Studio Album:
Live Album:
THIS OL' COWBOY
RAMBLIN'
LOW DOWN WAYS
24 HOURS AT A TIME
IN MY OWN WAY
EVERYDAY (I HAVE THE BLUES) (Peter
Chapman)
HOW CAN I SLOW DOWN
TAKE THE HIGHWAY
WHERE A COUNTRY BOY BELONGS
NOW SHE'S GONE
TRY ONE MORE TIME
* all songs written by Toy Caldwell except as indicated
Doug Gray says that this is his favorite MTB album, and I can see why. Released in 1974 on Capricorn Records as a two LP set, one studio album, one live, this is the perfect Marshall Tucker Band record!
Side one kicks off with what would go on to become one of Toy Caldwellís most recognizable guitar licks, the intro riff to ìThis Olí Cowboy.î Written and sung on record by Toy, the song would later be performed in concert by Doug. A Top 40 hit for the band, the song remains a Tuckerhead favorite. Next comes ìLow Down Ways,î another great Toy composition that leads into ìIn My Own Way,î a classic country song featuring some of Toyís excellent pedal steel guitar. Paul Hornsby contributes some fine keyboard work on this track and several others, adding to his already impressive job as producer.
Japanese Ad for Where We All Belong
Side two begins with "How Can I Slow Down and moves into one of their 1970's concert staples "Where a Country Boy Belongs." The studio version is enhanced by a guest appearance by Elvin Bishop, burning up on his slide guitar. And speaking of guests, brother Charlie Daniels is all over the record, both in the studio and on the live sides, "sawing that fiddle and makin' it hot."
"Now She's Gone is the only track on the studio record not written by Toy. Well, not entirely anyway. It was co-written by his brother, Tommy. Singer Doug Gray outdoes himself on the closing track "Try One More Time", a country blues number that drips with soul. Side three is the first of the live side, recorded at The Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The set begins with the intense "Ramblin", which rocks like a San Francisco earthquake, and then moves into the 13-minute plus live version of "24 Hours at a Time", featuring solos from everyone in the band and Charlie Daniels. Tommy's bass solo will live forever, and most Tucker fans as well as most fans of good southern music can hum the notes of that solo if you asked them to
"Everyday I Have the Blues", the B.B. King tune written by Peter Chapman, burns through the start of side four, with Toy displaying some of his hottest blues guitar licks ever etched into vinyl. The side concludes with a rocking version of "Take the Highway", the long time concert opener, and perennial favorite.
With cover art by Jim Campbell, drawn from photos taken by George's brother, Chuck, Where We All Belong is nothing short of a classic rock and roll album. Excellent production and superior playing make this the definitive MTB album.
- Michael B. Smith