Rodney Justo and Steve Stone (Atlanta Rhythm section) interviews for Bands Of Dixie (archive, 2013)

No, the original Atlanta Rhythm Section singer wasn't Ronnie Hammond, it was Rodney Justo!. Leaving after the first album, he is now back in the band and his showmanship and his dynamism have probably something to do with the quality of the current ARS version. The Rodney Justo's story goes beyond the Atlanta Rhythm Section but is rich of many bands and artists with whom he worked. This great storyteller talks about Roy Orbison, the Candymen, Beaverteeth, Roy Buchanan to name only the best known.

English version of Bands Of Dixie interview with Rodney Justo.


 If he joined the Atlanta Rhythm Section after its golden age, Steve Stone is now in the band for over a quarter of a century and is one of those who played the longest time in the band. This pillar of the Doraville band actually speaks about the Atlanta Rhythm Section history in the CD era. He also displays his admiration for Ronnie Hammond and Barry Bailey and reveals the rest of his career.


English version of Bands Of Dixie interview with Steve Stone.

Atlanta Rhythm Section - WLIR FM Radio (1978)

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On March 14 Ronnie Hammond passed away. Sad news for sure. I love the laid-back music of the Atlanta Rhythm Section and that velvety voice of Ronnie's. You know what I mean. So, a post is in order here. Besides the stuff already posted here, everything is available on CD. Thus, I took the liberty of grabbing this show from D & P Bootleg Tunz World (Tons of great bootlegs over there, check it out!). It's a splendid show, recorded in 1978 and aired on WLIR FM Radio. And some footage of Ronnie and ARS for you to watch:



If you dig this, you will dig this. Have yourself a large time...

Atlanta Rhythm Section - '96 - (1996)

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When the Atlanta Rhythm Section reformed in the 90's, this is what they issued first: a selection of old songs, re-recorded for a new generation. I think it's a bit weird they would do that, since there's hardly any difference to the originals. Maybe not all albums were available on CD at that time? I don't know. What we get is pretty solid, though nothing spectacular. And, alas, no new songs. But loads of classics all the same. And there's nothing wrong with these new versions either. So, if you're new to the Atlanta Rhythm Section, this will give you a fairly good idea what these guys were all about. Laid-back, sweet Southern Rock. Jukin'!

Atlanta Rhythm Section - Smiling Dog Saloon '75 (1975 )

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Continuing honoring requests for the Atlanta Rhythm Section, I present this scorching live show from 1975. Not "Are You Ready", their official live album, but easily just as good. Whereas the studio albums of ARS are always a bit of a Pop affair, live they sure do rock. Sound quality of this concert registration is excellent. And it features a terrific extended version of "Another Man's Woman". Help yourself.

Atlanta Rhythm Section - Quinella (1981)

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Wishing everybody a great 2010 first off. I'm hoping this year will see some more fine obscurities surfacing on blogs like mine. Maybe not starting off spectacularly, I did have some requests for more Atlanta Rhythm Section records. And I wil see to that. Their early output and later records are still available, some as twofers. But some fine albums from the late 70's, early 80's are not. This one, "Quinella", is a among my favorite ARS albums. Like any ARS album, this is still very mellow Southern Rock, but it's a splendid listen. It features one of the best ARS tracks ever (in my opinion, that is), "Homesick". Travis Tritt did a great cover version of that song on his "It's All About To Change" album. And the song "Quinella" has ARS sounding like Little Feat, cool song. Oh well, if you dig the Atlanta Rhythm Section, you can't go wrong here. How about a little Southern exposure?

Atlanta Rhythm Section - Truth In A Structured Form (1989)

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The Atlanta Rhythm Section, like many Southern Rock bands in the 80's, hardly sound like anything you've heard them play before. Southern Rock was so very last Tuesday, and AOR seemed to be the salvation. Yeah right! On "Truth In A Structured Form" they sound like 38 Special or Molly Hatchet did in the 80's. Rather dumb and a terribly dated 80's sound. Still, the record is quite enjoyable once you get past that setback. Though it's nowhere near as fine as any 70's release. I guess they call it survival. Luckily they returned to form on later releases. But this album gives some insight at the struggles of Southern Rock on the dark pages of Rock & Roll history. It has been long since been out of print, and really, I don't see it getting a re-release any day soon. The music sounds very synthetic. It would take another 10 years, on the 1999 release "Eufala", that ARS started making sense again. But try this. It might bring back some plastic dreams of yesteryear. Back on Neon Street...

Beaverteeth - Beaverteeth (1977)

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Those who dug the Dam It album, will surely love their debut album: Beaverteeth. Beaverteeth features Rodney Justo (ex-Atlanta Rhythm Section) on vocals. Though not very rocky (similar to A.R.S. soft tone all over), it's a really nice, playful album. Some very good Randall Bramblett covers, and well, just get it.
I did some editing to this, already circulating, album-rip. To me, it's an improvement.
An amusing interview with the former Atlanta Rhythm Section/Beaverteeth singer, Rodney Justo, can be found here.

Atlanta Rhythm Section - Sleep With One Eye Open (1982)

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I thought this was a true find. It's the follow-up to Quinella, but it was never released. These are great sounding studio recordings! So how cool is this?
Anyway, besides its curiosity, this is a really nice album too. If you were hoping to something similar to Quinella, you're in luck. Quinella is one of my favorite ARS albums (I felt it sounded a lot more livelier than their other studio outings), and this makes for a nice pair. And boy, do I like a nice pair!

Beaverteeth - Dam It (1978)

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Beaverteeth was a southern rock band featuring Rodney Justo on lead vocals. Fans of Atlanta Rhythm Section will know Rodney as lead singer on the first two ARS albums, before Ronnie Hammond filled the spot.
This is a new rip of the Dam It album, not the one that's been circulating on the DC++ circuit. My album wasn't perfect, but still it turned out very listenable. At 256 kbps.
Beaverteeth is rather similar to ARS. Really mellow southern rock, well played and just the right kind of soundtrack for the last bit of the evening. When you're right.