Rare Cuts, Bootlegs, Radio Shows & Soundtracks
The bulk of MTB's
material is readily available on the band's CDs, however there are a few
"rarities" that are not quite as easy to come by. There are a few great cuts -
along with some mediocre efforts - released on compilations, soundtracks, or as
b-sides to single releases (which are not available on albums).
Without a doubt, the best of the commercial rarities is "The Thrill Is Gone," a blues tune written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell and made popular by B.B. King. MTB often played it live in the mid-70's and it was recorded for the first Volunteer Jam album, which was released on the Capricorn label in 1976. MTB was joined on stage that day by a stellar group of guest musicians, including Chuck Leavell of the Allman Brothers on piano, Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie on harmonica, Charlie Daniels and Dickie Betts on guitar, Fred Edwards of the CDB on drums, and Jaimie Nichols on congas.
The
performance took place on September 9, 1975 at the Murphy Center at Middle State
Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. It is a classic Tucker
jam, lasting over ten minutes and includes Toyís signature guitar and
Paul's classic jazz drum style, which kicks off the song in mesmerizing
fashion. Doug's vocals are at their mournful best and he hits some high
notes unlike any that are captured on vinyl. I think this is his best
performance ever, which is saying alot. Guitar solos abound. Leavell
is also a featured soloist as he takes us on a stroll down his piano.
Jerry Eubanks takes center stage only momentarily with his sax, but it becomes
one of his best solo performances ever etched in vinyl. Jimmy Hall
captures the mood perfectly on his harmonica solo and then gives way to Toy.
Is any
further explanation needed? He then trades licks with the other guitar players
as Paul Riddle punctuates them with his drums, and Chuck accentuates it all with
a tease of the ivory.
Another live rarity is the performance of "Fire on the Mountain," recorded live in Manchester, England and released in 1978 on the Capricorn double-LP Live: Hotels, Motels and Road Shows. Recorded at the Palace Theatre in 1976 on the band's first tour of Europe, it is a pretty straightforward rendition, which runs essentially the same length as the studio version on the Searchin For a Rainbow album. The only noticeable differences is the harmonizing of Tommy Caldwell, whose vocals are amplified significantly on the live version, and the absence of Charlie Daniels' fiddle. Also on this LP is "Take the Highway," although it is from the same live performance that was released on 1974's Where We All Belong album.
In the 70's and 80's MTB appeared on several radio shows - most noteably the King Biscuit Flower Hour. Some of these are available in publications like Goldmine or can be found on the internet at tape trading sites. Since the shows were professionally recorded and mixed the quality is outstanding. They also appeared on some radio shows in the early 90's and those can be found as well.
The other European bootleg (though the sellers of these in Europe don't refer to them as such!) is called Silverado and contains 14 songs. Nine are from Tommy's last show, also recorded at Nassau Coliseum, on April 21, 1980 and five are from a performance in Dallas, Texas in December, 1981. The songs from Tommy's last show were taken from a King Bisquit Flower Hour show, who had recorded the performance. The songs from the Nassau show are: Heard It In a Love Song, Take the Highway, Cattle Drive, See You One More Time, Sing My Blues, Fire on the Mountain, In My Own Way, This Ol Cowboy and Can't You See. The last five songs on the CD, from the Dallas concert, are: It Takes Time, Tell the Blues To Take Off Tonight, I'll Be Loving You, Silverado, and Searchin' For a Rainbow. MTB's performances were always more intense live and this CD captures that beautifully. One of the highlights is George's extended solo during Searchin For a Rainbow. In earlier live performances, Toy would handle the solo but in the early 1980's he turned it over to George. For fans lucky enough to find Live at Nassau as well as this CD they can compare both versions - both of which are great. Another highlight is This Ol Cowboy, with Doug on vocals. On this CD you can actually hear a few of the snap, crackle and pops from the original LPs, which were used to make the CD (King Biscuit would record performances live, cut them to LP and then send the LPs to radio stations who would air them). MTB often appeared on the KBFH and it is from those shows that this CD was created. I'm sure most fans, like me, would one day like to have a full MTB concert on CD from their heyday. The 1980 tour, perhaps the full performance of Tommy's last show, would be the obvious choice. That tour featured the best songs from the two Warner Brothers released to that point (Running Like the Wind, Tenth) as well as the greatest hits from the Capricorn years. They were also headlining at the time, so their shows were almost two hours. Until a commercial release is available, fans will have to settle for Silverado and Live at Nassau. They have gone for over $120.00 on E-bay, so caveat emptor reigns!
Recently a new bootleg - Denver 1975 - has surfaced. I have not heard it, but I'm sure it comes from a radio show that is also available by that name, recorded at a place called Ebbets Field. It is unique in that it was recorded at a small venue and, while listening, you feel as if you're sitting at a table, having a drink, listening to MTB. Does it get any better than that???
The
Tucker boys have had three songs featured on two different soundtracks. None of
them are available on an MTB album. Two songs were featured on the "mini-LP
soundtrack" from Stroker Ace, which starred Burt Reynolds, Loni Anderson, Parker
Stevenson, Jim Nabors, and Ned Beatty. The film
was released in 1983. "Southern Loving" is a song touting the virtues of southern women and
was written by James D. Weatherly. The other song, "Victim of Life's
Circumstances," was penned by veteran tunesmith Delbert McLinton and is
about a guy that always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Neither song is trademark Tucker but rather typical soundtrack fodder.
Both songs were produced by MTB and recorded at their Creative Arts Studio in
their hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The band's other soundtrack song comes from "The
Pursuit of D.B. Cooper" and is titled "Silk Dresses." It is written by
Michael Smotherman, who also wrote "If You Think You're Hurtin Me Girl
You're Crazy" on
the band's Tuckerized album. The song is an upbeat ditty that today would
probably be considered politically incorrect. It's a tongue in cheek tune
about the pleasures of girl watching and the preference that the singer loves
them "in their nothing most of all.î It was produced by Gary Klein
and released in 1981.
Most of
the Marshall Tucker Band's "B-sides" have included songs that were also available
on the albums featuring their singles. Two exceptions came during their
short tenure at Polygram, who released the 1988 CD Still Holdin On, which
featured two songs that reached the country Top 40. The first was "Hangin
Out in Smoky Places" and was coupled with "He Don't Know."
It's a somber song about how love can end - whether because of a
cheating lover or the death of a life-long spouse. This song recently
became available on CD when Polygram released Back to Back, featuring songs by the Allman Bothers and
MTB, most of which came
off of the Still Holding On CD.
The other
Polygram B-side is "Slow Down," a ballad on the single "Once You
Get the Feel of It." In it, the subject is attempting to hold on to a
relationship that has taken a toll from the fast-paced life that the lovers are
living.
Perhaps the rarest recording of all to feature members of MTB is the The New Generation's single (45 rpm record). The New Generation was a band that Doug Gray and Tommy Caldwell were members of prior to MTB. The single features "Because Of Love (It's All Over)" and "That's The Sun." It was recorded at the Sonic studios while the band was in their teens and issued years later on the Sonic label in April, 1968. "That's the Sun" is a nice mid-tempo ballad, while the flip side is "a cool 'n' catchy garage mover."
Thunder Road is a recent release that contains two MTB songs. It features something old and something new from the band. Long Hard Ride, the 1976 Grammy nominated instrumental, was re-recorded for this special release. They stay true to the original version - and that's good news for two reasons. First, it was a great song to begin with. Second, it shows that while lead singer Doug Gray is the only original founding member, the rest of the band delivers vintage MTB music in the fashion that fans would expect. The new song is titled "Drive On" - a tribute to Dale Earnhardt and is sung by Clay Cook. For fans who have heard him sing Take the Highway and Ramblin' in concert, you will hear a different side to Clay. Drive On is sung in a totally different key and it's hard to believe the man that sings these subdued, poignant notes can also deliver the high-octane vocals for the previously mentioned Tucker classics. Rusty Milner's soaring guitar accentuates the bitter-sweet lyrics.
In one way it's been a blessing that there have been very few MTB rarities, which, in the end, means that most of their songs are already commercially available. In another way it's unfortunate, because it means the Tucker catalog is much more limited. There are just not that many songs available as unreleased album cuts for fans to enjoy... and true Tuckerheads can never get enough!
- Craig Cumberland