Raisin' Kane - It's About Time (1978)

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Well, this is a nice surprise. "It's About Time" is the only album released by Raisin' Kane, but what an album. This absolutely belongs to the cream of the crop of everything I have posted thus-far. It's got everything that's good about Southern Rock. And then some. Excellent songs, great harmonies and superb playing. Yes, it's superlatives time. And thank you Laurent for sharing this with all of us! If you dig The Outlaws, The Charlie Daniels Band or stuff posted here, like Oklahoma, you'll love this. Let's not waste another minute and grab this fast! It's About Time

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.

Thunderhawks - Thunderhawks (2005)

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Ok, back to rock-and-rollin'. Thunderhawks features Eddy Shaver on guitar, and it's a fine piece of Southern fried boogie. Musically it's somewhere in between The Georgia Satellites and AC/DC (vocals do resemble Brian Johnson's at times), with a dash of Black Crows thrown in for good measure. Thunderhawks only released one album, a few months later Eddy Shaver would pass a way and that was that. Nice legacy, though. Spirit!

The Pearl Handle Band: Big G interview for Bands Of Dixie (archive, 2013)

The CD edition of the rare Pearl Handle Band’s LP and the lack of information intrigued us ; so Bands Of Dixie put its detectives on the case ; they tracked down Big G who tells us the story of his band and the amazing story of this album.

English version of Bands Of Dixie interview

Steve Grisham interview for Bands Of DIxie (archive, 2013)

Bands of Dixie closely follows Ghost Riders' career, one of the most talented contemporary Southern bands. We we've been waiting for their new album for quite a while... It's been entitled "V". We took the opportunity to talk once again with Steve Grisham.

A few days after this interview, we learned the return of Steve in the Outlaws... a few more questions were required.

English version of Bands Of Dixie interview

Something's come up..

☺ Got myself a Skypup..

Takin' a break, folks.

Bandit - Bandit (1975)

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Right, so this is not a Southern band. But when I started digging for Southern Rock in the late 80's, little information was to be found on Southern Rock at all, especially in Europe. No internet at the time, I gathered my initial knowledge from books (yes, books!). I learned about Bandit from 'The International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal' by Tony Jasper and Derek Oliver (of Kerrang! magazine). In the entry on Bandit hardly any info is given at all, besides the fact that, if anything, they had a slightly Southern style. More information I found on the wonderful blog 'Robots For Ronnie'. Well, it's true though, they do sound Southern at times. More so in the vein of acts like Oklahoma, Les Dudek or Duke Williams & The Extremes. They're rocking out alright, sometimes Funky, sometimes touching Power Pop. And nice vocals all over. It's a very good album and I just love the third track. It's called 'Woman' and should please fans of Cry Of Love. Also noteworthy is Bandit's rendition of 'Evil Woman', originally a Crow song, though probably better known done by Black Sabbath. C'mon y'all, keep on laughin'!

Target - Live '75 (1975)

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Another year gone. These past few years we've seen quite a few of the old Southern Rockers bite the dust. In 2014 what struck me the most, was the tragic loss of brilliant vocalist Jimi Jamison. Though he was probably best well-known for his work with Survivor, most of my readers know about his Southern rockin' past with bands like Target and Cobra. I have never seen demos or soundboards emerge from this period, so I was well pleased to find this, a radio performance of Target, recorded in 1975. That would make these recordings predate their two terrific albums. And it kinda shows in the setlist. Only five songs, of which four are covers by the likes of Bad Company, ZZ Top and Steve Miller. In the text-file it states that this is a pre-FM broadcast, which led me to assume that this should sound very good. But alas, that is not the case. It sounds tinny, much more like a poor audience recording. I don't usually post shows of this poor quality, but I'll make an exception for Jimi. And I'm hoping this will have somebody come up from the couch and start digging for those old tapes with excellent soundboards featuring Jimi Jamison, pre-Survivor period of course. I read somewhere that Cobra demos exist. They really should appear here, rather sooner than later. About the show here, it's well performed and has some nicely done covers. And Jimi is singing like a bird. So, until we can improve on this offer, I say enjoy! Cheer!

Potliquor - Levee Blues (1971)

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Strange, how I never got around to posting anything by Potliquor. But I was reminded the other day and I'm glad. Formed in Baton Rouge in 1969, Potliquor released four albums in the 70's. And they're all good. This album is their second, and it's superb. Classic Southern Rock alright, with some tasteful boogie piano and excellent vocals. Really nice original songs and a couple of covers done originally (Lady Madonna!). Stand out track for me is a ballad. Listen to 'Beyond The River Jordan', and tell me I ain't right. I am of course ;-). Cheer!

The Winters Brothers Band - Live (1980)

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It's the jolly time of the year again, so here's something nice for under the tree. Classic Southern Rock by The Winters Brothers Band, recorded live in 1980. Mostly excellent SBD recording, though with a few patches of radio noise. Sit this one out though, and you won't be disappointed. Obviously they're playing 'Sang Her Love Songs', but this show gives a great representation of what these cats were (and still are?) all about. Southern Rock smack dab in the middle of Skynyrd, The Allmans and the CDB. Nice to hear an early version of 'Keep On Runnin'', of which a studio version had yet to be released on the 1985 album of the same name. It's a smoking show which will have you up and dancing in no time. Happy holidays everybody! Old stories...

Creed - Believe It (1983)

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Released five years after their debut, this is Creed's second and final official release. And we're talking the original Southern Creed here. A bit like dessert after a main course, since this is a nice little EP with four songs. But it's tasty and you won't be disappointed. Adapting to the 80's, they wound up with four catchy tunes that are really quite a treat. I especially enjoyed 'Really Doesn't Matter', with some real cool guitar. Vocally it's all okay, and the songs are all pretty alright. Apparently they still play occasionally, doing reunion shows in the Memphis area. Anyway, this is good. Go get it! Can't face the night alone...!

Coldwater Army - Peace (1972)

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Another lesson in Southern Rock history. This time it's Coldwater Army with their 1972 release 'Peace'. Coldwater Army featured Bobby Golden and Bob Spearman, and they would wind up in the excellent Stillwater. Whereas Stillwater would provide us with some of the finest Southern Rock albums, the same can't be said of Coldwater Army. Not that it's bad. Not at all. But it's a very different style of music being showcased here. Some songs are just plain hippie drivel, but the better songs - and there are quite a few - are more in the vain of Blood, Sweat & Tears or The Ides of March. There's a very informative interview with Bobby Golden, which you can find here. In it, a second release is being mentioned. Here's hoping that will someday surface on the world wide web. Until then, feast your ears on this. Hey, People!

Cate Brothers - Radioland (1995)

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Some more Cate Brothers for ya (it's been a while). 'Radioland' was released in 1995 and sounds like it too. Cate Brothers were always leaning towards a cleaner, more soulful side of Southern Rock. But in the 90's Blues all of a sudden became a hip thing again. Slick Blues that is. You know, everybody seems to do it at that time. People like Gary Moore and Les Dudek. The kind of Blues that seemed inspired by the likes of Robert Cray. So is it any good? Hell yes, it is. Cate Brothers always had a very tight band, and that hasn't changed. The skillful and tasteful playing combined with the wonderful voice of Ernie Cate, well you just can't go wrong there. To be honest, I miss the Funk and sound of the Asylum albums, but there's not a Cate Brothers album that I don't enjoy. This you can perfectly play late night, wooing your baby. Recovered Soul..

Don Winters & The Winters Brothers - The Yodeling King (1984)

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Well, this record sure put a grin on my face. Yes people, it's the very first yodeling album on Skydog's Elysium. Don Winters (no , not Don Williams!) is (or rather was, since he passed away in 2002) the daddy of Dennis and Donnie Winters of The Winters Brothers Band. He has had a Country career since the late 40's and joined Marty Robbins' band in the 60's. As far as I can tell, he's only had one solo release, and this is it. Yes, it's Country and no, there's hardly any Southern Rock to be found here, save for two tracks. On those two tracks, 'Yodel Our Way To The USA' (which I hereby pronounce to be a definite Southern Rock classic) and 'The Yodeling King', the band playing and singing is basically The Winters Brothers Band, with papa Don yodeling along. Still, all in all, this is a very fine piece of work indeed. This album was provided for by Luc, who did an interesting interview with The Winters Brothers Band, in which this album was discussed as well. Read it here.
For those of y'all with an open mind towards Country, be sure to grab this. The playing and singing is excellent (as is the yodeling) and the songs are well chosen. 'Call Me The Breeze' is done nicely and, of course, this includes the Jimmie Rodgers standard 'T For Texas'. Great stuff that'll make for a good time feeling. Let's yodel our way to the USA.