There are some Southern rock bands that tend to fall between the cracks. That can happen. The lull after Christmas is a good time to point out the virtues of four bands, all of which truly deserve your attention. They made and still make some great music. And as we know, great music never dies. So sit back and read on for a trip back in time to appreciate the virtues of The Outlaws, the Marshall Tucker Band, 38 Special, and Blackfoot. Rock on, Southern style!
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The Outlaws
I am tempted to sum up this versatile group with four words - "Green Grass & High Tides," the title of one of their masterpiece songs from 1975. At nearly ten minutes long, it soars, roars, gallops, pulsates, and comes right straight at you. The electrifying guitar playing on this is just beyond belief. I cannot think of anything quite like it in the entire country or rock music canon. Another of Outlaws' classics was "There Goes Another Love Song," also from 1975. Per their web site, "As live performers, the band burns hotter than ever. 'The Outlaws helped define Southern Rock for me and for generations of fans,' wrote music journalist Bill Robinson in The Huffington Post."
The Marshall Tucker Band
Formed in 1972, the Marshall Tucker Band is still alive and ferociously kickin.' Per People, "The group endured, and five decades later Marshall Tucker Band's legacy boasts a string of hits including 'Can't You See,' 'Heard It in a Love Song' and 'Fire on the Mountain' as well as the distinction of being an architect of Southern rock." What this band built has stayed sturdy through the years. They are deeply grateful to their loyal fans. And to the stalwarts of the industry who got behind them. The Charlie Daniels Band often opened for the Marshall Tucker Band. Daniels, who passed away four years ago, told The Tennessean via People, "Doug [Gray of Marshall Tucker] and Gregg Allman (from the Allman Brothers Band) blazed a trail. They had their own sound. When you heard them on the radio, you knew who it was. Marshall Tucker still play what they play, and they still make it sound good."
38 Special
This is 38 Special's 50th year of existence, but there are no cobwebs hanging on them by any means. Per their web site, "With sales in excess of 20 million, most associate the band with their arena-rock pop smashes, 'Hold On Loosely,' 'Rockin' Into the Night,' 'Caught Up in You,' 'Fantasy Girl,' 'If I'd Been the One,' 'Back Where You Belong,' 'Chain Lightnin,' 'Second Chance,' and more...." Band member Don Barnes, a vocalist and guitarist, articulated the group's philosophy this way. "This music keeps our wheels on the road. We're a band that's tried to stay honest with what has driven us over the years. We started out with nothing but bold determination to make our own history and to endure. Looking back now, it has been our greatest pride to have persevered and attained that level of success and longevity. For us, it's the ultimate validation."
Blackfoot
Blackfoot originated in 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida. Per allmusic.com, they are classified as a band specializing in "blues rock, hard rock, Southern rock (yay!), album rock, and boogie rock." With that said, the site goes on to say, "Blackfoot were contemporaries of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and tried for years to make it as a Southern rock band, although they finally succeeded as a hard rock outfit," It is suggested that the advent of MTV and a corollary shift in popular taste was detrimental to Blackfoot, but their unique sound still resonates. The band has a fan Facebook page for its die-hards. The band has had many changes of personnel over the years.
