Dixie Dregs - The Great Spectacular (1975)

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Dixie Dregs featured/features (they still get together, now and again) guitar picker extraordinaire, Mr. Steve Morse. Steve plays with Deep Purple these days, and has in the past played with Kansas. And all the while, off and on, he's been playing with the Steve Morse Band. But Dixie Dregs was where it all started, as far as releases go (to my knowledge anyway). And this, "The Great Spectacular", was their debut. Issued as an independent record, this was recorded at the university where they were students at the time. This is a nice piece of raw enthusiasm with some expert playing. Nothing like you might expect from Southern Rock, then again, in the early 70's anything went. Dixie Dregs were from Georgia, and there are definite Southern qualities to be found here. But beware, overall this has more to do with Jazz Fusion than regular Rock. Great stuff, though. Dixie Dregs later were signed to the Capricorn label, and all their albums are well worth checking out. Wages of weirdness...

Raging Slab - Dynamite Monster Boogie Concert (1993)

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I reckon "Dynamite Monster Boogie Concert" is among the very best of Raging Slab releases (along with their self titled album for RCA). It's a shame so few people out there really know this band. They were plugged, at the time of the RCA release, as a cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Metallica. Well, I guess. To me there's nothing quite like the Slab. They're raging. This album actually has quite some ZZ Top in it as well. And this one features some of their best songs. Just give this one at least five spins, and, believe you me, it will have you hooked. Singer/guitarist Gregory Strzempka has one of the finest classic rock voices ever. Easily. And some tasty slide guitar by Elyse Steinman (his now-wife?). Their last album dates from 2002 and their website has been in the middle of being updated for some years now. Come back Raging Slab, move that thang!

Mother's Finest - Live At Lochem (1981)

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The good people at Wounded Bird have gone and done it again. This time they re-released the very first album by Mother's Finest on CD. For the very first time ever. I had been searching for a vinyl copy of that album for over thirty years. And while I did eventually find an mp3 rip of it, that copy is nothing like the real deal. Hell, it gets even better, since they released this as a double CD also including their first album for Epic records. And that ain't all! Also included here is an entire album which was never brought out at all, a follow-up to their debut from 1972. The 1973 never released album is just as wonderful as that debut. That's basically Southern Soul Rock, y'all. And performed marvelously. So go on, buy that!


In the meanwhile, I figured I'd give you some more Mother's Finest. To go. In the form of a wonderful 1981 live show, performed at the Dutch Lochem festival. It's a lot heavier than any 70's outing of the band, but my readers should certainly enjoy this lots. Gone are the keyboards, enter a second guitar, and what we get is some serious Southern Funk Rock. This is a great sounding SBD that should get you riled up alright. Get yourself some piece of the rock!!

Rusty Wier - Stacked Deck (1977)

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"Stacked Deck" was the follow-up to "Black Hat Saloon" and is rocking slightly more. But still there's that unmistakable voice. And some more than adequate picking. Here Rusty tries his hand at Lindsey Buckingham's "Lola" and "Don't Let Me Down Again" (both from the Buckingham Nicks album), and succeeding convincingly. No original Rusty Wier songs this time around, but a great selection of songs all the same. Top-notch Outlaw Country, boys & girls! Oh, and did I mention that voice already? Good, good lovin'.

Black Oak Arkansas - The Black Attack Is Back (1986)

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"The Black Attack Is Back" was the follow up to Jim Dandy's album "Ready As Hell". On the cover it still mentions Jim Dandy in big writing, Black Oak Arkansas in small letters underneath. something to do with the rights to using the name and contracts, I guess. Nevertheless, this is very much Black Oak alright. Like its predecessor, this was released on the Heavy Metal America label. Production-wise, you can tell the band no longer had the backing of a major record label. Still, the music is pretty solid. And most of all, like any BOA record, it's big fun. This one isn't gonna win over any new believers. But if you already dug Black Oak Arkansas before, you might as well grab this too. Last song on the album: "(I Want A Woman With) Big Titties". Hee-haw! Body slam!

Sammy Johns - Sammy Johns (1973)

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I first learned about Sammy Johns through Waylon Jennings' covers of Sammy's songs "Chevy Van" and "America". And then I ran into this album, which was a bit of a shocker for me at the time. It would be for you too, if you were expecting 70's Outlaw Country. Cause what it is, if anything can describe this properly, is something like Southern Outlaw Hippie Country Rock. Now, there's a big mouth full. But this album has really grown on me, and I still play it quite regularly. Sammy does not have the most memorable voice of all, but he does captivate. And the songs are all very well written, the kind of stuff that keeps hanging in your head. This album was released in 1973, though both Rate Your Music and Allmusic.com claim this to be released in 1975. I'd rather believe the back cover of my copy of the album (included here). I also included a rip of a 1988 MCA single, which had a re-recorded version of "Chevy Van". Get this if you like pretty songs. And "Chevy Van" is a pretty pretty song in my book. Early morning love...

Point Blank - Cold Warrior (1979)

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"Cold Warrior" is the Point Blank bootleg I've come across most often. Which does not mean it's the least of 'em circulating. As a matter of fact, what we have here is yet another fine example of how great a Southern Rock band Point Blank is. They're loud and passionate. This is a show of the band promoting their, in my opinion, finest album, "Airplay". It's an FM broadcast, quality is pretty good. Nuff said. Thunder & Lightning!

SevenMoore - 2003 - SevenMoore

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SevenMoore (or Seven Moore)was a spin-off of The Marshall Tucker Band. It featured MTB's Paul T. Riddle and Jerry Eubanks and this is the only album released (some live shows do exist). It's not quite The Marshall Tucker Band, though. Definitely Southern, but more polished and very melodic. Some excellent picking on this album! It's inoffensive, as in, your old lady would enjoy this as much as you do. But there's some great music to be found here all the same. Really, this is a great record. Including flute and all. But trust me, you won't be disappointed. For those who didn't get this the first time around, here's another chance..

Joe Sun - Out On The Road (1991)

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Yup, it's Outlaw Country time again. And thank you, Frank, for supplying us with yet another fine piece of music from Outlaw extraordinaire, Mr. Joe Sun. I guess there's not much new under the sun, but that won't stop me from enjoying Joe's music at all. Any Joe Sun is way above average, and this is more of the same (goodness). Again, if you like your Country with gravelly voice, the music not too slick and songs well written, this is right up your alley. So, here's Joe, hittin' that ol' highway...

Allgood - IV (1995)

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"IV" was the last recorded studio output by Athens, Georgia band Allgood. However, it never had an actual commercial release. Still, if you dug any previous Allgood recordings, this will surely not disappoint. No sirree! It's all slightly heavier and at times a little darker than their earlier albums. But great Southern Rock to my ears. Allgood remind me at times of Jupiter Coyote. Not too much emphasis on traditional Southern Rock trademarks like twin leads and dualing guitar solos, instead going for more compact Southern Rock songs. And really, you can hardly go wrong with any Allgood music. Face it...

Poker Flatts - Poker Flatts (1977)

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Poker Flatts was based out of the Macomb, Illinois area. This, their only, album is a fine example of well executed Country Rock played with just enough pizazz to grab and hold your attention. The band called it Progressive Country. Well, I guess. It's a real nice album and the Country is played with just the right amount of funky feel to it. Band members are: Bill Studzinski - guitars & vocals; Paul Reynolds - guitars, mandolin & vocals; T.K. Wayland - drums & vocals; Tom Durso - bass. And they had a little help from Ken Pitlik - fiddle & banjo and Karl Warma on harmonica. The record was released on the independent (their own) record label Stacked Deck. Again, this is a bit of a treat, certainly well worth grabbing. So good..

Don Bowman - The All New Don Bowman (1972)

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Don Bowman again, at his very zaniest. "The All New Don Bowman" is one of Don's funniest albums and it introduces the magnificent drunk, Farley McCluth. On "Hello D.J. Don throws a tantrum for not getting his record played on the radio, calling up the D.J. time and again and getting nastier along the way. There's a remake of his classic hit, "Chit Akins Make Me A Star" and it has song titles like "The Monkey Who Became President" and "Freddie Four Toes". Well, just list-in! List-in to this! Poetic justice?

Jimmy O'Neill - Popular Car (1984)

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Jimmy O'Neill was guitarist/vocalist with Mose Jones on "Get Right" and "Mose Knows". He did not participate in the line-up that recorded the third album, "Blackbird". Instead he went on to play with fiddler Vassar Clements. And in 1984 he released a '45 which is presented to you here. As noted, this is from 1984 and it just screams 80's! Still, it's two very nice songs with amusing lyrics. And a Mose Jones rarity for sure. Side one has the track "Popular Car" and the flip side contains the track "City Music". Both are very poppy and quite catchy. Unfortunately Jimmy passed away in September of 2001.


This may also be a good opportunity to point out to you all that Mose Jones has just released a live CD, which features a show from 1974. You can order that from CDBaby. From the press release:
"The songs chosen for this CD were narrowed down from over 2 and half hours of recorded music that night - all original songs were from Mose Jones' 2 albums, "Get Right" 1973 and "Mose Knows" 1974, except for the Mose Allison song "Going to the City", which was combined with the extended jam the band had been performing and having fun with for years...This CD is totally live - no overdubs or post-production enhancements of any kind were used. The original 1/4" tape was found to be in Jimmy O'Neill's possession after his passing in 2001. The tape was baked, then transferred to digital (protools), pre-mastered, then re-mastered by Rodney Mills Master House.

Bryan Cole and Steve McRay, the two surviving members of the original band, and with the appreciative help of friends all along the way, have spent time and money and an undoubtedly labor of love attitude, to release this CD project - and now it has come to fruition. This CD is presented to you, to our old fans and our new fans and listeners, out of respect for Mose Jones and it's legacy, and our love for our two original members and band mates – Randy Lewis and Jimmy O’Neill (RIP)…We sincerely hope you will listen, enjoy, and appreciate this CD and project of love –"
So, go out and buy that. And in the meantime, enjoy Jimmy's single.

Stillwater - Demos (80's)

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And here we have a curiosity for you fans of Stillwater. Thanks to Craig for this set of demos from, probably, somewhere in the 80's. To tell the truth, I have no information on these recordings whatsoever. They sure sound like they're from the 80's, though. I didn't have song titles either, so I took a wild guess. Bear in mind, this is really for fans only. There's lots of wow and flutter, which will not gain Stillwater any new fans. But these tracks can't be heard elsewhere and it's nice to fill in some gaps of the Stillwater history. 7 songs, nothing quite as spectacular as either of their first albums on the Capricorn label. But still a nice listen. If there's anyone out there who can shed some light on the origins of these recordings, please do. Are you ready!?