Crimson Tide - Crimson Tide (1978)

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Alright, more goodies from Mawos. This time it's Crimson Tide, a band lead by yet another Southern legend: Wayne Perkins. Wayne Perkins is, like Steve Cropper and Pete Carr, one of the great session guitarists of that great melting pot of Southern music. He's been a Muscle Shoals picker and has played with loads of greats. He was also the lead guitarist spicing up the "Black & Blue" album by the Stones.
Crimson Tide was a band Wayne had with his brother Dale. They released two albums, this being the first. Once you get past the slickness, you'll find a really great album, full of splendid picking and singing. It's a little bit of everything on this album, but that's the way I like it best. There's soul, there's rock, some funk and all Southern flavored. Unfortunately the vinyl wasn't perfect, but it's still very listenable and, the most important thing, very enjoyable. Play this on you home stereo, not on you ipod. Harmful algae?

Steve Cropper - Playin' My Thang (1981)

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Steve Cropper is best known as session guitarist for Stax Records and part of Booker T. & The MG's. He's played besides people like Otis redding, Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett. He also features in both Blues Brothers movies as 'The Colonel'. And he co-wrote "In The Midnight Hour" and "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay". Whoa!
Having played such an important role as sideman to lots of Southern Soul stars, it's no surprise this solo album isn't gonna blow your speakers. But this second Steve Cropper solo album is an album well worth checking out. Hey, if you dug the Cate Bros, you should definitely give this a spin. Let the good times roll...

Boatz - Boatz (1979)

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I had lots of good reasons for wanting this. First off, it's got Pete Carr picking that guitar. Pete's early recordings include The Hour Glass (on which he played bass), but later on he became a sought after session guitarist, regularly playing for Capricorn Records. This Boatz album is a Capricorn release too. Furthermore, Pete's released a couple of smoking solo albums and made an album with Lenny LeBlanc. All of which I liked lots. So, sounds good so far. Right?
Well... If by now you were expecting a classic Southern Rock album, think again. Classic, yes. Southern Rock, hardly. Very good Southern Pop, sure.
I've read it being compared to REO Speedwagon, and I can very well live with that. So this entry gets in by connection (Pete Carr & Capricorn Records), and it sure satisfied my curiosity (didn't kill me). It's a great little record. The rip was provided to me by Nozmokinh (big thank you!), I did a little manual editing. Take a ride.

Larry Jon Wilson - Ohoopee River Bottomland

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Alright, now sit back and enjoy this excerpt of the wonderful Heartworn Highways documentary. This is Larry Jon Wilson recording Ohoopee River Bottomland in the studio. Larry Jon knows what he wants and he's quite the presence.On top of that, it's a really great song. Some funky country.
Heartworn Highways is a great documentary about some Southern singer-songwriters, like Townes and Guy, but also features The Charlie Daniels Band. I posted another video of this DVD earlier by Barefoot Jerry. So, if you liked that and you love this, then go out and buy it. It's still available and worth every penny.
Now, watching this got me wanting those old Larry Jon Wilson records. Anybody got a good rip of those?

George Hatcher Band - Dry Run (1976)

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Well, I guess by now it's no longer a secret that I think that George Hatcher is one of the greatest unsung heroes of Southern Rock. C'mon you people, download all you can by George Hatcher. Then start mailing labels, such as Wounded Bird, about how wonderful this world would be if all Hatcher albums would be released on CD. Great as some LP rips may be, I'll gladly pay for a genuine digital replacement of my old albums. And then the next thing, of course, would be to get George out of his retirement. Obviously, we first need to know his current whereabouts (North Carolina, anyone?). And then convince him to start singing again. We can do it, if we put our minds to it. Yes, we can!
Enough politics. This is the first George Hatcher Band release. Based in the UK and recording for United Artists. George always had a great Feat-esque groove to his brand of Southern Boogie. And the arrangements are really well worked out. And just when you think it's straight ahead rock, there's a twist and a bend. It's all highly original, though not at first glance. With George Hatcher, you gotta take a chance. And let it grow. Cause it will grow on you. You have my word.

Law - Breakin' It (1977)

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Well, I sure got lucky. In the last week I got offered the second Law album 'Breakin' It' twice. Both mr. Dixie and, while I was standing at the crossroads, by Nozmokinh. I thank you gentlemen both! It is very much appreciated. I took the one and tried my best at cleaning up the sound. The results are very satisfactory when listening on your home stereo. On an mp3-player, however, you can't help but notice a lot of hiss and crackle. Just like the vinyl of the first Law album, which was my own. Guess Law music is just too much of a good thing that makes you want to party hard to, boogie with your baby and drink more than you can stand. And wreck the vinyl in the process... (If anyone out there thinks he can update these to better versions, please, contact me through e-mail)
Cause that's it with Law. It's funk rock you want to enjoy with friends and beer. And while their first album had an undeniable Southern feel to it, on this one it's a long stretch. This is Funk Rock, very 70's! Guess I don't mind a little stretchin'. This is fun music, really well played and extremely enjoyable. Take this. I'm funked!

Mylon LeFevre - Holy Smoke (1971)

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I know some of y'all did enjoy the 1970 album 'Mylon' (also known as 'We Believe'), on which Mylon LeFevre left his straight up Gospel behind in favor of some classic down home Southern Rock. On 'Holy Smoke' he follows up on the promise, and doing so quite well. It's definitely old school/vintage Southern Rock, but it's top of the line. Mylon would continue his Rock & Roll show until the early 80's, after which he committed himself full-time again to Gospel. And leading a ministry of course. What a great voice, though. What a lucky guy God is... Holy smoke!

Sweet Pickle Salad - Sweet Pickle Salad (1993)

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Guess most people would be wanting this recording of Sweet Pickle Salad because of The Black Crowes connection. I came across it while looking for Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish) related recordings. I never was a Crowes fan, but I was pleasantly surprised at how great a Southern Rock recording this turned out to be. Maybe it helped having mr. Sturmer around, maybe I should just revise my point of view regarding The Crowes... This is great. If you haven't got, by all means, get it.

Blue Jug - Blue Jug (1978)

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One of my earliest posts was the Capricorn debut album by Blue Jug (or Blue Jug Band, as they're sometimes referred to). Thanks to Mawos (happy birthday buddy!) we now get a chance to sit down and listen to part two of their career. This would also be their last outing. Unfortunately the vinyl is far from perfect. But if you just listen to it on your stereo (instead of using earplugs with an mp3-player) it's really alright. If anyone can get their hands on a clean copy, please, do inform me...
So, how about the music? Well, I thought the first album sounded a lot like The Band. This album sounds less like The Band and more like a really good Southern Rock album, with heavy leanings towards Country Rock. I read about Blue Jug on Allmusic, and they're wrong about this being a re-release of their 1975 debut. It's all new and it's all good. Instead of Buddy Spicher on fiddle, we now have Rufus Thibodeaux on violin. Also playing is Randy Scruggs on guitar. But just listen to the sample and judge for yourself...
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EDIT October 15: After posting this album in questionable quality, I requested a better copy.. Which I got from Luc. So, merci monsieur. Today I posted the new version, which is definitely a serious improvement. New link is up. Enjoy!

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.

Rick Cunha - Cunha Songs (1974)

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This is one of my all time favorite albums. It's also one of those albums that is virtually impossible to categorize. It's not Southern Rock, though 'Jesse James (Is An Outlaw, Honey)' sure comes close. It's not Country, though at times it is. Maybe Outlaw Country? Well, it's Waylon-endorsed. He sings back-up. But it's the exciting, creative side of Outlaw Country. And it's also Country Rock, though it has nothing to do with West Coast slickness or Nitty Gritty bluegrass.
Rick Cunha started out with a band called Hearts & Flowers, who were like the forerunners of Country Rock, along with the Byrds and the Dillards. Cunha left after their first album and wound up in Nashville, playing with Emmylou Harris' Hot Band. At that time he also recorded two solo albums, this one being the first. The second, 'Moving Pictures' was recorded in 1975, but wasn't released until 1980. After that I lost track, though I did have a radio broadcast of him doing Hawaii music.
This album, though, is really the one to have. It's an eclectic happening, but it's happening alright. It features the song 'Yo Yo Man' and has the only Country song I know of that lasts over ten minutes.
I was a little reluctant to rip this, since the vinyl I have wasn't in mint condition. But it turned out fairly okay. I just played it and I was loving every minute of it. So, give it a try. A little yo yo music...

Stephen Miller - Stephen Miller (1970)

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Don't nobody freak, this has nothing to do with Steve Miller. This is Stephen Miller, who most Southern Rock fans will know as the keyboard player/singer who joined Grinderswitch for their 'Pullin' Together' album (their third). Before that, Stephen played as 'Steve' on early records of Elvin Bishop. And on this album by Steve/Stephen, he is joined by Elvin on guitar. Also playing along is Bishop's harmonica player Applejack. So, the music on this record is more like the pre-Capricorn sound of The Elvin Bishop Group. A good blues rock album and very interesting from a historical point of view. The roots of Southern Rock alright.
Courtesy of Mawos, who provided the LP-rip. You all ears?

Eric Quicy Tate - Rock 'N' Roll Transfusion (1989)

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Eric Quincy Tate's live recording 'Rock 'N' Roll Transfusion' was a documentation of their 20 year reunion concert. As far as I can tell, it was never released on vinyl or CD. Only as a cassette tape on the Chiken Scratch (!) label. I had this sent to me as a gift a couple of years back (on CD), so I did not have the original artwork.
As for the recording, this sounds like a decent soundboard to me. It's Eric Quincy Tate, so you know what to expect. Barroom boogie all the way. Boogie baby..
Edit Sept 20 2008: Big thanks to Luc for providing us with the original cassette tape jacket:


Luc is my hero of the month. Not just because of this contribution. No, better yet, he's gonna tell us all about George Hatcher (and whatever happened after his known carreer) soon in an interview for Bands Of Dixie. And since George is my all-time-favorite lost hero... I'll keep you posted!

George Hatcher Band - Talkin' Turkey (1977)

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'Talkin' Turkey' is the second album by the George Hatcher Band. George Hatcher from Charlotte, North Carolina, made some of the finest Southern Rock albums I know of. Alas there were only 4 and a half. I (myself), like many others searching Google, have wondered often whatever became of the man. George Hatcher, where art thou?
Anyway, back to this album. It's yet another rock solid album. There's something about George's singing that soothes the soul. And he's got some. I'm in love with that voice. And the tunes are splendid too. Not too heavy but enough guitar antics going on to classify this as classy classic Southern Rock. Check out 'Forty Ford' and, well, check it all out. This is not my rip, though I did fiddle with it slightly. So, thanks to the original ripper, whoever you are. Talkin' turkey!