SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Howdy pardners, i've been in a Southern mood this last week or so, and although i don't usually deviate too much from the straight & narrow, apart from the occasional sideways tangent, i thought i'd treat all y'all to a six pack of Southern fried sizzlers for tonights post.
So kick back on y'porch, uncork a bottle of Makers Mark and prepare yerselves for some swamp boogie rawk'n'rollin'.
Up first, from the not really that Southern state of Missouri, the self titled debut album from 1977 from the somewhat obviously named Missouri. These Kansas City boys rawk out with catchy abandon and no shortage of catchy finesse. Led by Ron West, brother of Shooting Star's Gary West, these boys put in two hard years of touring off the back of the minor success of this album and it's minor hit single "Movin' On", leading eventually to a major label deal which yielded the follow up album "Welcome Two Missouri" in '79. Unfortunately due to the fickle finger of fate, they lost their deal with Polygram shortly after the release of LP No2, and despite sticking around until 1984, they released no further music. This is great stuff, and another tragic tale of "what might have been...". If you like this one ROBOTS FOR RONNIE blog has that 2nd album sitting waiting for you.

MISSOURI - Missouri (1977) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/67035143/MISSOURI_-_Missouri__USA_-_1977_.rar

Next, we're proud to bring you the 3rd album by Louisiana four piece Potliquor, this is "Louisiana Rock & Roll" which came out in 1973 on the Janus label. A great rump shaking bluesy rock'n'roll quartet, this is another gem of a band who've never been given the plaudits they deserved. When the history of Southern Rock gets written these boys deserve their own chapter, i bet it'd be one hell of a tail. There's some gospel, country and Hard Rock diversions here, just to keep it interesting, but what they do best is rootsy gutbucket Southern rock'n'roll, and they deliver here in spades, with some of their most memorable material being on this here record.
You can find their 2nd album "Levee Blues" and their 4th, "Potliquor" over at ROBOTS FOR RONNIE too. Tell 'em NILOOB sent ya.

POTLIQUOR - Louisiana Rock & Roll (1973) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/67029944/POTLIQUOR_-_Louisiana_Rock_And_Roll__USA_-_1973_.rar

Way back to 1972 now for the 2nd album by Georgia four piece Eric Quincy Tate. Yup, it's a band, not a solo artist. Apparently "Eric" was from Eric Burdon, singer with THE ANIMALS, "Quincy" was from Quincy, Massachusetts, and "Tate" was the surname of a Navy buddy of the bands leader Donnie McCormick. The album "Drinking Man's Friend", came out on the home of 70's Southern Rock, Capricorn Records out of Macon Georgia, and that should be all you need to know before you click the download link. If not, let me further tempt you by saying this is a brilliant unassuming little record made by awesome musicians who can play the hell out of just about any style without overdoing it and deliver unpretentious down home stuck in your head for days rock'n'rollin' with passion and soul. Go forth and download.

ERIC QUINCY TATE - Drinking Man's Friend (1972) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/66386364/ERIC_QUINCY_TATE_-_Drinking_Man_s_Friend__USA_-_1972_.rar

Here's a little something for all y'all now which should float the boats of all those who enjoyed the recent DOC HOLLIDAY post, this is a "solo" album by their keyboard player Eddie Stone. Now, normally i wouldn't be getting too worked up by a keyboardists solo album, but Eddie's amassed some of the finest players in the South to join him on this outing, and it's quite a record let me tell you. Joining him on this one are ALL the other members of Doc Holliday, Ronnie Hammond from ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION, several members of THE OUTLAWS, and folks from MARSHALL TUCKER BAND, MOLLY HATCHET, STILLWATER, MOTHER'S FINEST, The BAMA BAND and GRINDERSWITCH, amongst others. As well as Stone's excellent original songs, there are several co-writes with Doc Holliday's Bruce Brookshire and covers of songs by JOHN FOGERTY and COWBOY. What'cha waiting for?

EDDIE STONE & FRIENDS - Eddie Stone & Friends (2004) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/67025908/EDDIE_STONE___Friends_-_Same__USA_-_2004_.rar

Now, you should all be well aware of the mighty Point Blank, they released several of the key Southern Rock albums of the 70's before heading off in a more radio friendly direction which maintained their Texan roots right into the early part of the 1980's. After many years apart, they reconvened for a charity concert in 2005 and have stuck at it, returning to recording this year with the aptly titled "Reloaded". This one cherry picks the highlights from their early career and gives them a kick up the ass 2007 style, this is the actual recorded sound of the South rising again!

POINT BLANK - Reloaded (2007) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/67043024/POINT_BLANK_-_Reloaded__USA_-_2007_.rar

Finally, here's a newer act which you should really acquaint yourselves with, ten piece rawk gods White Cowbell Oklahoma. Yes, i did say ten piece, these guys have four, yes four guitar players! Apparently their live show includes naked go-go dancers, chainsaws and fire breathing, haven't had the pleasure of checking them out live, but it must be quite an experience going by the unholy sound on this here debut Mini LP from 2002. The sound is classic, the delivery is much more modern, if SKYNYRD had grown up on KISS and LIZZY, they might've sounded like this.

WHITE COWBELL OKLAHOMA - White Cowbell Oklahoma Mini LP (2002) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/66614697/WHITE_COWBELL_OKLAHOMA_-_Same__USA_-_2002_.rar

That's all for tonight, fear not, things'll be back to "normal" in time for the next post, which i'll try and get done for midweek next week, lot's of Hard Rawk, NWOBHM and Heavy Metal nuggets still to come. Hope you enjoy this Southern diversion, i'll look forward to your comments on this one!