Memories & Music from The Capitol
By Craig Cumberland
Ramblin' Records and Shout Factory have released a gem with Carolina Dreams Tour '77, a combination DVD and 2-CD set. It's a virtual time capsule for Tucker fans that transports us back in time to our younger days when Doug stood stage left, belting out all those tunes we knew oh so well, and Toy took center stage and mesmerized us with his thumb-picking lead guitar solos.
While Live on Long Island captured the cavernous sound of an arena performance and the energy of the Nassau Coliseum's sold-out crowd of 15,000, Tour '77 reflects the intimate setting of the Capitol Theater. Located in Passaic, New Jersey it was built in 1926 by Thomas W. Lamb (the architect who also built the original Madison Square Garden). It was originally a vaudeville house and had a seating capacity of 3,140. When talkies put an end to the vaudeville era it was turned into a movie theater. Years later, after the Fillmore East closed, John Scher and Al Hayward saw a need for another venue of its type. Thus, the Capitol became a concert hall in 1971. Many of the folks who worked at the Fillmore were hired for the new venture and it became a hotbed of music. It was acoustically perfect and the intimate setting made it a popular east coast tour stop; all the major acts played there, including the boys from Spartanburg (on five different occasions). MTB first played the theater on November 16, 1973 on a double-bill with Poco. They returned many times after, including this stop on February 18 during their 1977 tour. A film crew caught it on tape and 30 years later their efforts can finally be appreciated.
A crowd congregates on Monroe Street after a performance on March 30, 1980.
Photo by Kevin R. Papa.
The Tuckers burned through a 14-song set that included old favorites and songs from their new album. The night kicked off with Fly Like an Eagle. The imagery takes you back to the days of riverboats and gambling. The soaring flute and driving tempo make it an adrenaline filled flight that starts the show off in overdrive. The Grammy nominated instrumental Long Hard Ride follows and then the boys launch into fan favorite Searchin' For a Rainbow. The song is even more infectious live than the studio version, thanks to Toyís lead guitar intro and extended solo. They slow things down considerably with the I Should Have Never Started Loving You. Jerryís sax compliments the lovelorn lyrics perfectly. The song that made the year possible, Heard It In a Love Song, is next... but more on that later. Take the Highway is delivered with the voracity we've come to know from Where We All Belong and the New Jersey audience clearly appreciates the band's efforts. The opening chords to Fire on the Mountain are met with gusto and the band is in a comfortable groove as they move on to In My Own Way. The mellow tempo changes as Toy rips into Never Trust a Stranger. The band sinks its teeth into the song, stretching it out for an 8-minute ride. It sets the stage for the triple assault of 24 Hours, Rambliní and Canít You See. All are stellar performances and the packed house is on its feet, demanding more. The first encore is This Ol Cowboy and the band knocks it out of the park. Dougís vocals are relaxed and effortless and the rest of the band is in the zone. But tonight they save the best for last; an unforgettable performance of Will the Circle Be Unbroken. Toy's guitar can be heard echoing across the theater as appreciative whistles emanate from the audience. The song is a tour de force and exemplifies what the band is all about. MTB leaves the audience, as they always did, wanting more.
1977 was a momentous year for the Tucker Boys. The previous year they'd scored their first Top 40 hit, Fire on the Mountain, which peaked at # 38. Searchin' for a Rainbow was their fourth Gold album and in January they played Jimmy Carter's Inaugural Ball. Carolina Dreams was in the can and they had high hopes it would take them to another level. They were headliners now, playing sold-out shows to 20,000 on a regular basis at venues like Madison Square Garden. Everything the boys could have possibly dreamed of was coming true.
A program from November 21, 1975, with artwork by Moyssi. MTB appeared that night with Kansas.
Carolina Dreams was released in February and it reached # 23 on the Billboard charts and was certified Gold on June 2. Less than a year later (May 23, 1978) it became the band's first platinum album. In a year that featured the release of some of rock's biggest selling albums of all-time, Carolina Dreams also received popular acclaim. While Rumors, Night Moves, Hotel California, Songs in the Key of Life, Bat Out of Hell, Fly Like an Eagle, and the debuts of Boston and Foreigner, were all riding high, Marshall Tucker caught the nationís curiosity with their infectious single and southern hospitality.
It's easy to see why both fans and artists enjoyed shows at the Capitol!
To give it some historical perspective, Heard It In a Love Song was riding the Billboard Top 40 singles charts - with a bullet no less - at the same time as Hotel California, Dreams, Margaritaville, Carry on Wayward Son, Calling Dr. Love, The First Cut Is the Deepest, Feels Like the First Time, Night Moves, I Just Want to Be Your Everything, When I Need You, Dancing Queen, and Iím Your Boogie Man. Instrumentals were big at the time too as the themes from Charlie Angels and Rocky were charting. The one-hit wonders were Disco Inferno, Don't Give Up On Us, Don't Leave Me This Way, Angel In Your Arms, I Wanna Get Next to You, I Like Dreamin' and Undercover Angel. ÝEven a couple former Beatles were in on the act with Maybe I'm Amazed and Crackerbox Palace and Kenny Rogers and Glen Campbell were crossing over with Lucille and Southern Nights. It was an era when a multitude of genres were played on Pop radio and DJs had more flexibility in what they could spn. Love Song reached # 14 on the charts in April and in Billboard's year-end Top 100 it was ranked # 57. Back when things were just getting started and the boys were hanging out at the Beacon Drive-In and rehearsing in Marshall Tucker's old warehouse, could they have ever imagined reaching these heights? They were on the cover of Cashbox and featured in Rolling Stone and Country Music magazine. Pollstar listed them regularly among the top concert draws in the country and the King Biscuit Flower Hour aired their concerts on radio. They were in ads for Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Junior Mints, and Ronrico Rum - not to mention guitar strings, microphones, and drum sticks. They appeared on Hollywood Squares, Don Kirshnerís Rock Concert, the Merv Griffin and Tom Snyder Shows. They were even on a Slurpee cup!
A poster for the band's 1978 appearance. Artist is Amy Tuttle.
Carolina Dreams also cracked the Top 40 on country charts at a time when Waylonís Luckenbach, Texas was streaking toward platinum status. The top movies of the year were Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Rocky took home the Oscar for best picture while Carroll O'Connor and All in the Family both won an Emmy. Reggie Jackson belted three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series, carrying the Yankees to a World Championship. In a year when everything seemed to be larger than life, Marshall Tucker rose to the occasion with their unique brand of music. In an era where frills seemed necessary to capture the public's attention, MTB only had to do what they did best - play their asses off with no strings attached. Talk about earning your way honestly. Perhaps thatís why thirty years later their music stands the test of time and much of the othersí seems contrived and dated.
The Capitol Theater closed in 1986 and was demolished in April of 1991. The original MTB is lost to the ages ss well - but both will live on in our memories and this great collection of music!
* Images provided by courtesy of the artist, Moyssi (www.moyssi.com). Posters and programs may be purchased at his site!