MTB covers "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down" on this tribute to Hank, Jr. The song would not have sounded out of place on the band's 1983 Just Us release, but probably would have on any other MTB album. The song marks the last performance captured on CD of long time MTB lead guitarist Rusty Milner. Although it's great to hear something new from the band, it just reminds us that it's been way too long since the band has delivered a CD of new material... that's what we're all truly waiting for! 1999 was the last year the band delivered a full CD, though they did do two songs on the Thunder Road CD (to read about it click here).
It is only fitting that MTB be a part of this project becuase Bocephus had a close relationship with Toy. Junior also covered "Can't You See" and "Losing You" in the mid-70's - and he andMTB have shared the same bill on numerous occasions. Though Tucker's song selection seems appropriate (given the band's good time reputation) I would have liked to hear them cover a song such as "The New South" (in which Hank, Jr. referred to Carolina Dreams) or "Feelin' Better" (in which he refers to Toy). He also makes references to MTB and Spartanburg in two other songs, so evidentally he is a big MTB fan!
Several of these songs are among my favorite Hank, Jr. tunes, performed by some of my favorite artists (38 SPecial, Skynyrd, Montgomery Gentry and, of course, MTB) - but none of the performances have as much attitude or energy as the original. Perhaps that is because of the slick Nashville production... that ironically Hank seemed to dispise. AS a result it's the slower songs that are the most effective.
The CD's track listing is:
1. Young Country (Blake Shelton with Special guest Trick Pony and Darryl
Worley)
2. Women I've Never Had (Montgomery Gentry)
3. All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight (Trick Pony)
4. Outlaw Women (Tracy Lawrence)
5. Born To Boogie (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
6. A Country Boy Can Survive (Chad Brock with John Anderson, Hank Williams Jr.
and George Jones)
7. Heaven Can't Be Found (Dusty Drake)
8. Family Tradition (Aaron Tippin)
9. The Blues Man (Alan Jackson)
10. Major Moves (John Michael Montgomery)
11. Eleven Roses (Trace Adkins)
12. Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (Dan Baird from The Georgia Satellites)
13. Old Habits (Andy Griggs)
14. All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down (The Marshall Tucker Band)
15. If It Will It Will (38 Special)
16. Outlaws Reward (Hank Williams Jr.)