Between 1972 and 1977, Black Oak Arkansas blasted its way around the world with a guitar-heavy brand of swamp rock. This show, recorded shortly after the band released its popular live album, came with the momentum of a much ballyhooed appearance at California Jam in front of 600,000 crazy fans.
A cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Thin Lizzy (with a touch of the Allmans…entire summary
Jim Dandy - lead vocals, scrub board
Rick Reynolds - guitar
Pat Daugherty - bass, vocals
Harvey Jett - lead guitar, vocals
Stanley Knight - lead guitar, vocals
Tommy Aldridge - drums
Ruby Starr - backing vocals
Between 1972 and 1977, Black Oak Arkansas blasted its way around the world with a guitar-heavy brand of swamp rock. This show, recorded shortly after the band released its popular live album, came with the momentum of a much ballyhooed appearance at California Jam in front of 600,000 crazy fans.
A cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Thin Lizzy (with a touch of the Allmans thrown in for good, guitar-dueling measure), Black Oak Arkansas was spearheaded by their controversial front man, Jim Dandy Magnum. Jim Dandy, as he was called, got the name at age 10 when his father nicknamed him from the 1950s LaVern Baker song "Jim Dandy To The Rescue." Black Oak Arkansas would later have a #1 single with their own re-make of the song, after Magnum got a personal call from Elvis Presley himself who recommended they cut it.
Songs such as "Hot and Nasty,” "Hot Rod,” "Hey Y’all” and the aforementioned remake of "Jim Dandy” dominated the band’s song list and have remained among their best loved songs.
The group started to wane in the late 1970s due mainly to the rigors of the road and the band’s inability to remain innovative within an industry that was embracing disco and corporate rock. They continued throughout the ‘80s, leaving Atlantic Records for a short-lived career on MCA. Since that period, Magnum has broken the band up and reformed it a number of times, remaining the figurehead. Sadly, backing vocalist Ruby Starr, who sang on the band’s version of "Jim Dandy To The Rescue” died of a brain tumor in 1995.
This show, recorded at Bill Graham’s Winterland Ballroom, exudes sweat and energy and is not to be missed if you are a fan of BOA and their vivacious blend of hard southern rock.
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