Marshall Tucker Band- Together Forever

Together Forever

In the cannon comprising MTB records, "Together Forever" stands as perhaps the most "jazzy" MTB album. Certainly, I think it's the most distinct of them all. The C&W/Southern Rock influence, while present, is most interestingly placed in the background in favor of a more jazzed up approach; major 7th/9th chords and diminshed chords take a predominant role. This is actually a good thing, as it breathes new life into the musical formula that got MTB to the top. The vocal interplay between Toy Caldwell and Doug Gray is excellent and the musical trade-offs between Toy and Jerry Eubanks (on woodwinds) is top notch. Toy Caldwell is one of the most underrated guitarists in rock history, yet one of the best. George McCorkle plays a mean rhythm guitar (as usual) and, in a most pleasant surprise, the drumming of Paul Riddle and bass playing of Tommy Caldwell are imbued with a fire not seen since MTB's first record. All of these guys can play the pants off of most musicians with one arm tied behind their respective backs, and it is powerfully refreshing to hear it. This is a much, much better record than its predecessor, "Carolina Dreams," which appears to receive a heap of praise because it contains the hit "Heard it in a Love Song." While that record is merely okay, "Together Forever" is a wonderful change of pace.

Poco - Under the Gun

Under the gun

This album could be the most difficult to pigeonhole based on the time period. Even a hint of new-wave shows up on tunes like "Down To The Wire". But the main thrust of UTG rides the rough terrain between pop, country and rock. And for the serious music reviewer, the results are astonishing. "Midnight Rain" is an ample companion to "Heart of The Night" with Rusty Young's "lead" pedal steel guitar. The broken ground is further opened with "Friends In The Distance" with its understated melody, which then bursts forth with Paul Cotton's amazing solo. For me, the most experimental song of the band's career is "Made of Stone" which features a lead dobro that is played over some 80's sounding synths. This is no one-off follow up. This is a collection ignored by the record label, MCA. Who chose to release Poco albums with almost zero promotional muscle. This collection runs start to finish. And even though the music tide was beginning to turn, 1980 was still 1970's enough to support this kind of music. In fact, the band made a conscious effort to not sound dated or stale. This collection is the band's best effort in the modern era. The rodeo, the pop-rock shop, and the cutting edge-all rolled into one offering. You'd be stupid not to seek this album out, and turn it up loud!

Desert Rose Band -1st Album

Desert Rose Band

Highly recommended - a real joy to listen to. Great driving music. There are no songs to skip over on this one.  It grows on you very fast, If your a country rocker, you need this CD in your collection


One Step Forward - Five stars. Fast tempo. Enjoy a fine solo by John Jorgenson. My favorite song on the album


Love Reunited - Five stars. Fast tempo again. Great lyrics.


He's Back and I'm Blue - Five stars. Slower paced. I'm not familiar with the original.


Leave This Town - Four stars. Mid tempo. Good lyrics about a guy who is leaving town because his wife (?) has been unfaithful.


Time Between - Five stars. Not great lyrics but musically wonderful.


Ashes of Love - Five stars. Fast tempo. Musical perfection.


One that Got Away - Five stars. Mid-tempo. Great hooks in this one.


Once More = Four stars. Slow tempo. Sort of schmaltzy lyrics but I like it.


Glass Hearts - Five stars. Fast tempo.

Paul Cotton - Firebird

Firebird

Paul Cotton is probably best known for his role as Lead Guitar player in Poco. His singing and song writing skills are top notch, and, when combined with his musianship, have contributed to the "legendary" Poco sound that those of us who are die-hard fans have come to adore. Paul's solo efforts are every bit as good. His guitar riffs are uncomplicated, yet perfectly carried out, and melded into ingeniously scripted songs, that when listened to, will take you on a "mental vacation". This particular CD is a remake of an already good effort. The re-mixes are really well done with more instrumentation, and some added vocals by a very good female singer. This CD is different enough, that even if you already have the original recording, is still worth buying. Besides, who wouldn't want to hear more music from Paul? Buy it. Support Paul's efforts, and "Ride the Country" again.

Byrds-Byrdmaniax

Byrdmaniax

"Byrdmaniax" is a marvelous late-period Byrds album, with some stellar songs and affecting performances. In fact, there are several all- time Byrds classics to be found: 'Pale Blue', 'I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician' and 'Glory, Glory'. The very best tracks, though, are better than anything The Byrds had ever come up with to that time. McGuinn's amazing 'I Trust' and Skip Battin's strange ode to old Hollywood, 'Citizen Kane' (the guitars on that track, along with the raw attack of Gene Parson's drumming, seems to predict grunge...I'm just babbling now). Then there's Skip's pastoral 'Absolute Happiness' which is not at all bad. Actually, all of the material in "Byrdmaniax" is downright great; the only flaw--and this is a big one-- is the overproduction. The Byrds were at their height at this point, with the McGuinn-Battin-Parsons-White lineup; and yet they're buried underneith tons of ridiculous strings. That pretty much destroyed the wonderful 'Kathleen's Song' (without the kitchen sink it is included on the 1990 Byrds box set) and vastly diminishes the power of 'Pale Blue' and 'My Destiny'. It should be noted that The Byrds were not responsible for this and were incensed tremendously that their producer would screw them so badly; as a direct result the band itself produced the next lp, "Farther Along". That album has the edge over "Byrdmaniax" due to it's amazingly quiet and clean simplicity of both material and production. But don't pass up "Byrdmaniax". There are several great cuts that didn't make the box set (why in the world was 'Citizen Kane' not included in the box? ) and that are necessary for anyone wishing to gain a complete understanding of one of America's greatest and most influential country-rock bands.

Poco- Wildwood Sessions

The Wildwood sessions

You don't really get too much more of an intimate recording than this, captured at the Wildwood Springs Lodge in the Ozark hills of Steelville, Missouri. '70s country rockers Poco reunited (sans Richie Furay) for an acoustic/electric concert that swept the dust off some of their best songs and hits. "Save a Corner of Your Heart for Me" proves that their harmonies sound as boyish and romantic as they did back in the 20th century and their cover of J.J. Cale's "Magnolia" almost sounds as romantic as it does on 1973's Crazy Eyes.

Eagles-On the border

On the Border

The Eagles' third studio album, the 1974 release ON THE BORDER, was meant in many ways to rectify the unjustified commercial failure of DESPERADO, and give this band a harder edge than before. To this end, they ousted Glyn Johns as their producer after just two tracks were recorded, bought in Bill Szymczyk to replace him, and added Don Felder on lead guitar.

But ON THE BORDER is the best of both worlds--yes, the band gained a harder edge but it also retained some of the more country elements of before. "Midnight Flyer" is an impressive bluegrass-style breakdown with Bernie Leadon zipping away on banjo; and Leadon's "My Man", a tribute to the departed Gram Parsons, features his handy steel guitar work. A lot of great cuts are to be had here. Ironically, one of the two songs Glyn Johns produced, "The Best Of My Love", would become the group's first #1 hit in early 1975; and in yet another ironic twist, they would hit #1 with this single just two weeks after their former employer Linda Ronstadt got her #1 single "You're No Good."
I admit to being a very devout Eagles/Linda Ronstadt fan, being as I am from the Los Angeles area. But they remain the standard by which many rock and country acts are measured. And as long as there are faux "boy bands" like 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys, there will always be a need for the Eagles.