Customer Reviews

Lost Cabin Sessions

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A few years before they hit the big time with "Jackie Blue," the Ozark Mountain Daredevils were a group of friends who gathered together to make music in a Springfield, Missouri pizza parlor. With surprising quickness the aggregation turned into a group and found themselves in a local 8-track studio recording some very polished demos. From the start the band operated democratically, giving several members an opportunity to contribute songs and lead vocals. Even still, they forged a unified country-rock sound, taking in the smoothness of Firefall, but with a hint of Southern boogie and a bluesy, hippie edge ala Brewer & Shipley.

Titles such as "Chicken Train," "Leatherwood," "Keep on Chrunin'," "You Know Like I Know," and "Fly Away From Home" would turn up in re-recorded form on the Devils' subsequent albums for A&M, but many of these songs never made it past this demo stage. Calling these "demos" is a bit misleading, given their finished arrangements and impressive production quality. As the band demonstrated across their later catalog, they brought together a broad range of influences, from the folky guitar strumming of "Rainbird" and the softer pop sounds of "You Know Like I Know" (shades lot of Todd Rundgren's "Hello It's Me" period), to the San Francisco ballroom blues of "Feelin' Good."

It's hard to imagine many bands (then or now) having this many good songs (not to mention the good taste to cover "A Satisfied Mind") so early in their career; not to mention the talent to record such fine sounding demos. Fans of the band's better known albums will positively love this release, and those familiar only with "Jackie Blue" may very well become fans after a spin through these tracks.

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were among the most popular of mid-'70s country-rock bands, slotting in chronologically between The Eagles and Firefall. As exponents of '70s country-rock, the group rode a wave of success for five years on A&M Records with hits such as "Jackie Blue," "Following The Way I Feel," "Fly Away Home" and "If You Want to Get to Heaven." This collection features long lost recordings that were made during their early days together. Sometime during that period, they assembled a little eight-track studio in Springfield, and recorded 28 songs over a thirteen-hour day. The recordings on this CD represent that period, many from that very day--before the band even had a name. These are the recordings that impressed A&M Records enough to sign them to a long-tem contact. Fans have often requested these legendary Lost Cabin Sessions over the years, but up until now have been unavailable. This collection was compiled with the full cooperation of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Six of the 18 tracks were later re-recorded for some of their best selling A&M albums. All 18 tracks have never been available on CD.

I grew up in the home town of the Daredevils, and I was going to college at SMSU when the Daredevils were just getting things together. American Artists Studios, where this was recorded, was a small but effective recording studio in Springfield, and it was the only thing that artists had in the area. (American Artists also did things like local HS Band concerts, and the like.) However, that sure didn't hurt the sound quality of this compilation.
"Pilot" music such as this first compilation is usually somewhat scant with good cuts scattered about. I was somewhat surprised by some of the songs on this album that never got otherwise released. It's full, with 18 cuts, and almost every one has some value. Some of the cuts became big releases, and it's interesting to hear how they originally did them. Others that didn't get otherwise released will really surprise you in how good they were.
This will be enjoyable music to Daredevil fans, new and old. If you are a OMD fan, you won't want to miss out on this one that has quite a bit of good music that even many die hard Daredevil fans might not have even heard yet.

This CD of ozarks outakes from 1972 is a must for fans, although some of the undeveloped demos do not do some of the material justice.

For those of you with the original lp release, this is quite a different set, and although it omits one or two gems, there is much to enjoy.

I was particularly struck by 'Rainbird' and the extended version of 'Sherrifs coming' and there is a great early demo of 'Leatherwood'. The highlight for me is the majestic 'Someday Darlin' re-produced by Larry Lee with John Dillon putting in a soulful vocal performance.

Although these early efforts lack the sophistication of the polished debut release, it's a joy to listen to, revealing lots of good ideas, eclectic material and some great rock/country bluegrass.

The history of the band is also fasinating and I learned that both Paul McCartney and Neil Young are fans - quite an endorsment for one of the great underated bands.

That's one cabin I would have loved to stay in!

I first bought this year's ago on album, it has always been one of their best (in my opinion) it's very clean for the age, and so raw I just love this cd version. And it just has it's own magic you just have to hear it, this is also a nice long player. You get to hear some of their songs that became classics later on, they have a different sound but are just as good and sometimes better. (if you prefer raw) So I think this is well worth buying I don't think there is a bad tune on this one.

I absolutely love this disc, and play it at least as much as any other this fantastic group ever released. While Lost Cabin can be labeled as demo recordings, the sound quality is far above what some reviewers have implied (though some of the slow accoustic numbers are poorly miked). Mature song writing and arrangements are already in place, the band is tight and well rehearsed, and the sound is remarkably clear. This isn't polished like the recordings with Glyn Johns, but it still shines.

In the summer of 1972, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were barely a year old and still playing under the moniker The Family Tree. Band friend and collaborator (and future member) Steve Canaday, through some stranger than fiction circumstances, found himself in New York City wrangling his way into the offices of the legendary John Hammond with a rough live recording made in Springfield, Missouri hipster music club, The New Bijou Theater. Hammond was impressed enough to send a staff producer from Epic records out to hear the band. While he didn't sign them, he gave them $500 to record some demos and assure Epic first shot at signing the group.

The Family Tree rolled into local American Artists studio, and in a marathon 13 hour session recorded 23 songs, all originals but one. The 18 cuts on this disc are representative of that session. While many OMD classics are here in earlier versions, the majority would unfortunately fall into oblivion till some saw the light of day again on limited edition vinyl in the 80's. Some have said these recordings were not released for good reason. I beg to differ. Everything that made the Daredevils one of the best and most original sounding bands of the 70's is already in place.

While I'd be the first to admit that some of these songs aren't classics, in my opinion they're all good, and some are quite brilliant. In addition to beloved tunes that would show up on later OMD albums, this disc contains some of my very favorites. I could never grow tired of Outside My Country Home. It embodies every element that makes this band the unique entity they are. Beautiful ballads like Lovin' Again and Rainbird, laid back fun and funky party rock like Feelin' Good, the jazzy tale of a rural stoner, Sheriff's Comin', etc. In other words, the usual collection of enjoyable and entertaining eclectic songs you would expect from the wild and woolly Ozark boys.

I highly recommend this to any serious OMD fan, and any one who loves that rural stoner country with a rock'n'roll attitude. This CD is well worth the money. The liner notes could stand some corrections, but I'm thankful to Varese Sarabande Records for releasing this collection. I hope the other five songs from this recording session see the light of day as well.

The 18 songs on the album shed a new light on one of the best coutry rock bands. Not all recordings are of high audio quality. All songs are a worthfull addition to the first official albums of the band in the seventies.
Be prepared to find different early versions of songs from these albums.

It's for rabid fans only. Yeah, I like roots (country) rock, especially from guys who really come from the hills - but there was a reason the OMD never re-recorded most of these tunes - they were just Ok. Nothing special. I put my copy up for sale the day after I listened to it.