Ouray - Chrome On The Range (1978)

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With thanks to Luc and Jacques (my French Connection), I present you Ouray. Musically this reminded me at times of The Marshall Tucker Band and The Outlaws, though Ouray is not a copy of those bands. The band members are: Frank Pirrucello (vocals, guitar, piano), Bo Pirrucello (vocals, pedal and Leslie steel guitars, guitar), Tom Peters (vocals, bass), Hap Harriman (vocals, lead guitar) and Ted Rawlings (vocals, drums, percussion). The album was released on Taxi Records and produced by Ouray and Eddie Cherney. Other than this, I know nothing of this band, nor could I find anything on the web. I figure they might be from Colorado...
The production, I thought, is a little tinny, but the music well pleased me. As in, if you love Southern Rock, you won't go wrong here. I'll be posting their second album, "Motor Dream" from 1981, next month. If anyone knows a little more about this band, please fill me in. Chrome on the range?

C.P.R. feat. Zakk Wylde - I Wish

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I remember being blown away by this cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" by Coven/Pitrelli/Reilly featuring Zakk Wylde. Zakk's perfomance turned this Funk classic into a Southern Rock classic. Just the way I like it. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I do. The album this is on, is no longer in print. Not a Southern Rock album either. But this track rocks! And you can get that one here..

Don Bowman - Fresh From The Funny Farm (1965)

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In case you were wondering, yes, I'm gonna post all Don Bowman albums. A little smile occasionally won't hurt nobody. And a good friend of mine really wants this bad. So.
"Fresh From The Funny Farm" is Don's second album. No Rock here, just Country Comedy. And when Don gets plastered, he's the funniest. I don't know very much about Don. I guess he's had two careers, one as a Country Comedian, the other as DJ. You can read about Don here.
Don about his frequent visits at the farm: "Getting in was not the problem..."

Russell Smith - This Little Town (1989)

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I find myself short on time these days, with hardly any of it left to run this here little blog. So, I'll get you a quickie. Also discontinued by the manufacturer, it's Russell Smith's third solo album. "This Little Town" was released in 1989. A time when music was not healthy. This album sounds very 80's and looks to be aimed at Nashville at that time, when Country hardly had any Country left in it. But Russell Smith is still one hell of a singer and a great tunesmith. So, I hope I didn't scare you too much, cause this is still a very fine album. Nothing too adventurous, comfortably slick but again with superior songwriting. And your mother-in-law will like it too. Russel at his Sunday Best.

Joe Sun - Livin' On Honky Tonk Time (1980)

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Joe Sun has made quite a few albums throughout the years, most of them very good. But he's not had the kind of success he should have, based on the quality of his work. The music is pretty much in league with the stalwarts of Outlaw Country music. And if, like me, you love Waylon Jennings and you already have everything released by Shooter Jennings, then this is where you should be. Also, for those of you that don't mind Country in Southern Rock and you don't mind taking it easy now and again, this is your chance to learn that not all Country music is shallow, slick and formulated. Joe's got a terrific voice, created some very tasteful albums, he rocks some and he just should be heard. So there!

Tim Brooks & The Alien Sharecroppers - Live At The Douglas Theatre (2002)

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Thanks to Traink, I offer you this little show by Tim Brooks & The Alien Sharecroppers. Important to note is that this was originally offered as a lossless show. Therefore I urge you not to convert this to wav or flac and trade as lossless. If you need that, just holler!
Back to the music. Tim Brooks is amazing and a bit of an anachronism. He sounds so much like heyday 70's Southern Rock, it's like a time warp. It's classic, old school Southern Rock. His style was already very reminiscent to The Allman Brothers Band, on this show even more so. But maybe that has something to do with the fact that it's an Allman Brothers set he's playing. And it's not a dodgy stab at giving it a go. No, this is the real thing. It's raw, has gravelly vocals, great playing and touches the true spirit of Southern Rock. Hell yeah! (got me carried away...)
Apparently, Tim Brooks is out there playing again. He operates from around Macon, Georgia. Check Tim's MySpace page and say hi. Here's hopin' for a new studio album. If this is the first music of Tim Brooks you're about to grab, maybe you should try the studio album by The Brothers Brooks. That's the best way to get acquainted with the excellent music he's made. If, however, you're already familiar with the man, or an Allman Brothers fan, get this now.

D. Beaver & Combinations - Combinations (1973)

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A bit of an oddity, this time. D. Beaver & Combinations was a band (not a D. Beaver solo project) which had emerged from Progressive Rock outfit Edgewood. The band was from Memphis and feature a very young Jimi Jamison (later of Target, Cobra and Survivor) on vocals (not on all tracks, though). Hence the inclusion of this album on my blog: they're from Memphis and feature Jimi Jamison. Though musically this is a whole other ball game.
I have known about this album for ages and was curious because of Jimi's contribution. Thanks to Mr. Tyrone Tieclip (he found it on a blog somewhere, years ago) I now get the chance.
There was some editing to be done on this LP rip. I don't know who ripped it (thank you anyway!), but the songs were badly cut. The music is Progressive Rock, so there were several songs which were supposed to be joined, but which were cut in the wrong places and had gaps in between. I fixed that. It now plays as a gapless album on my iPod.
The music I like a lot. I love Progressive Rock, but I'm not an expert on the subject. So I can't tell you who it resembles. As far as Jimi's vocals go, they're slightly buried in the mix. It's ok, but it's not Target. Still, it's fun to hear him on this record, sounding as young as he does. I would love to have a remastered CD version of this. As for now...

Dan Penn - Nobody's Fool (1973)

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This is the legendary debut album by Dan Penn. And quite a little treasure trove it is too. Most people will know Dan Penn songs, without knowing Dan Penn. He's written some of the greatest Soul tracks for people like Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke and James Carr. But he is a wonderful performer in his own right just as well. The music is pretty much in between Soul and Singer Songwriter, accompanied by some cats from Muscle Shoals and, as always, by his friend, keyboard player and co-writer Spooner Oldham.
If you dig Southern Soul and people like Townes and Guy, then this should be very pleasing to the ears. And very much recommended to all Amazing Rhythm Aces fans! He also has a fine sense of humor, as can be heard in the excellent "Tearjoint", a great spoof on Country tearjerkers.
This album was hard to get from the time it was first released and has since been discontinued by the manufacturer. Which is a pity, for sure. Classic album.

Gator Dogs - Gator Dogs (2000)

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Well, you got me here. I don't know the first things about this band. I got this CD sent to me a few years back, and I can't remember who sent it to me to begin with. So maybe some o' y'all could help me out here.
The music is for Hank, Jr. fans, it's mostly Country Boogie. Very well done, and great for drinking lots of beer. And since summer seems to be coming on quite nicely, this is just what the doctor ordered. Salud!

Don Nix - In God We Trust (1971)

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Happy Easter all. And this year's Easter bunny is Don Nix. And why not?
"In God We Trust" is Don Nix' first solo album. Before this he was already a bit of a legend in his own spare time. He played sax in The Mar-Keys, a famous studio band for the Stax label. He played with The Alabama State Troopers and has been involved with many interesting artists as a producer. And then he made a few albums on his own. Which is something he still does occasionally.
I'm a bit ashamed that, until now, I've almost always dismissed this album as being a lazy and lackluster affair. Cause it's not that at all. Sure, Don sounds lazy. But there's a lot of spirit in this album. Very down home it is too. He's being accompanied here by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (you can write me for their names...). It sometimes has a hippy vibe to it. But it also rocks in its own sweet time. I think you should just give him a try. I thought it was quite inspiring. Oh, it also features Furry Lewis on slide guitar and funny little raps. Just so as you know.

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.

Oklahoma - Oklahoma (1977)

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Brother Luc to the rescue, with this great rip of Oklahoma's only LP, released in 1977. Like the band name, Oklahoma is also the name of their album and the state they're from. And it's a really fine piece of work. Martin Popoff didn't care much about this record, but I wholeheartedly disagree with him. I love it. If you dug Buckacre or Boatz, then this is for you. As in slightly poppy and commercial Southern Rock. But very entertaining. I really love the song "Tracy", which is a typical 70's exercise in funky pop. And some immortal lines to go: "Tracy's gone spacey and walked out the door, and the junkies aren't funky no more". Brilliant.

Don Bowman - Our Man In Trouble (1964)

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Well, it's April Fools' Day. So, I won't kid you any longer and admit that this post is really just a joke. A mighty funny one though. That is, if you like Comedy. And old-time Country Comedy at that. And even though I'm not all that crazy about that zany, corny 60's Comedy stuff, I do have a soft spot for Don Bowman.
I learned about Don because I really dig Waylon Jennings a lot. And Don Bowman used to be a DJ in Lubbock, like Waylon. And he co-wrote "Just To Satisfy You", which was an old hit of Waylon's. And probably just about the only serious thing he ever did.
Don Bowman records are funny. But if you think there might be some worthwhile music on this too, think again. Don Bowman is the World's Worst Picker. Even if he was endorsed by Chit Akins. That'll never sell records!

Russell Smith - Russell Smith (1982)

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By request and with pleasure, I present to you Russell Smith's first solo album. I didn't realize that this album was actually out of print, so I never gave it any thought. Well, not as far as posting was concerned. But it's easily up there, among my favorite Southern Rock albums. Along with all Amazing Rhythm Aces records.
Russell Smith solo is not as adventurous as Amazing Rhythm Aces albums, but this one is equally as good as any ARA album. Slightly more up the Singer-Songwriter alley, like maybe Dan Penn. Great source of good material for any Country or Soul artist, incapable or unwilling to write their own songs. And it's all very tastefully done. It's never over the top, all very restrained but beautiful. And one of the very bestest voices, if you ask me. Which you don't, but you might as well... So, if you like to kick back, enjoy a beer in the sun, why not use this as the soundtrack for that cherishable moment? Oh, Southern Music...