I've always liked them. Back in college, I thought they were one of the more interesting "southern rock" bands.
HAven't spun them in a while but I should put them on my "to do" list. |
While I positively loath "southern" rock, these guys, especially early, were pretty darn good. Listen to the first few LPs, then you can quit. Like the Allman Brothers who fuse jazz, blues, and rock elements, MTB tried to do the same but their songs are just not as memorable to this listener. By "Heard it in a Love Song", which goes WAY back, they were already cheese. Listen to "Can't You See" and "Take the Highway". That's when they were good. |
"Where We All Belong", "A New Life", "Long Hard Ride" have remained on my play list since they were released. In 1974-1977, I saw them live many times. Charlie Daniels Band opened for them quite often. Toy and Tommy Caldwell really knew how to bring out the best in each other on the stage. At times, Tommy's bass playing reminded me of Barry Oakley. |
MTB is very underrated. The guys can really play and jam when need to. My fav is `Where We All Belong` but they are all good especially the early ones. |
They are without a doubt my grandest personal guilty pleasure and love them....While many people I know wouldn't agree (or confess), I think they have a great sound and one track or another of their greatest hits is very often in my playlist... |
"Tommy's bass playing reminded me of Barry Oakley"
If you are speaking of the Allman Brothers first bass player the name is Berry Oakley. |
Lindaisfarne gets my vote. "Can't you see" and "Take the Highway" is when they were best IMHO too. Cheers |
"Tommy's bass playing reminded me of Barry Oakley"
If you are speaking of the Allman Brothers first bass player the name is Berry Oakley.
Muzikat (Threads | Answers)
Thank you for the correction. My statement was: At times, Tommy's bass playing reminded me of Barry Oakley. |
Hey M18764ag:
I've been a fan for decades and they are serious musicians combining many genres. The original 6 guys together were downright amazing. The chemistry between them made them the superstars they became.
Jerry Eubanks is the one who plays the flute and sax. He's a real pro, the music teacher type if you know what I mean. Let me suggest their DVD "Live from the Garden State, 1981". If you can play concert DVDs over a surround sound system, then get this. The audio is not the absolute greatest but decent for a performance of 28 years ago. George McCorkle (guitar) on "Searching for a Rainbow" is one you can't miss. The performance of a lifetime. The only genre I'm not a big fan of is their "western" style songs with a bit too much country. Otherwise, fantastic.
Do you ever wonder why some bands just make it to the big time? While certainly it's a lot of hard work, talent, and great management, it's also the chemistry as I call it between the players. Something just clicks and the symmetry happens. Like the Fab Four for example. Four youngsters from an industrial port town like Liverpool with no formal educations and look what happened. That never ceases to amaze me. |
Funny.. Years ago as a boy an older Cousin gave me a Marshal Tucker Band Album for Christmas.. I vividly remember thinking.. "Oh thanks A LOT"; dripping with sarcasm as I felt this only served to prove how little thought he put into my gift and lamenting more evidence of how completely oblivious my family were to who I actually was.. in a nutshell I'd never heard of them then and concluded they must suck or I'd already know and love them.. "Can't You See" would later in life take on a real meaningful signifigance... as I'm sure it did with many a man.. Still I never acquired the taste. |
Indeed. They were one of the most creative and talented bands recording at the time (in their genre). Dont forget how good the drummer was he was very much a jazz-influenced player. Its sad that Tommy, Toy and George are all gone now. |
Good to see all the responses...thank you, now I have some additional insight AND have their concert DVD in my Netflix queue... Good Stuff.
Definitely don't want to forget the others in the band (drummer, bass player, etc.)...as folks have mentioned here, it's the chemistry and cohesiveness that made them work.
Side Note: did some searches yesterday...looks like they are on the summer festival/fare tour...and actually playing in my state...(unfortunately, 5 hours away)... wondering how they would be with only one (I think) original member left and 35 years past. I might just grab one of their more recent albums just to check them out. |
Check out "Running Like The Wind" a very well recorded album and a showcase of the multi-talented and highly versatile MTB. |
I like their first release best - it is phenominal (IMO). Each release afterwards I like less and less. So much less that I have only kept their first. But I find this true of many bands - their first release being their best (IMO). |
I love them. One of my favorite songs is walking my property line, but some many other good ones also. Another band I feel is in this catagory are the Atlanta Rhythm Section. |
fwiw, I think 'Can't You See' is one of the best constructed songs ever written. The spacing created for the lead guitar and the vocals sends chills up my spine every time I hear it. (I am listening right now. :-) Chills again. |
Thanks for this! 70s college radio (WVBR FM, Ithaca, NY). Any thoughts on the best sounding/best song list compilation? Don't think I've heard them in years, but will definitely add one (but likely only one) disc to my collection; I like the cheesy stuff too. The below link by the way, is keeping the MTB flame alive. John
http://www.tuckerhead.com/discography.htm |
I too love their music. Didn't Toy Caldwell die within the past couple of yeras? |
Toy died in 1993,his brother Tommy in 1980. |
If you like Marshall Tucker also try the Amazing Rhythm Aces and Ozark Mountain Dare Devils . you dont live for ever is my fav tucker tune its on long hard ride . |
Agree with both Marshall Tucker Band and Ozark Mountain Daredevils but I give the nod to Ozark Mountain Daredevils becuase I've found the sound quality of their releases on vinyl to be among the best in rock style music. Their debut and It'll Shine When It Shines are sonic and musical standouts in my opinion. |
I love them.............I first saw them in concert at the old Syracuse War Memorial in Spring 1975, and I've been hooked ever since. My favorite LP is the live double album, "Where We All Belong," with great versions of Ramblin', Take the Highway, This Old Cowboy, etc. They really came on big under the guidance of Dicky Betts and the "post-Duane" Allman Brothers Band, and, unfortunatley came to an early end after the tragic deaths of the Caldwells. |
So, any thoughts on the best sounding studio compilation on CD? Thx, J |
Great band. I played my version of greatest hits recently, and the sound quality was pretty bad. I also have Where we all belong. Great album, I will have to toss this record on again to check out the sound quality. My system has changed a bit since I last played it. Both mine are domestic pressings on Capricorn. |
