Law - Law (1975)

♫

When I learned about southern rock, around 1986, the genre had all but died. And it didn't look, at the time, it would ever resurge. As a matter of fact, it was hardly recognized as a genre at all. It was used for bands like Skynyrd and The Allmans, sure. But it was seen as a minor glitch in 70's musical development.
So at the time, when trying to find out about southern rock, I just checked all backs of interesting-looking album covers (with bearded long haired folks pictured) and basically buying anything released on Capricorn Records (eventhough a lot of non-southern rock they issued as well).
Nowadays it's easier, but you might miss a few good bands as well. Cause you gotta bear in mind that these 70's southern bands never set out to make 'southern rock'. That was just a label applied afterwards. And we know about those southern rock bands that actually had some success. But a lot of them just appeared and disappeared without a trace...
Like this band Law. Southern funk rock, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. I guess they were heading for a similar style as Wild Cherry (Play That Funky Music, White Boy!), but Law never had their level of recognition. They released two more albums, which I have not heard but read about. From reading about them I make out that they were even more 'funk'. If anybody can get their hands on a good clean rip (at min. 192 kbps), please give it to me.
Back to this album: it's really cool. Get it. It's funk, it's soul but it's also very much southern rock. Released on the Atlanta based label GRC (General Recording Association), rather hard to find. It has some crackle, which I couldn't get rid of. You'll hear that when played through headphones. However, when played on your stereo all is good. Play it loud and have a drink on me!

Randall Bramblett - That Other Mile (1975)

♫

"That Other Mile" is Randall Bramblett's debut solo album. Already he had earned a reputation as an important sidekick to many of Southern Rock's greats, like Gregg Allman and loads of Capricorn recording artists. But Here he gets a chance to do all the shining himself. And he does. This is one of those albums that you (I, really) just can't find anything wrong with. Slightly laid back and definitely groovy, it's a peach! Randall wrote some songs on this album that would be covered by the likes of Beaverteeth. You reckon you're gonna pass this by? I bet you caint..

The Allman Brothers Band - Then..Again..Live! (2004)

♫

XM Satellite Radio organized several in-studio live sessions where bands got to recreate their classic albums. This radio broadcast had The Allman Brothers Band updating their 1972 masterpiece Eat A Peach. This was originally broadcast in 2004 and has the following line-up: Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe, Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge and Marc Quinones. It is the first time Gregg sings Dickey's Blue Sky. Nice document.

George Hatcher - Rich Girl (1978)

♫

This album you want, trust me. It's a great example of 70's southern rock, somewhere in between ZZ Top and Little Feat. But slightly different. Oh well, this is George Hatcher.
Not a lot to be found about his current whereabouts. George hailed from Charlotte, North Carolina and had a bit of a career in Britain in the later 70's, which is where he was stationed at the time. He made a few albums, this one on the German 'Shark' label. All rather hard to find, but all very much worth your trouble. Don't believe me? Well, check this out!

Sea Level - Ball Room (1980)

♫

Ball Room was the last album released by Sea Level. All previous albums were done for Capricorn records, but since they went bankrupt, this album was made for the Arista label. Sea Level was a Chuck Leavell affair. So you know you won't have to expect the rocky side of southern rock. Instead we get the rather sophisticated side of things. And singing most songs, again, is Randall Bramblett. Where they used to rely very much on jazzy, fusion skills, this leans towards the trends set in the early 80's. I quite like this a lot, and I hope you will too...

Raging Slab - L.A. Live (1990)

♫

This is a groovy soundboard of Raging Slab supporting their self-entitled classic for RCA Records. I don't know the origins of this recording. But it sure sounds fine to my ears. And they just released one of their, in my opinion, best records. So a nice setlist as well. Workin' For RCA!

Barefoot Jerry - Two Mile Pike

☺


This video was included on the Heartworn Highways DVD. I had never before seen any footage of Barefoot Jerry. And I really love their albums, which are all available on CD. Maybe this will convince you to go out and buy some. I'd recommend as first choice the 1974 album "Watchin' TV", which also features the song on this video.

Charlie Daniels on Country Closeup, hosted by Glen Campbell

♫

This is a (McCluth) rip of a radio broadcast LP of Country Closeup. A show hosted by Glen Campbell, this broadcast features Charlie Daniels. Supporting his "Decade Of Hits", Charlie Daniels reveals all (all? ha!) to Glen Campbell. Including a couple of commercials aimed at a mostly farming audience, this is quite a nice little time-document. Have fun.

Tommy Jennings - Equal Opportunity Lovin' Man (1982)

♫

For all Outlaw-country lovers, The Sief in particular, for you to grab: the second album of Tommy Jennings. There's really not that much to say about, the first is the better; this is the good one. Haha, but you get it here for free: Waylon's little bro..

Elvin Bishop - Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (1981)

♫

This 1981 Elvin Bishop album is really hard to find. Released only in Germany in 1981 on vinyl and in 1988 on CD, it has been out of print since then.
Quite an enjoyable album, though. Then again, most Elvin Bishop albums are. Party blues, southern style. Check out the great soul vocals on Midnight Hour Blues. Rock my soul..

Travis Wammack - Follow That Guitar! (1982)

♫

In 1982 Travis Wammack recorded material for small-time Nashville label Phonorama. For some strange reason, someone thought it would be really cool to release two albums at the same time with a 5 song overlap. Named "Follow Me"...


... and the other one "A Man And A Guitar".
I ripped both and took the liberty of merging them for this upload (and my Ipod as well). For those interested in the original running order, check Rate Your Music. I also added two singles released on the Gusto label. Both singles had the same song as A- and B-side, so only two extra songs there. And the last song in this file is a song I found on the internet, which is probably from one of his independently released CD's.
Check out these 'hard to find' recordings by one of my all-time favorites. Follow That Guitar!



Travis Wammack interview part 3
Watch part 1 here
Watch part 2 here

T. Talton, B. Stewart, J. Sandlin - Happy To Be Alive (1976)

♫

Tommy Talton you might know from Cowboy. Johnny Sandlin used to play with Hour Glass (feat. Duane & Gregg Allman) and went on to become sessionplayer and producer at Capricorn studios. Bill Stewart has played for Capricorn as well. Basically they are the Capricorn Rhythm Section. A 'supergroup' that sounds, not surprisingly, an awful lot like Cowboy.
I got this album rip form Skynfan's blogspot. I cleaned up some bits, corrected the running order and supplied full tags for your MP3-player. Alas, it's only at 128 kbps. Still, check out some more "Capricorn history".

Beaverteeth - Dam It (1978)

♫

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.

High Cotton - High Cotton (1975)

♫

Another obscure treat from the 70's. High Cotton released, as far as I can tell, one album. Produced by Allen Toussaint, this is a really nice, groovy album (oh, groovy!). Setting it apart from the majority of southern rock releases, is the use of horns and its outspoken funkiness. Which is something I always love in southern rock.
Singer/trumpetist Todd Logan has played as session hornman with people like Gregg Allman, The Marshall Tucker Band and Hydra - amongst others. Dig it!