Hidden Treasures - Road Trippin' (Stop #1)

[Scott]

Were going on a little road trip for the next few weeks. I figured we'd start in my neck of the woods. The South East United States of America. This region is home to some seriously great musicians and bands that played a huge role in the development of American Rock and Roll. Heres a little background...

 

Rock music's origins lie mostly in the music of the American South, and many stars from the first wave of 1950s rock and roll such as Bo Diddley, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis hailed from the Deep South. However, the British Invasion and the rise of folk rock and psychedelic rock in the middle 1960s shifted the focus of new rock music away from the rural south and to large cities like Liverpool, London, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco.

 

In the late 1960s, traditionalists such as Canned Heat (from Los Angeles), Creedence Clearwater Revival (from El Cerrito, California), and The Band (Canadian, though drummer Levon Helm was a native Arkansan) revived interest to the roots of rock and to Southern themes in Americana music.

 

From those roots we got these 5 great Southern Hidden Treasures...

 

PLAYLIST --> http://snack.to/adh94p9k

	Danny Joe Brown Band ST 1981 1 - Edge of Sundown He was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1951 and graduated from Terry Parker High School in 1969. Shortly after graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in New York for two years. Once he left the Coast Guard, Brown's focus turned solely to music and he joined Molly Hatchet in 1974. Brown left Molly Hatchet in 1980 because of chronic diabetes and pancreatic problems, but soon started his own band, The Danny Joe Brown Band, which released a single studio album in 1981. He later rejoined Molly Hatchet in 1982, only to leave again in 1995 after suffering a stroke. He died at his mother's home in Davie, Florida in March, 2005, at the age of 53. His obituary attributed his death to renal failure, a complication of the diabetes he had since age 19.
	Atlanta Rhythm Section Quinella 1981 2- Homesick The band unofficially formed in 1970, when former members of the Candymen and the Classics IV became the session band for the newly opened Studio One in Doraville, Georgia, near Atlanta. While ARS did not reach the commercial success of Lynyrd Skynyrd or The Allman Brothers, the group had a strong following in the South and charted a number of major and minor hits such as "Doraville", "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight", "Champagne Jam", "So Into You", "Imaginary Lover", "Angel", "Do It Or Die", "Neon Nites", and a cover version of the Classics IV hit, "Spooky", plus a number of fan favorites such as "Boogie Smoogie", "Jukin'" and "Georgia Rhythm". The band also influenced a number of rock and country artists, notably Travis Tritt, who recorded a cover of the ARS songs, "Back Up Against the Wall" and "Homesick". The group Shudder to Think covered "So Into You".
	The Gregg Allman Band Playin' Up A Storm 1977 3 - Come and Go Blues Gregg is the younger son of Willis Turner Allman and Geraldine Alice. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1947, thirteen months after his brother Duane. His father was in the army and in 1949 the family relocated to Fort Story, Norfolk, Virginia. Shortly after, his father was murdered by a casual acquaintance whom he had offered a ride home from a bar and Geraldine 'Mama A' Allman was left to raise the boys. In order to retrain as an accountant, she sent her sons to Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee, which they both loathed. Eventually, in 1957, when his mother had finished her degree, the family settled in Daytona Beach, Florida, and the boys attended Seabreeze High School. Both Gregg Allman and his brother Duane became captivated by music at a young age; Gregg Allman has revealed that he and Duane went to see Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding, Patti Labelle and B.B. King perform and that he was particularly struck by B.B.’s Hammond organ player. Gregg took an interest in the guitar before Duane did, learning the very basics from his grandmother’s neighbour in Nashville. However Duane would soon become the superior guitarist, giving up school in tenth grade to focus on it while Gregg practiced his vocals and keyboards, remained at school and finally graduated in 1965. Although he planned to become a dental surgeon, Gregg fell in with his brother’s plans that they should become musicians, intending to go to dental school after a short while; it didn’t happen.
	The Marshall Tucker Band ST 1973 4 - Take The Highway The "Marshall Tucker" in the band's name does not refer to a band member, but rather a Spartanburg SC-area piano tuner. While the band was discussing possible band names one evening in an old warehouse they had rented for rehearsal space, someone noticed that the warehouse's door key had the name "Marshall Tucker" inscribed on it, and suggested they call themselves the "The Marshall Tucker Band," not realizing it referred to an actual person. It later came to light that Marshall Tucker, the blind piano tuner, had rented the space before the band, and the landlord had yet to change the inscription on the key. In his book, Top Pop Singles, 1955-2002, music historian Joel Whitburn attributes "Marshall Tucker" to the owner of the band's rehearsal hall. The Marshall Tucker Band's self-titled debut, produced by Paul Hornsby, was released in 1973, and certified gold in 1975. All of the tracks were written by Toy Caldwell, including "Can't You See", which was released in 1973 on Capricorn 0023 ("Bubbled Under" at No. 108 on 1 September 1973) and re-released in 1977 on Capricorn 0278 (peaked at No. 75 on 24 September 1977). After the album's release, the band began touring, playing upwards of 300 shows per year throughout the decade. Southern rock fiddler Charlie Daniels later recalled that the Marshall Tucker Band "came onstage and just blew it out from start to finish."
	Steve Forbert JackRabbit Slim 1979 5 - Say Goodbye To Little Jo Forbert signed a recording contract with Nemperor in 1978, and they released his debut album, Alive on Arrival that year. Allmusic noted that it "earned critical acclaim for its taut, poetic lyrics". Even though the sleeve of his second album Jackrabbit Slim (1979) stated that "Romeo's Tune" is "dedicated to the memory of Florence Ballard," the song is not really about the Supremes singer who died in 1976. The song was actually written about a girl from Forbert's home town of Meridian, Mississippi, but was dedicated to Ballard because, as Forbert explained, "that seemed like such bad news to me and such sad news. She wasn't really taken care of by the music business, which is not a new story." Jackrabbit Slim was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee and produced by John Simon, who had worked with The Band. On any comparison to Bob Dylan, Forbert said, "You can't pay any attention to that. It was just a cliche back then, and it's nothing I take seriously. I'm off the hook — I don't have to be smarter than everybody else and know all the answers like Bob Dylan." Jackrabbit Slim peaked at No. 54 in the UK Albums Chart. Forbert also had a cameo appearance in Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" video, playing her boyfriend.

[Mike Pell]

Scott,

I have had the Road Trip idea for Shows in the back of my head for years.

May get around to it someday.

Great picks!
I particularly love the ones by Marshall Tucker & Steve Forbert!
Mike

[Scott]

Thanks Mike!!  I was raised on Marshall Tucker, even in Idaho as a young boy my older brothers favorites were always Southern Rock bands

[Mike Pell]

Hey man, even in NYC I was driving my friends nuts playing my favorite by them, This 'Ol Cowboy, LOL!

Also I loved playing that for girls, cause of what it says!

[Jon]

How strange this pops up at this time of the year. The time of the year when I go on my annual road trip!

I always had serious man love for DJB's voice when I first heard it. Don't know why, but just think he has a kick ass voice. Never picked up this album though, so maybe it's not true love. But I do have the Molly Hatchet version on their greatest hits disc (with DJB) plus another version on "Kingdom Of XII" (with Phil McCormack).

Growing up I always thought that ARS was wimpy since they only played their lite stuff on the radio. Years later when I bought a whopping two of their albums, I found that wasn't the case. There were some nice jams on their albums, like, um, "Champagne JAM"????

Like The Allman Bros, but not Greg solo. It all has to do with that "I'm No Angel" song. Was sick of it when it first came out and am still sick of it now. This song really isn't too bad though. I'm totally digging it.

I like TMTB. Like Black Sabbath, they get pretty jazzy in a lot of their songs. I have their double disc on my PMD because I had this incredible urge to listen to MT. You reading my mind?

Steve Forbert was huge for awhile in NY/NJ during the late 70's/early 80's. My sister loved him and her bestest friend REALLY loved him, so much so that she's still stalking him to this day. Think she's been to a couple hundred concerts of his or some other insane amount. Earlier this year I picked up the 2 cd set that includes his first and second albums, and it's really, really good. Of course back then I couldn't listen to him since he wasn't my type of music, but now I'm older and wiser and have such wonderful musical taste.

I liked this, I really did. Too bad I'm not on the road yet, this would have taken care of 30 min of that 12 hour trip. Oh well, can't have everything even though I still want it all.  

 

[Scott]

thanks !! have a safe trip

[RJhog (Admin)]

Danny Joe Brown Band -  Arrgh!  I just typed a long comment and then deleted it.  Not familiar with this band at all.  Love the peaceful piano intro.  Then it kicks in and there's that great, familiar voice from Molly Hatchet.  This sounds more like the Outlaws to me than Hatchet.  Southern bands are the best at the long guitar outro's like the one here.  Killer geetar work and a great song, thanks for the introduction.

ARS - Great song.  Haven't heard it in a long time.  Awesome riff.  ARS rocks!  Love that "scuse me" reference to Jimi Hendrix.

The Greg Allman Band - The only solo song from Greg that I'm familiar with is I'm No Angel, which I totally dig.  This has a laid back, very similar feel to Sweet Melissa.  Probably not quite as good as that song, but not bad.  I like his vocal on this one.

The Marshall Tucker Band - Well, although I'm from the South, I'm only vastly familiar with 3 songs by this band.  But this does sound familiar, so maybe I've heard more of their stuff than I realize.  I have one vinyl album I picked up for less than a buck but really haven't spun it yet.  This sounds like a Southern Rock version of Jethro Tull with that flute thing going on.  Where are the guitars?  There they are.  Good song here.

Steve Forbert - Not at all familiar with Steve.  This song is not terrible, but it's not really anything that makes me want to pick up his work.  It really has a specific time period sound that I can' t quite place, not necessarily 1979. 

Final song ranking:

1. Edge Of Sundown

2. Homesick

3. Take The Highway

4. Come And Go Blues

5. Say Goodbye To Little Joe

One band I would have loved for you to include here is Wet Willie, from Mobile, Alabama.  

Overall, I love the topic and I'm looking forward to seeing where you go next.  Out West, up to the North East, or maybe Canada or across the Atlantic Ocean.  Where oh where will it be?

[Scott]

I must admit that I'm not familiar with Wet Willie. maybe you can introduce us to them?

[RJhog (Admin)]

Unfortunately, I don't have any of their work.  I know the songs Weekend and Keep On Smilin'.  I was really  hoping you had some of their work.  Jon???????????

[Jon]

This?

[RJhog (Admin)]

Yes, that's it.  Thank you.

[Jon]

If you're talking about the band, I think I have....one song maybe?

[Mike Pell]

I've played Wet Willie on Rockollections.

How did you miss it, lol?