MTB was on the cutting edge in the 70's. Not only were they playing music that featured an infusion of styles, the likes of which rock and roll had never experienced before, but they made one of the earliest story-line videos in the industry. Long Hard Ride was released in 1976 as a trailer that movie-goers were shown prior to the "main attraction." In it, the band gets to play the good guys and foil a stage coach robbery. Portions of it can be seen on 1993 MTB video history Then & Now.
Below is the text of the press release for the film along with the promo poster, video captures and publicity stills from the movie.
Long Hard Ride
"The Movie"
Though they're best known for cross-country excitement, as well as four critically acclaimed, best-selling albums, The Marshall Tucker Band recently decided to try something different. So Spartanburg, South Carolina's finest came to California to make a film.
While not exactly feature length, the eight minute short embodies the heart of those six East Coast Cowboys.
Titled "Long Hard Ride," after the band's new album of the same name, the film was shot on the Paramount Ranch just north of Los Angeles. It will soon be seen on the Midnight Special and as a trailer in your local theatre.
Simple and direct, "Long Hard Ride" begins with the band (Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell, George McCorkle, Jerry Eubanks, Paul Riddle and Doug Gray) riding horseback into the picture. Suddenly, an unseen voice shouts out a macho "Hey redneck!" The camera studies the face of each Tucker to reveal their reaction to provocation. Then, a quick cut to six mounted bad guys.
The next scene starts pastorally. Doug and Jerry are peacefully watering their horses when Doug is kicked in the face by one of the a pair of interlopers. A fight ensues and all four end up getting wet and muddy. The two Tuckers emerge victorious and are congratulating themselves back by the horses when one of the outlaws lying in the waterhole draws and aims his gun with his last bit of strength. Jerry, seeing this, casually lights a stick of dynamite, and tossing it into the water, ends everything with a big bang.
Again, we see a quick shot of six galloping bad guys, only this time Doug and Jerry have taken the places of the two losers they just defeated.
In the next scene, two more bad apples are pursuing an innocent stagecoach. Toy and Tommy, who just happen to be grazing their steeds on a hillside, give chase. Tommy is shot in the shoulder, but manages to down his opponent. Toy kills the other villain, and seeing his brother in trouble, comes over to help. They ride off into the sunset together again and we cut to the opposing gang where Toy and Tommy have also taken the place of their troublemaking friends.
The final action is a shootout scene with George facing an all-too-cocky bandit. Paul, on horseback, is the self-appointed peacekeeper intent on making sure the fight is at least fair. Glancing around, he sees an evil type (played by Capricorn Records' President Phil Walden) on the roof, about to give his arrogant partner an unfair advantage. Paul quietly picks him off and George summarily disposes of his nemesis with a shotgun blast.
In the end we return to the six riding men to find it's the entire Marshall Tucker Band intact and galloping away.
"Making a good film is like making a good album,: said Tommy Caldwell later. "My role was basically ridin' and shootin' which I do at home anyway. I got to play myself." He is impressed with his first film venture.
Doug Gray was equally enthusiastic. "I'm ready for another," he growled. "I'm ready for Bonanza, but I think I'd have to be playing Hoss considering my size." He belly laughed. "It was the first time I'd ever been on a horse and I was scared shitless, not to mention saddle sore."
"It takes balls to make a movie," added George McCorkle. It was a good experience for the band. We tried it, did it and had a lot of fun to boot. We saw it through and were successful. I've always imagined myself toting a shotgun and that's exactly what I got to do."
Tommy summed it up succinctly: "We found we were really close to the wranglers who helped out as extras and worked with the horses. They're our kind of people. Take a good man and out him anywhere and he's still a good man."
That goes double for The Marshall Tucker Band. Whether in the recording studio, in concert or on screen, good men show their true colors.
Special thanks to Randy West for all the video captures!