Marshall Tucker Band-Gospel

Gospel

There is something magic about this release. The beauty of "Eye is On the Sparrow," a duet between Doug Gray and daughter Gabrielle; the absolutely MTB sound of "Wayfaring Stranger," and the bittersweet song "Mama Dont Cry Anymore," which was recorded months before the accidental death of Gray's Mother in an auto accident; the country-rocking "Singin with the Saints." Every song is a gem. Bassist Tim Lawter sings "Beauty of Life," a song written by guitarist Rusty Milner, and it is absolutely great. This is much more than just another good MTB album, it is a testimony. Beautiful and uplifting.

This is not really the Marshall Tucker Band. This is Doug Gray's band. Gray was the original vocalist for the Marshall Tucker Band. But that band disbanded in 1983. The leader of that band, Toy Caldwell, died in 1993. Doug Gray's Marshall Tucker Band does not sound anything like the original.

In 1988, Gray and Jerry Eubanks (sax and flute)created a new band, using session musicians and called it the Marshall Tucker Band. They did not sound like the old Marshall Tucker, except when playing the old songs in concert. The band was originally more focused on tradional country music. I haven't heard anything I like by the band.

Eubanks has left the band, and the sax and flute on this album is played by someone who came from firefall -David Muse

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Lets Go

Lets Go

Let's Go is the 1983 album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. This album marks the return of Nitty Gritty to the band name and Jim Ibbotson to the band. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (aka The Dirt Band) is notable for having many charting albums and singles. This album reached 26 on the US Country charts. Two singles from this album also charted. "Shot Full of Love" reached 19 on the US Country charts. "Dance Little Jean" reached 9 on the US Country charts. Let's Go, released in the middle of 1983, heralded their return to country music, as a largely acoustic band. In 1984, after 17 years with Liberty/UA/Capitol, they switched labels to Warner Bros., and that same year made some headlines as the first American rock band to tour the Soviet Union. Their Warner albums sold well, but by the end of the 1980s the group was moving between labels.

Tom Petty-Live Anthology

Live Anthology

Probably more rock than  country rock, But most people that like country rock also seem to like Tom Petty, I just got this boxed set, So here goes

Four discs-66,55,53,53 minutes each approximately. The discs are in individual cardboard holders,which are slipped into an open side of the cardboard box. The booklet lists venues,dates,and who played on the individual tracks. There is an introduction written by Petty about the making of this box set. The sound (newly mixed),from various venues across 30 years,is uniformly good. The retro style packaging is perfectly in keeping with Petty's approach to music-when a well made and assembled vinyl album made a true r&r statement for an entire (including Petty) generation of listeners.

In this day and age of over-priced "deluxe" releases/re-releases,even of admittedly great r&r,this collection stands apart. Not only are all the tracks heard here chosen by Petty,guitarist Mike Campbell,and their producer,the tracks cover 30 years of TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS in concert. Great music,nice packaging,and a low price make this worth owning. Petty and his band are one of the few groups still playing music that matters. Listen to any track on this collection,and you'll have all the proof you need,no matter if the song is well known,or a live rarity. Their musical sound and approach have changed little over 30 years. Their combination of influences of Dylan/BYRDS,and rootsy garage rock,combined with a bit of the British Invasion sound,have served as the foundation for their sound from the beginning. And that's what gives their music backbone. On these tracks the band effortlessly switches across musical styles,from originals to covers,all with that sound they've played from the beginning.

All the tracks on this set are on an equal footing,from ballads to all out rockers. Long time listeners of the band will need little proof of the great music here. If for some reason you aren't to familiar with the band,and want a lot of their greatest songs ("Breakdown","Refugee","American Girl",etc.),along with some great covers (THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN's "Something In The Air",BOOKER T. AND THE M.G.'S "Green Onions",just two examples),with the added electricity of a live performance-this is it. With hundreds of hours of live material to choose from,distilled down to four discs,a lot of musical ground is covered. Arguably some listeners will wish a certain song was included (personally I would like to hear more Dylan/BYRDS covers),but overall,this is an outstanding overview from one of the few long time bands that still matters.

For anyone who wants to hear music that is important,but more importantly,exciting and visceral,and that guarantees a good time,this is the set to get. Still,listening to this great music makes you wonder-what more great music is still left on the reels? But this collection goes a long way in satisfying that craving (like mine) for a generous overview of TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS doing what they do best-performing great r&r in front of an audience. With that inimitable sound the band has built on all these years,you get the feeling that this band believes in the power and redemption of basic r&r. This set is even better than the 2 CD set released by Immortal,taken from a concert in 2003,in Chicago.

Do your head a favor and purchase this wonderful collection soon. And then sit back and listen to some music from one of the few long time bands that can still rock and roll.

Marshall Tuber Band-Beyond the Horizon

Beyond the horizon

If Toy and Tommy Caldwell were still around I've got to believe that this outing would have their blessing. The songwriting is strong throughout and two of the tracks were written by Toy himself. My personal two favorite tracks ("The Rain" and "Give It All You Got") were both written and sung by Chris Hicks, who has a total of 8 writing or co-writing credits on the cd. Doug Gray is in fine voice on this disc as is Hicks and the rest of the band. The playing is strong throughout, with flautist David Muse carrying on in the style originally established by Jerry Eubanks, and Doug Gray's nephew, Clay Cook, showcasing his incredible talents on a couple of the tracks, as well as co-writing two tunes with Chris Hicks. Original Tucker producer (from the band's glory days on Capricorn Records), Paul Hornsby, lends his keyboard talents to 8 of the tracks, greatly helping to retain the feel of the original MTB line-up. Grumpy Old Tuckerheads will no doubt complain that without a Caldwell in the group it ain't the Marshall Tucker Band, but this is a finely crafted album that is true to the tradition established by the original band and is deserving to be heard by Tucker fans of all stripes. BEYOND THE HORIZON is Marshall Tucker's best album since 1983. On this one, singer/guitarist Chris Hicks shares lead vocals with Doug Gray, singing many songs on his own and giving the band a new voice while returning it to the old 70s sound of records such as the self-titled debut, A NEW LIFE and WHERE WE ALL BELONG. Several songs are not so great, but the great ones make this a 5-star release.

DVD Review-Firefall In concert

DVD Review-Firefall in concert

This is Firefall - live in TN at a festival that featured other classic rocks acts. Let me say this...this is a great live concert from these guys. Firefall was best known for two of the lightest tunes in Rock and Roll history ( You are the Woman & Just Remember I Love You)...however - don't let that fool you...these guys rock out pretty good!! They jam out several of the songs on this DVD, and their are great shots of the entire band ( which is the case with all the DVD's I;ve seen or own by this company). They key in on the guy who is doing the solo..they tell you which song they are playing...this is just a great DVD concert of Firefall. My only complaint is that it is short at only 65 minutes - yet it looks to be their full set from this festival. In any event, if you are reading my review or have looked at this DVD to purchase...your already a Firefall fan..so buy it!!! It is reasonable priced, and does a nice job of showing what these guys are like in concert. Well worth the money!!! This DVD has good sound and picture but the names of the players are not announced during ther concert or on the credits. Further review of this concert appearance (comparing pictures of bandmembers from past CDs) shows that the only original player is Josh Barkley (the lead guitar) and the other guitar player (singer), sax-flute player, bass player along with the drummer have been with Firefall since 1989 and are on the last 2 studio albums. This is an OK concert--just wish the band members were introduced--it was so hard to reconize them except by going thru pictures in the last 2 ALBUMS -Josh Barkley looks so different now but it is him playing lead guitar.

Outlaws-Eye of the Storm/Hurry Sundown

Eye of the Storm/Hurry Sundown

Dear fellow Outlaw fans. For the most part, the first eight tracks of "In The Eye Of The Storm" are mixed fairly well. When listening to the original album, I was quickly reminded this was not one of the better produced efforts to begin with. However, track 9. "I'll Be Leaving Soon", which is one of my favorite tracks was not remastered well at all. Once the acoustic guitar opening fades and the song starts to kick at the 53-55 second mark, you can tell an album was used as the reccording source. Listen for the bump sound.

The Hurry Sundown tracks are just fine. All in all, the CD would be a good addition to any Outlaw fan's collection. But it would still be nice if the original masters were used for "In The Eye of The Storm" and "Playin To Win". To any record label thinking of issuing " The Outlaws, Los Hombres Malo 1982 release in the future, do us fans a favor. Please use the original Arista master tapes!

Blackfoot-No Reservations

No Reservations

NO RESERVATIONS, Blackfoot's debut album, now out on CD, is great. The opening and closing song, "Railroad Man" is a terrific blues number that just flat out rocks, and the rest of the album is, too. It's highly unfortunate that this album had languished in the vaults until it was reissued on CD in 2004, just in time to coincide with the band's reunion. The fact that the surviving members of Blackfoot, past and present, advocate efforts to free people unjustly imprisoned in foreign countries, increased funding for law enforcement, and the death penalty or life without parole for aggravated kidnapping makes NO RESERVATIONS an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.
Once in awhile, there is an album that just goes, like people say, totally under the radar."No Reservations" is a damn near PERFECT album, maybe with the exception of one song "Big Wheels" but maybe that's just me. From the start 'Railroad Man" kicks it in gear, and you're like "Hey, This is great stuff.'Then comes "Indian World" which you say to yourself "Okay, this is personal.." THEN you're literally BLOWN AWAY by 'STARS','NOT ANOTHER MAKER','BORN TO ROCK AND ROLL','TAKE A TRAIN' and 'I STAND ALONE'.I see people here selling this cd for a lot of money, and people. I gotta say this..It's WORTH IT'S WEIGHT IN GOLD.I have easily listened to this over a 1000 times in three months.An album like this you've wished Skynyrd would've made.It's that good.I believe that if more people would listen to this album, they probably would ask Rickey Medlocke to form BLACKFOOT again, and PLAY these songs-along with 'HIGHWAY SONG' from "THE STRIKES" album.