This post will be a little ramblin’ but the topic deserves it.
Southern rock has been the soundtrack of my life, and I guess I owe that to Charlie Daniels. When I was about 14 or 15 years old I was, like many in the day, a slave to top 40 radio stations. I had started to develop a liking for bands like (shudder) Kool & the Gang and The Jimmy Castor Bunch (remember “Bertha Butt”?). As I look back, I don't know what the hell I was thinking.
Anyway, about that time Charlie Daniels’ “Fire on the Mountain” album came out and “The South's Gonna to Do It Again” was actually being played on Top 40 radio. I was mesmerized.This was truly something different. So, I went out and bought the album and couldn't believe how great it was. I was instantly hooked. Out the door went Kool & the Gang and in came Charlie. I then decided to check out all the artists mentioned in TSGDIA. At about this same time my best friend had just bought Marshall Tuckers' "Searchin' for a Rainbow" on 8-track and he didn't like it, so he gave it to me. I had never heard them so I gave it a listen. Wow... it was just... beautiful.
That was the beginning of it. In a short few weeks I went from insipid Top 40 to real music. I found an "AOR" (album oriented radio) station and started listening to more and more things. That's when it really happened. One night I was in bed, listening to the "AOR" station when they played something completely new to my ears that I couldn't believe. What was that amazing sound? What have I found? Then the DJ said "that was the Allman Brothers with 'High Falls'". I haven't looked back since that moment. The ABB became, over the next few months, the band that truly stirs my soul and the only band that can make me stop and do nothing else but listen. I love them in all their incarnations, from the original line up to the current one. They move me like no other.
Since that month or so journey from "Jungle Boogie" to "Mountain Jam" I've learned to love all southern rock, some more than others, and I believe it to be the most honest and heartfelt music there is. It has soul... true soul... that can't be denied. It means so much to me that I want "Mountain Jam" played, in it's entirety, at my funeral. I'm serious about that... drums and all.
One pet peeve of mine I'll mention here. It bugs the hell out of me to see bands that are NOT southern rock, either stylistically or geographically, mentioned when the subject is brought up. Bands and acts like The Eagles, Neil Young, CCR, Pure Prairie League and The Band are NOT southern rock. That's not saying I don't like them, I do (except for The Eagles, HATE them), but they just aren't southern rock. It bugs me but that's just me.
So anyway, thanks Charlie for starting my journey, and thanks ABB for every moment of joy you've given me. My life is much, much richer for it.
Allman Brothers with Duane!!!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YQsAxHk54x4&feature=related
Good morning, TBKentuckian
Thanks for sharing the story.