Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Ozark Mountain Daredevils

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils are a Southern rock/country rock band formed in 1972 in Springfield, Missouri, USA. They are most widely known for their singles "If You Wanna Get To Heaven" in 1974 and "Jackie Blue" in 1975.

The Daredevils are also mentioned in the "Don's Story" chapter of American humorist David Sedaris' book Barrel Fever. Bassist Michael "Supe" Granda has also written a book about the band, It Shined.

The "Daredevils" name has much to do with the long hair and beards sported by the band in the 1970s, a rejection of the more conservative style of their native Ozarks during that decade. It is mentioned in the book about the band "It Shined", by Michael Granda, that the band name was derived from "Cosmic Corn Cob & His Amazing Ozark Mountain Daredevils", a name that John Dillon came up with at a Kansas City "naming party" after the band was told that the name they had previously been using, "Family Tree", was already taken. The band shortened the name because none of the band members at the time wanted to be called "Cosmic Corn Cob", and they did not want the name to sound similar to The Amazing Rhythm Aces.

The first record, Ozark Mountain Daredevils (also referred to as "The Quilt Album"), was released in December 1973 and spawned the Top 30 hit "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" in the summer of 1974. The album introduced the band's unique mixture of rock, country, bluegrass and pop to the world and is still the favorite of many of the group's fans

For the second album, It'll Shine When It Shines (October 1974), Johns and Anderle came to Missouri to record, utilizing a mobile recording truck set up outside of the band's rehearsal home. During the sessions, Johns overheard Larry Lee sitting at a piano playing and singing a song about a mysterious friend of his who sometimes dealt drugs on the side. Johns loved the melody and thought it could be a smash hit if the lyrics were altered to be about a girl and the drug references downplayed. Lee and Cash did as Johns asked and the song, "Jackie Blue", became the Daredevils' signature song and a huge hit (No. 3) in early 1975.

The Ozark's third release, The Car Over the Lake Album (Fall 1975), produced by Anderle alone, featured their old compatriot, Bill Jones, joining them to play and arrange their songs. He also toured with them in 1975-1976. Another face from the past, Steve Canaday, also came back into the group's life at this same time as road manager and opening act before joining the band in 1976. The album sold fairly well but produced no hits. One reason why the band's fortunes began to falter might have been their reluctance to relocate to Southern California after being asked to do so by A&M co-head Jerry Moss. As a result, A&M might also have begun to lose a bit of their enthusiasm for the act at this point.

Personnel shifts within the group also began to change the chemistry. Randle Chowning left in May 1976 (following a European tour), due to the bad work ethic of other band members and their unwillingness to do a major tour, to form his own Randle Chowning Band. Norwegian musician Rune Walle, whom the band had met while on tour in Europe with his band The Flying Norwegians, then joined to replace him.

That same year the Daredevils headed west to the Rockies, to Caribou Ranch near Nederland, Colorado, to record their fourth album, which they had originally titled Nuclear Fishin ' but then changed to Men From Earth after A&M objected. The Nuclear Fishin' title was later used up in Canada for a greatest hits pack. Anderle was once again in the producer's chair and Evergreen, Colorado native Jerry Mills joined the band on mandolin and also served as the group's advance publicist.

In the fall of 1976, Buddy Brayfield departed to study medicine and Ruell Chappell (vocals, keyboards) from the popular Springfield group Spillwater Junction came in. But the band's next several releases -- Men From Earth (fall 1976), Don't Look Down (fall 1977, produced by David Kershenbaum) and It's Alive (September 1978) -- sold in lesser quantities than their previous records had. Jerry Mills and his mandolin were dropped from the group after It's Alive since the band was performing fewer acoustic numbers in their show by this time.

Website:
http://www.ozarkdaredevils.com

Ozark Mountain Daredevils- 1st (Quilt album)

Self Debut Album (sometimes called the quilt album)

This debut album sets the tone for the Ozark's next three or four succeeding albums. The down home style blend of mountain music with a rock emphasis is very pleasing to the ear. The Ozarks brought a fresh perspective to the music scene, not really seemin to care if the songs had mass market appeal. Of course this was the early 1970s before music became just another big business concerned only with bottom lines. This music is fun to listen to. Classic rock radio stations still give "If You Want to get to Heaven" some airplay, but that one song does not really define who the Ozarks are (or were as they are mainly retired from the music business now). Those songs with the fiddle or the slow, steady beat are more the Ozark's standards.

If you like this kind of off-beat music then this will be worth your time. If you are more in tune with modern music then this will sound like it came from a completely bygone era. I for one fall into the former catagory and enjoy this album time and again.

As produced by Dave Anderle and Glyn Johns (Eagles, Austin's Marc Benno and a host of others) it does have a certain studiofied sheen to it but there is no denying the Daredevils' earthy muse. 'Country Girl' manages to be both wistful and joyous at the same time ("we'd set on a cloud and cry out loud 'til tomorrow is yesterday") and 'Road To Glory', with its sustained-vibrato fiddle, subtle piano and high-and-lonesome harmonica, soars right off the road and off the map. 'Chicken Train' is as whimsical as its title and 'If You Wanna Get To Heaven' (by the way, what the hell is a 'weird' radio?) is a statement of intent. 'Colorado Song' is as expansive as its title demands and 'Spaceship Orion' picks up where 'Road To Glory' soars off. This is country music in the best sense. It ain't country-rock. It ain't progressive country, whatever that is or was. And it sure ain't country-western. Country without the western, maybe. Yep, there's still beauty in that river. It's eclectic and it's organic. It's from 1973 and it's beautiful and it's timeless.

Ozark Mountain Daredevils-It'll shine when it shines

It'll shine when it shines

The ozarks remain one of country rocks best kept secrets. Although SOMEdescribed them as 'One of the finest bands of the '70's in any field' they are not well known - but they should be.

Hailing from Springfield, Missouri the band are amongst the most eclectic in rock, almost every band member wrote material, sang and played an array of instruments. Their harmonies certainly equalled the Eagles, and their sound incompassed 'down at home' bluegrass, FM rock, melodic folk country, but also more experimental arrangements such as 'Colorado Song' on their debut release.

'It'll shine' is the ozarks second offering and it's great to get it on CD. There was a trend for bands in the early 70's to get back to the country, well the ozarks never really left it recording the material at a pre Civil War farmhouse with Glynn Johns producing.

There is a real joy on this disc, of a band in tune with nature and each other playing to their strengths. Everyone will know Larry Lee's 'Jackie Blue' which was a big hit for the band and is good straight pop rock, but not entirely representative of the rest of the material, although 'Look Away' and 'tidal wave' show the band can rock.

For me it's the lighter and rootsy material that make it. 'You made it right' with its southern gospel feel, 'Lowlands' with its magnificant harmonies and the slightly zany 'EE Lawson' typical of steve Cash's work.

The disc closes with the title track leaving on a sentimental, and uplifting note. This disc is waiting to be discovered by any serious music fan - give it a try. "It'll Shine..." is a terrific album. Although best known for the single 'Jackie Blue', there are no bad songs on this album. From uptempo country rockers like 'Walking Down The Road' and 'Tidal Wave' to ballads like 'Kansas You Fooler' and philosophical sing-alongs like the title cut, there is a consistency of quality missing from the vast majority of popular music. Filling the "country rock" space between Poco and Molly Hatchett, the Daredevils never made it very big in a commercial sense. However, "It'll Shine..." is an intelligent, artistic collection of songs with elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and the blues, with terrific harmonies and well-crafted instrumentation. Not to be missed by fans of thoughtful, listenable music

Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Car Over the Lake

Car Over The Lake

I remember being at parties or having my own and this album being played. Everytime that happened I saw people turn from what they were doing and just start listening with comments like "man this is some good music".

The first six songs are incredible and I just don't think OMD could come up with any better for the other side even those songs are very good also. Cobblestone Mountain is almost idyllic with the deep boom rythm. Gypsy Forest, Leatherwood, Mr. Powell, If I only knew and Keep on Churnin' which really suprises.

If I were sent up in a rocket ship for years of flight and had five albums to take with me, this would be my first choice. I would definitely also be considering their first album.

First rate musicians, vocalists and writers.

Ozark Mountain Daredevils- Men from earth

Men from earth

A must have for all OMD fans. Long awaited and well over due, this is the second release in a series of four from New Era Productions. These four albums have never been available in CD format until now. Digitally remastered from the original studio master tapes, the sound quality is unsurpassed. From the smooth and mellow "You Know Like I Know", "Watermill", and "It's How You Think", to the more upbeat and foot stompin' "Homemade Wine" and "Fly Away Home", you will not be disappointed. In my opinion this is one of their best albums. Also included are three bonus tracks never released on any album. "Better Days" was only released on the B side of the "Jackie Blue" 45. "Roscoe's Rules" and "A Dollar's Worth Of Regular" saw very limited release on a thin red vinyl record. For all of you wanting to replace all of your worn out tapes and vinyl, this is your chance. No more tape hiss or annoying pops and cracks. Next to be released from New Era will be "It's Alive" (Spring 2003), followed by "Don't Look Down" (Fall 2003}.