George McCorkle-American Street

American Street

George McCorkle is quickly becoming one of the finest and most sought-aftersongwriters on Music Row.His collaborations with other writers such as Marshall Chapman,Scott Miller,and Mike Battle have resulted in some of the most original songs to come out of Music City of late. On American Street, his debut album,McCorkle collects 12 of the best of his original compositions while manageing to pay a resectful homage to the band that first launched his name into the spotlight,The Marshall Tucker Band. A founding Member of the Spartanburg,SC-based country-rock group from their formation in 1971 and a member until the original group disbanded in 1984, McCorkle made his way to Nashville several years back in order to hone the craft that he first developed with MTB songs such as "Last Of the Singing Cowboys",Silverado,and "Fire On The Mountain" which is included her in a whole new 21st century virson. While tipping his Setson to his old Bandmates, McCorkle delivers"The Journey Home",a heart felt tribute to old friend and bandmate Toy Caldwell,who died in 1993.The Song is filled with references to Caldwell,the MTB and the Southern rock world that surrounded them during the 70s. The first tune on the album "Someboby New", is an up-tempo rockabilly number thhhhat gets the fingers tapping from the very first note.Same with "move In a Circle" and "Rocket Shoes",another couple of danceable tracks. "Promised Land" is downright funky,laced with obvious influence from Little Feet. The title cut "American Street" is lyrical genius. An observation of the homelell and deslate people of the street, it's a little Bob Dylan and a shot of John Prime with a Southern accent. "Law Called This Morning" has all the fllavor o B.B.King or Stevie Ray Vaughn and feathers some smooth Saxophone work from Randy Leago. Two highlites of the Disc are up next."Crazy Molly Monroe" may well be the best song McCorkle has penned to date.It's a story of a man falling in with a girl in an old book found in the attic, a woman that lived a 100 years earlier. or did she? Right on the heels of "Molly" comes one of the finist song of Love and Peace written in years."Peace Stories" keeps the dream of peace on earth alive and well, with a beautiful melody and some fine acoustic guitar work. Closing out the set are "Drowning On Dry Land",a Tom Petty-ish tune, and :Land of The Free" featuring Theresa Andersson, who shares lead Vocal dudies with McCorkle. It's a funky R&B rocker that is fitting closer for this outstanding album. It' been more than 15 years since we've heard McCorkle on record but it waas worth the wait. He has created somr fine music that is sure to propel him futher up the ladder of success