, Dave Torbert took over on bass and the New Riders played every chance they got. Soon enough, smoky clubs all over the San Francisco bay area were filling up with whooping, foot-stomping crowds as their music got tighter and more dynamic. They began to tour extensively with the Dead, and in December of 1970, Spencer Dryden, who had previously showed his impeccable drumming style with the Jefferson Airplane, had stepped in on drums.

One of the many gigs with the Dead included the Trans-Canadian Festival Express with Janis Joplin, The Band, and other American and Canadian artists like Ian and Sylvia, who had with them a brilliant, innovative pedal steel player named Buddy Cage. When Garcia's busy schedule made it increasingly difficult for him to play with the New Riders, the talented Cage was the perfect choice to fill the pedal steel spot. He moved from Toronto where he had been working in Anne Murray's band, to California in the fall of 1971 to join the New Riders. With the addition of Cage, the New Riders emerged as a fully independent unit. An excitingly creative band with a special brand of music—sweet country harmonies mixed with pulsing rock rhythms.

The New Riders were signed to Columbia Records in 1971 by Clive Davis and their eponymous first album, New Riders of the Purple Sage, was released in September of that year to widespread acclaim. In December, 1971 they played a live radio broadcast with the Dead over WNEW-FM in New York to an audience of millions. In 1972 the pattern of their success continued to grow, with their first European tour followed in June by the release of their second album, Powerglide. They toured the United States extensively in response to increasing demand, and in November, 1972 released their third album Gypsy Cowboy. These first three New Riders albums were all produced by Stephen Barncard, who also worked with Crosby, Stills and Nash and co-produced the Dead's American Beauty.

In May of 1973, the New Riders appeared on ABC-TV's "In Concert" program to a nationwide audience. Working hard on the road for much of the year, including gigs with the Dead at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco and R.F.K. Stadium in Washington, DC, they took a brief time out to go into the Record Plant in Sausalito with producer Norbert Putnam. The result was The Adventures of Panama Red, released in September of 1973 and with Peter Rowan's title track, this became an FM radio staple and the first gold record for the band. In November they embarked on an east coast tour that included them setting the box office record at New York City's Academy of Music. This tour was recorded for the group's first live album, Home, Home on the Road, which was produced by Jerry Garcia.

Early 1974 found bassist Dave Torbert wanting to pursue a more rock and roll direction as he left the New Riders to form Kingfish with old friends Matthew Kelly and Bob Weir. Skip Battin, formerly with the Byrds, joined the band on bass as they kept to their solid touring schedule which had become one of the band's trademarks. In August, 1974, the New Riders gave a free thank you concert in Central Park on a Tuesday afternoon to 50,000 New York fans. Their sixth album, entitled Brujo, was released in October, 1974 and found their recorded sound getting crisper with delicate harmonies and more original songs.

Website
HTTP://www.nrpsmusic.com

Jerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia

Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician who was best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead. Though he disavowed the role, Garcia was viewed by many as the leader or "spokesman" of the group.

One of its founders, Garcia performed with the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career (1965–1995). Garcia also founded and participated in a variety of side projects, including the Saunders-Garcia Band (with longtime friend Merl Saunders), Jerry Garcia Band, Old and in the Way, the Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo, Legion of Mary, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage (which Garcia co-founded with John Dawson and David Nelson). He also released several solo albums, and contributed to a number of albums by other artists over the years as a session musician. He was well known by many for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" cover story.

Later in life, Garcia was sometimes ill because of his unstable weight, and in 1986 went into a diabetic coma that nearly cost him his life. Although his overall health improved somewhat after that, he also struggled with heroin and cocaine addictions, and was staying in a California drug rehabilitation facility when he died of a heart attack in August 1995.

Garcia served as lead guitarist, as well as one of the principal vocalists and songwriters of the Grateful Dead for their entire career. Garcia composed such songs as "Dark Star", "Franklin's Tower", and "Scarlet Begonias", among many others. Robert Hunter, an ardent collaborator with the band, wrote the lyrics to all but a few of Garcia's songs.

Garcia was well-noted for his "soulful extended guitar improvisations", which would frequently feature interplay between him and his fellow band members. His fame, as well as the band's, arguably rested on their ability to never play a song the same way twice. Often, Garcia would take cues from rhythm guitarist Bob Weir on when to solo, remarking that "there are some  kinds of ideas that would really throw me if I had to create a harmonic bridge between all the things going on rhythmically with two drums and Phil [Lesh's] innovative bass playing. Weir's ability to solve that sort of problem is extraordinary. [...] Harmonically, I take a lot of my solo cues from Bob."

When asked to describe his approach to soloing, Garcia commented: "It keeps on changing. I still basically revolve around the melody and the way it’s broken up into phrases as I perceive them. With most solos, I tend to play something that phrases the way the melody does; my phrases may be more dense or have different value, but they’ll occur in the same places in the song. "

Garcia and the band toured almost constantly from their formation in 1965 until Garcia's death in 1995, a stint which gave credit to the name "endless tour". Periodically, there were breaks due to exhaustion or health problems, often due to unstable health and/or Garcia's drug use. During their three decade span, the Grateful Dead played 2,314 shows.

Neil Young-After the Gold Rush

After the Gold Rush

This was the album the prolific Neil Young released right after his first flirtation with CSN&Y, and once again he shows just how wide and deep his musical talents are. All we aging sixties kids all have a copy of both this album and his "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" album; it is standard issue for older babyboomers. Indeed, out of the welter of so many artists with so much in the way of incredible and unforgettable music, Neil Young stands alone as a sixties icon, someone who has consistently done the music his way, and with great sincerity, consistent authenticity, and a singular verve. No one has produced the range and quantity of memorable songs and melodies, as has Mr. Young, who has always produced what he wanted on his terms, and has never sold out to commercialism or tried to appeal to the mainstream audience.

Here we have so many terrific songs like "Tell Me Why", "After The Goldrush", and his smash hit, "Southern Man", that it is hard to remember that this is just one of several such albums he released in short order over a three or four year period. IN a number of other songs, such as "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", which Linda Ronstadt later did a great cover of, Neil's genius and guitar virtuosity shines, as it does in songs like "Don't Let It Bring You Down", "Birds", "I Believe In You", and a personal favorite of mine, "When You Dance". Young may well be an iconoclast, someone who is unpredictable, unreliable from a business sense, and something of a prima donna, but he always plays straight from the heart (and groin), and one knows that the guy playing that axe so masterfully is absolutely in control of the incredible sounds emanating from it. Wow! Put this baby in the CD player and listen as the CD illustrates why Neil Young will never die! Long may his chrome heart shine!

The original uncropped picture has Graham Nash in it

Souther Hillman Furay Band

Souther Hillman Furay band

The Souther Hillman Furay Band (SHF) was a country rock supergroup led by singer-songwriters Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco), Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas), and J.D. Souther (Longbranch Pennywhistle, noted songwriter for Linda Ronstadt and Eagles). The band recorded two albums during the 1970s before breaking up due to the disagreements between the members.

The band was formed in 1973 at the suggestion of David Geffen, then head of Asylum Records. Hillman brought three other former members of Manassas to the group: pianist Paul Harris and percussionist Joe Lala, both of whom had also worked with Barnstorm; and pedal steel guitarist Al Perkins, who had also played with the Flying Burrito Brothers. The septet was rounded out by session drummer Jim Gordon.

The band had a substantial hit in 1974 with its self-titled first album, which was certified gold, and the single "Fallin' in Love" (US #27). However, during the recording of that album, and influenced by Perkins, Furay converted to evangelical Christianity.[1] Tensions among the members increased, and Gordon, who may have been experiencing the onset of schizophrenia, left the band and was replaced by Ron Grinel. Souther and Hillman formed the satiric "Heathen Defense League" in reaction to the efforts by Furay and Perkins to save them. In the midst of this chaos, SHF's 1975 album Trouble in Paradise was not critically or commercially well received. Soon after, the group disbanded and its namesake members continued on their solo careers.


Discography

    The Souther Hillman Furay Band (Asylum Records, 1974) US #11
    Trouble in Paradise (Originally on Asylum Records now available on Line Records, 1975) US #39

Members

    J.D. Souther - vocals, guitar, drums
    Chris Hillman - vocals, bass, mandolin
    Richie Furay - vocals, guitar
    Paul Harris - keyboards, flute
    Al Perkins - guitar, pedal steel, dobro
    Joe Lala - percussion
    Jim Gordon - drums (1973-74)
    Ron Grinel - drums (1975-76)


Richie Furay Home Page
http://richiefuray.com/

Emmylou Harris-Spyboy

Spyboy

This is an astonishing album -- not only does it capture the essence of who Emmylou Harris is (as a singer and songwriter), but it showcases her wonderfully as a live performer. Spyboy is a brilliant title for this live CD. The spyboy is the young lad who leads off the Mardis Gras parade, which is a great metaphor for Harris' career. She has always been at the forefront of defining and redefining the confluence of country, rock, and folk music.

Here, she and her band beautifully reinterpret songs that she has made into classics. My Songbird, a Jesse Winchester gem, is delivered in classic Harris style -- aching, plaintive, and with an air of resignation. It doesn't matter that the song is written in the first person and spoken by a man. This is a haunting and painful song about separation that only Harris could deliver so sweetly.

This theme of pain, separation, and moving on permeates this recording, and is exemplified by such songs as Daniel Lanois' Where Will I Be, the traditional Green Pastures, and her own composition about Gram Parsons, Boulder to Birmingham. But this is not sappy sentimental country-folk-rock. Instead, it is intelligent music making in the same way that is true of other performers such as Richard and Linda Thompson, Mary Black, or Mary Chapin Carpenter.

The aura cast by the musicians is somewhat ethereal, being clearly influenced by Daniel Lanois, long-time producer of U2's recordings, and of Bob Dylan's Oh Mercy. Lanois' influence on Harris is most pronounced in her Wrecking Ball recording, a style that overflows into this live concert. In fact, Harris sings two Lanois compositions, in addition to Deeper Well (a song I have yet to appreciate), which they co-wrote. I have to admit that I'm getting a little tired of the Lanois style (he's also produced a recent Willie Nelson recording), however, there's no denying his success. My other pet peave is that any recording that Lanois produces includes one or two of his songs. He seems great at marketing himself and his production style. Mercifully, a performer like Harris is so transcendental that one doesn't notice such seeming trivialities. Rather, this (or any other Harris recording) is an experience not to be missed.

Gary Rossington

Gary Rossington

Gary Robert Rossington (born December 4, 1951, Jacksonville, Florida, United States) is an American musician, best known as a founding member of Southern hard rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He plays lead and rhythm guitar. He is also a founding member of The Rossington-Collins Band along with former Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmate, Allen Collins. Rossington is the only original member still with the band as of 2012.


Rossington formed the band "The Noble Five" as a teenager with friends Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Larry Junstrom and Bob Burns in the summer of 1964. They would later change the name of the band to "The One Percent" before becoming Lynyrd Skynyrd. Skynyrd gained national exposure starting in 1973 with the release of their first album (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd) and hit single "Free Bird".

Rossington's instrument of choice was a 1959 Gibson Les Paul that he purchased from a woman whose boyfriend had left her and left behind his guitar. He named it "Berneice" in honor of his mother whom he was close to. Rossington has played lead guitar on "Tuesday's Gone" and the slide guitar for "Free Bird". Along with Collins, Rossington also provided the guitar work for "Simple Man".

On Labor Day weekend in 1976, Rossington and fellow Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins were both involved in separate auto accidents in their hometown of Jacksonville. Rossington had just bought a new Ford Torino, and hit an oak tree while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The band was due to go on tour in a couple of days, but had to postpone this tour due to Rossington's accident. The band members were not at all pleased with Rossington, and fined him $5000 for the delay caused to the band's schedule. Van Zant and Collins wrote the song "That Smell" based on the wreck, and Rossington's state of influence from drugs and alcohol at the time. "Whiskey bottles and brand new cars, oak tree you're in my way. There's too much coke and too much smoke."

After several years of recovery, the crash survivors felt the time was right for another try. Gary Rossington and Allen Collins had performed at a few special jams, and slowly began planning a new band. In a few months they had signed on Skynyrd survivors Billy Powell and Leon Wilkeson and other local musicians, although the choice of a lead vocalist for the new band remained a perplexing one. Wisely, Gary and Allen chose Dale Krantz, a gutsy, whiskey-voiced female backup singer from .38 Special, instead of an inferior male Ronnie VanZant imitator.

The Rossington-Collins Band debuted in 1980 with the Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere album. Kicked by such songs as ‘Getaway” and 'Don’t Misunderstand Me’ the album sold more than a million copies and the band toured to enthusiastic, sellout crowds. However the band’s 1981 follow-up effort stumbled in the marketplace despite being well-received critcally.

Mounting pressures took a high toll on the band. Allen’s wife died during a miscarriage forcing the cancellation of the 1980 tour, then Gary broke his foot and postponed the tour for another six months. By 1982, Gary and Dale had fallen in love which added another stress to the host of problems within the band. In May the two married and retired to a log house just outside the National Elk Refuge in the Grand Teton Mountains to relax and raise a family.

Molly Hatchet-The Deed is Done

Deed is Done

In my opinion, Molly Hatchet have been a second grade southern rock band way behind Lynyrd Skynyrd as well as Blackfoot. But with the release of 1984's "The deed is done", Molly Hatchet got their act together and gave us an album full of groovy melodic rock of high quality. Some fans think this album is too light, too commercialized, too popish (the even used some keyboards) but the fact is that Molly Hatchet have never sounded as good as they do on "The deed is done", and the album sure rocks. Just listen to the opening riff of "Satisfied man" which kinda sets the tone for what to come. With songs like "Good smoke and whiskey" with its slight resemblance to ZZ Top, the catchy semi ballad "Stone in your heart", the very Lynyrd Skynyrd sounding "Heartbreak radio" and the in-your-face "Man on the run" this is without doubt the best release from Molly Hatchet.

Danny Joe Brown's deeply-Southern-fried vocals blend in surprisingly well with the band's slick, polished sound. The first and the best song on here, "Satisfied Man," is an upbeat keyboard-and-guitar-riff anthem that begins with a mid-tempo drumbeat (instead of a fast guitar riff-- shocker!), and doesn't let up from there. It's a great driving song with great backing vocals that makes you wanna sing along with it. The next best song on the album is the MTV hit "Stone In Your Heart" which is preceded by a keyboard intro piece (another shocker!) which is actually listed as a separate track. To the band's credit, this song could have been very nearly maudlin, but it turns out to be a catchy song with "na-na-na-NA-na" background vocals.

Hughie Thomasson

Hughie Thomasson

Hugh Edward Thomasson, Jr. (August 13, 1952 - September 9, 2007) was an American guitarist and singer, best known as a founding member of Outlaws and as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

He wrote most of the songs for the Outlaws, including "Hurry Sundown", "There Goes Another Love Song," and "Green Grass and High Tides". After Outlaws disbanded, Thomasson joined Lynyrd Skynyrd, leaving that band in 2005 to reform Outlaws. Before his death he contributed to writing of many of Lynyrd Skynyrd's songs on their 2009 album God & Guns, including the single "Still Unbroken."

Thomasson died in his sleep on September 9, 2007 of a heart attack in his home in Brooksville, Florida. He was 55 years old.  Hughie Thomasson went out to dinner with his wife Mary on Sunday (Sept. 9), went home, got comfortable in his favorite chair to watch football and then passed away from a heart attack during a nap. He was 55 and lived in Brooksville, Fla., near Tampa.

Born Hugh Edward Thomasson Jr., Hughie Thomasson joined a fledging Tampa-area bar band named the Outlaws in the late '60s. With David Dix on drums, Thomasson quickly made a name for himself as a no-nonsense guitar master. The group disbanded, but Thomasson reformed the Outlaws in 1972 with guitarist Henry Paul, drummer Monte Yoho and bassist Frank O'Keefe. (Paul later enjoyed a successful country career as a member of BlackHawk.) Guitarist Billy Jones joined in 1973.

Known as the Florida Guitar Army for their triple-lead guitar attack, the Outlaws were the first group signed by former Columbia Records head Clive Davis when he formed Arista Records. He flew to Columbus, Ga., in 1974 to see the Outlaws perform with Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Columbus Civic Center and went to the Ramada Inn after the show and made an offer.

Their 1975 debut album, The Outlaws, quickly sold gold, and they were signed as the opening act on the Doobie Brothers' Stampede tour. The band went on to record 13 albums in all, with such hits as "Green Grass and High Tides" and "Hurry Sundown," both of which Thomasson wrote. His signature Fender Stratocaster guitar sound and vocals came to define the group.

The Outlaws disbanded in the mid-'90s when Thomasson joined Lynyrd Skynyrd. He added his distinctive guitar sound to Skynyrd's robust lineup and co-wrote many of the band's later songs. In 2005, Thomasson left Skynyrd and reformed the Outlaws with drummers Yoho and Dix, bassist Randy Threet and guitarist Chris Anderson.

They toured extensively this year and performed with the Charlie Daniels Band, the Marshall Tucker Band and Dickey Betts and also played a festival in Amsterdam with Aerosmith. The Outlaws' last concert took place Saturday (Sept. 8) at a casino in Nevada, and they had 15 concert dates scheduled through mid-December of this year. A final, completed album, tentatively titled Once an Outlaw, which Thomasson produced, has not yet been scheduled for release. Thomasson had also planned to re-release his solo album, So Low, under the new title, Lone Outlaw.