George McCorkle - American Street (1999)

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"American Street" is the one and only solo album by former Marshall Tucker Band guitarist George McCorkle. There's an undeniable MTB sound to this, but it's nothing like a regular MTB record. Instead, this is a laid back, easy going record with some excellent guitar picking. Now, George was no singer, though he's not the worst at trying. Problem is, I think, that he never comes out of his comfort zone, thus making it all sound a little lifeless at times. This is the kind of music that will offend no one, but there's still plenty going on to make it grow on you. Peace stories...

The Marshall Tucker Band - Southern Spirit (1990)

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20 years ago I got this CD as a Xmas present. And it has been one of my favorite Marshall Tucker albums of all time. Even though this is post Toy Caldwell-era, this ranks among their finest albums. But that's just my humble opinion. And that's what I'm giving you. The Marshall Tucker Band I want to hear. Unlike its rather poor predecessor, on which Doug Gray really overdid it on the vibrato and which had pretty bland songs, here they really made good. Excellent songs, very well played: a true Southern Rock classic. Well, to hear it is to believe it. I suppose. Merry Christmas!

SevenMoore - 2003 - SevenMoore

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SevenMoore (or Seven Moore)was a spin-off of The Marshall Tucker Band. It featured MTB's Paul T. Riddle and Jerry Eubanks and this is the only album released (some live shows do exist). It's not quite The Marshall Tucker Band, though. Definitely Southern, but more polished and very melodic. Some excellent picking on this album! It's inoffensive, as in, your old lady would enjoy this as much as you do. But there's some great music to be found here all the same. Really, this is a great record. Including flute and all. But trust me, you won't be disappointed. For those who didn't get this the first time around, here's another chance..

Toy Caldwell - Toy (1984)

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When Toy Caldwell left The Marshall Tucker Band, it would take up until 1992 before the world would hear a new studio product by one of the finest pickers Southern Rock had brought forth. But he did not sit still. He did work and record in the studio, it just never got released and, according to his widow, it's not about to. Now what we have here must be leaked recordings. Not the best of quality, some muffled sounds (probably from copying tape to tape to tape?), but still a splendid work of art. And the only chance for us fans to hear what Toy Caldwell had been doing all those in between years. This recording is very much a Country thing, but with that unmistakable trademark guitar sound that we so love from those early Tucker albums. Here's a real fine band, doing a real fine record. I don't know who's on it besides Toy, but from what I've been told, this features Norton Buffalo on harmonica, Bruce Marshall did some of the vocals, Ronnie Godfrey had some part in this and Paul Hornsby worked on the production? Here's still hoping this will one day get the release it deserves, sounding as good as it can. But this is still the kind of stuff you can only find at the end of a rainbow. Pure solid Southern gold.

The Marshall Tucker Band - Still Holdin' On (1988)

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"Still Holdin' On" was the first album by The Marshall Tucker Band after the break up of the original band. Which means Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks were the creative force at this stage. Or were they? This album turned out to be a rather average Country Rock affair, with all songs written by outsiders to the band. All very clever, some actually quite good, but not what you'd expect or want from The Marshall Tucker Band. And obviously especially Toy Caldwell is sorely missed here. Toy would release his 1992 debut album, which is much closer to what I was looking for. The Marshall Tucker Band, however, would more than make up for this unremarkable album on its follow up, the excellent "Southern Spirit".
What we have here is an adequate, inoffensive record aimed at the Country market. The band featured lots of crack session players, so the picking is all good. It's one of their lesser known albums, and not without reason. But Doug Gray is still a real fine singer, and for that alone worth the price of admission (yeah, yeah...). This record has been discontinued by its manufacturer. So maybe, once you get the feel of it...

Toy Caldwell - Toy Caldwell (1992)

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The late, great Toy Caldwell made one solo album in his life (though posthumously a live CD was released in 1998). Of course we all know and love him from his work with The Marshall Tucker Band, where his characteristic guitar style was center point of attention. You could always tell Toy's playing.
This album was later re-released as "Son Of The South" on Charlie Daniels' Blue Hat Records. The difference was that it featured a bonus track, a live version of "Can't You See". Also it had a really ugly cover. Both are now out of print. This version, the one that I have, is the original. So without the bonus. Sorry for that. Still, it doesn't matter much to me. This album was really fine as it was. Great classic Southern Rock, with guest appearances by Gregg Allman ("Midnight Promises"), Willie Nelson ("Night Life") and Charlie Daniels. Toy has passed away, but the music lives on. Remember this ol' cowboy.

Various Artists - Hotels, Motels & Road Shows (1978)

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Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! It's the holiday season coming up alright. Yet another bag of goodies here. This album is the perfect example of what I dig about Southern Rock. Ladies and gentlemen: it's the jackpot!
I knew about this album for a long time, and I wanted it really bad. But I never found a copy. But how cool is that? To find it's everything I'd expected, and then some..
"Hotels, Motels & Road Shows" is a compilation album, chockful of Capricorn recording artists. But this is no cheezy-cheapo-cash-in greatest hits of the label. No, no, no, no. It's a 1978 Rebel Jam! All exciting live performances, classic Southern Rock, and a guaranteed good time. And these tracks haven't been released on albums by the artists themselves. And some artists never released a live album to begin with. The artists: Stillwater, Elvin Bishop, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Bramlett, Dickey Betts, Grinderswitch, Sea level, , The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie and Dixie Dregs. You get the whole spectrum of Southern Rock on one album. Well, it gets very close to that. This is really, really good. Up among the bestest. For real!

The Marshall Tucker Band - The Lost Demos (1968-1971)

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There's not a lot of unreleased MTB material circulating, and these demos have been circulating widely. But they are so charming, and they fit right in with this here little ol' blogspot, so here you are.
First off are three songs recorded at Studios-Greenville in South Carolina. Where else? Included is a real early version of the Toy Caldwell classic 'Can't You See'. And just like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band also cut some demos at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield Alabama. One song we haven't heard before or since is called 'Cookin'', which is a very unlike-MTB instrumental. Nice to hear when they were still searching for that rainbow. Cause they sure found that pot of gold eventually. But not at this stage yet.
Closing this recording are three songs by Jerry Eubanks' former outfit, Southeastern Music Corporation. This is a more r&b influenced band, that plays 'Rainy Night In Georgia' and Santana's 'Evil Ways'. Groovy.
It's really nice to get some background information on MTB's origin. What with The Allman Brothers' and Skynyrd's past being so well documented in box sets, etc, it's about time MTB got a similar treatment. But until then, well, it's a beginning.

The Marshall Tucker Band - Can't You See

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Don't talk, just listen: Can't you see?