Molly Hatchet - Live At Reading (1979)

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Here's a raunchy little Rock & Roll show for ya. It's a short concert of Molly Hatchet playing at Reading in the UK. And even though I'm not the biggest Hatchet fan, I can't deny that this is really good. And I do love their debut album, that's a classic. Lots of energy and great songs. This was a performance recorded right after finishing their "Flirting With Disaster" album, and the boys in the band are in fine form. Southern Rock with Rock being the key word here. Some minor issues on this show, probably caused by the tape transfer? Some muffled sounding bits, but nothing terrible. Anyway, very much worth checking out. C'mon baby, let the good times roll!

Swallow - Out Of The Nest (1972)

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A bit of an oddity here. Swallow gets in by connection. But the thing is, the connection was only made on their second album, which I will post later on. That album was recorded in Studio One and produced by Buddy Buie and featured members of the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Not this one. So what we have here has nothing to do with Southern Rock at all. I figured you might be curious about this record after I post their second. But I fixed this one first, when I got the rips from Luc. So there.
"Out Of The Nest" reminded me mostly of Blood, Sweat & Tears. Gravelly vocals, very good, and lots of horns. Quite a powerful Jazzy/R&B/Soulful Blues Rock release. And despite it not being Southern Rock, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album. Look to the future and remember this. Shuffle.

Rusty Wier - Rusty Wier (1975)

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Rusty Wier was a bit of a cult legend on the Austin, Texas scene. Was, since he sadly passed away on October 9 this year. He will be missed, that's for sure. Because Rusty did make some wonderful records since 1974, holding ground somewhere in between Outlaw Country and Southern Rock, though his later albums leaned more towards Country.
This album, "Rusty Wier", from 1975 should attract quite a few Southern Rock fans, though. It's his second album and it's a really fine ride. There's a great groove throughout the music on this record and there are some cool cats playing along. Pick of the day: "Dixie Lynn". Rusty has a very distinctive voice, which I absolutely love to bits. If you haven't heard about Rusty before, this is where you get on. Fly away..

Dr. Hector And The Groove Injectors - Prescription (1987)

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In the early 80's lots of Southern Rock bands decided to try their hand at commercial Pop Rock/AOR, like 38 Special and Molly Hatchet. Grinderswitch, on the other hand, decided to just call it quits. Dru Lombar grabbed the opportunity to launch his new band with this 1987 debut album. Dr. Hector And The Groove Injectors was not quite what Grinderswitch used to be, though the music is far from the usual 80's fare. Instead we get a good dose of well played, inspiring Rhythm & Blues/Blues Rock with some definite Southern guitar picking. Nice vocals too (no, not necessarily when Dru is singing...). And horns. It's a really satisfying album and I'm sure glad Luc sent me a rip. This is not the rip already circulating on other blogspots. You be the judge which is the better. Learn more about Dru here. Great album, great songs, great for throwing a party. Kingsnake shake.

Blackfoot - Medicine Man (1990)

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"Medicine Man" was Blackfoot's come back to Southern Rock, after having made a couple of slick and poppy Rock records. And they were back in fine form too. No longer the original line-up (of the albums up to "Marauder"), this band was still very much able to deliver the goods. There were two versions of this album. One included only 7 tracks. This is the one with all nine. It's been out of print for quite some time, so enjoy. I sure wish mr. Medlocke would quit his daytime job and give us another Blackfoot album. Cause the man rocks when he's the main man! This album features one of my all-time Blackfoot favorites: "Chilled To D'Bone". B-b-b-b-b-boogie!

Whiskey River - Whiskey River (1981)

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Whiskey River was a Country Rock band with some Southern Rock and Outlaw influences. They released two independent albums, of which this is their second. It's a very nice record which should appeal to fans of later Charlie Daniels records and the Earl Scruggs Revue. This album was produced by Randy Scruggs, and he does a wonderful job. All songs, I think, appear to be originals and are well written and executed. Nothing too heavy going on here, but it's nice steady rockin' all along. Thanks to my French Connection (again...) for providing this rip. I also have their first album ripped, and I will post that later on. Yippee kay-ah-yay!

Tim Brooks & The Alien Sharecroppers - Back In The Game (2002)

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There were some speculations going on about a new CD being released by Tim Brooks, but I guess it takes some more time. In the meanwhile the first Tim Brooks & The Alien Sharecroppers' CD's are no longer available. Which is too bad. Just listen to this beautiful piece of Southern Blues Rock: "Back In The Game", their second album. Again, at times very reminiscent to The Allman Brothers Band, this is Tim and his band at their very best. Tim can play that guitar with the best of them (as has he done), and The Alien Sharecroppers are a more than worthy group of pickers to back him up. Tim handles some vocals himself, but vocally the star of this record is Jon Wimpee, who also plays guitar. Just check out the track "Hanging By A Thread" (written by Tim and his brother Gregg). It's a classic! "Back In The Game" is a 'band record', which to me means that it's a very cohesive record where everything comes together as it should. Some of the finest Southern Rock songs and one hell of a band! Let's hope that new record will be out shortly. C'mon guys, don't hesitate: you want this! Possum chops..

Black Oak Arkansas - Leprechauns In Orlando (1979)

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Alright, a little bit of some harder stuff this time. This is a live broadcast of Black Oak Arkansas from 1979, with a 15 year old Shawn Lane picking some fierce guitar. The show comes one year after their dreadful Capricorn release "I'd Rather Be Sailing", but this show is actually quite energetic (as opposed to aforementioned album) and good. Though the recording itself is really raw (not quite in a state to have it officially released), this should well please any BOA fan. Quite a few songs on here which never made it onto any officials release, as well as some classics like "Jim Dandy" and "Race With The Devil". Rough Stuff.

Heartwood - Heartwood (1973)

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This is Heartwood's first album. Or rather, a re-recording of their first album. They recorded these songs and when they were signed to the GRC label, it was suggested they re-record the lot. Which is what they did. And here it is. A pleasant piece of Southern Country Rock. Thanks again to the French Connection (they do provide a lot of what I post). If you like The Outlaws' harmony vocals, this is your stop. And like those early Outlaws records, you get lots of Country too. But not the slick kind. I'm loving this lots.
Former Heartwood drummer Robert Hudson has his own website, where you can read about Heartwood as well. It's here. Then there's more to read on Classicrockmusicblog.com. They have an interview with both Robert Hudson and Tim Hildebrandt (guitar/vocals), which you can find here. They speak mostly of their second album, "Nothin' Fancy. But be sure to check this, their earliest songs, out. You'll love it. Showdown.

Don Bowman - From Mexico With Laughs (1967)

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Crazy man Don Bowman again. Mexican style. He must've figured, since Herb Alpert was cashing in on the Mexican vibe in the 60's, that he could make a good buck too? Well... Let's just say, Don isn't exactly Herb. Thank god. But it gets funny alright. I have included the b-side of the "Tijuana Drum And Bugle Corps" single, a song called "Little Leroy", as a bonus track. Laugh!

Rick Cunha - Folkscene (1976)

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This recording has Rick Cunha live in the studio with some help from Jeff Gilkinson. Folkscene was a radio show on Los Angeles' KPFK station. On this episode we hear Rick playing and talking one year after his "Moving Pictures" was recorded (which wouldn't be released until 1980). The recording suffers from rather heavy tape hiss, but you'll get used to that if you're interested in Rick's career. Later in his musical life, Rick would join Na Kama Hele, playing Hawaiian music. Here we already hear him talk lovingly about Hawaiian music, though the songs played are mostly in the vein of his two solo albums. If you haven't heard Rick before, I suggest you start with his "Cunha Songs" album. If you already know and love his studio albums, get this.

Tony Joe White - The Real Thang (1980)

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Like many Rock musicians in the late 70's, Tony Joe White too got bitten by the Disco bug. And whereas many accused Tony Joe White of selling out, I quite enjoy late 70's flirtations of Rock music with Disco. In Tony Joe's case that would be Swamp Rock with Disco, cause he still sounds swampy, despite the definite Disco beat. And there's some great songs on this album as well. A few remakes of older songs and one that he'd later re-record. And over all a very happy record. Brought a smile to my face for sure! This is a rip I found on the web. I don't know who ripped it, but it's done beautifully. Thanks! So, if the idea of Tony Joe White incorporating Disco doesn't seem like that bad a deal at all, you will not be disappointed with this record. Throw yourself a party and do some booty bumping to this instead. I know I will. Cause I get off on it..

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Heart Of The Country (1987)

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The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were always slightly more on the Country Rock side of Southern. And maybe therefore being dismissed as lightweight, not worth investigating. But the OMD made some pretty exciting albums in the 70's. And then came the 80's. Like any other Southern Rock band around that time, time came for a change (for the worse, if you ask me). And The Ozark Mountain Daredevils also embraced that clean, lifeless musical approach. This album sounds at time like Jackson Browne's "Lives In The Balance", productionwise that is. "Heart Of The Country" has some good songs. But there are also a couple of embarrassing tracks featured here, which is mostly because of the sterile 80's production. Which is making the record sound terribly dated, and not aging well... Not my favorite OMD record (which is "The Car Over The Lake Album" from 1975), but it's a nice addition for any OMD fan. Wilder Days?

Jay Boy Adams - Fork In The Road (1978)

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Texan Jay Boy Adams is a singer/songwriter who has released three solo albums. "Fork In The Road" is his second. and it's a great mix of Country Rock and Southern Rock with some West Coast thrown in for good measure. It has a rather slick production but, since the music sounds passionate and driven, that's not a problem at all. What you get is a good sounding record with plenty good songs and some fierce picking. A couple of times the guitars will remind you very much of The Allman Brothers Band, and some vocals harmonies that would make the Eagles go "ooooohh!" (Jackson Browne and David Lindley guesting on this album). I do wish I had a mint copy of this to work with, because the vinyl I worked with for this rip was a bit too worn. Better still, somebody should release this on CD. For his third release the world would have to wait 30 years, 2007's "The Shoe Box". Jay Boy Adams was also a part of Southern Rock supergroup Brothers Of The Southland, which released a wonderful album in 2009, called "Brothers Of The Southland". Buy it. And listen to this record. Superkicker!