Customer Reviews

Carolina Dreams

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

 

 

If you'd only heard that The Marshall Tucker Band was a great southern rock band , one listen of this CD will convince you for sure . I first bought this album when I was 17 back in 1977 ( we called them albums back then ) when the group was riding high on their hit song " Heard it in a Love Song " . It only took a listen or two of it before I knew that this album was no dog with a fancy skirt on it . No fillers at all just great listening on each track ! The up tempo songs such as Fly Like an Eagle and Life in a Song have enough brass bite and cool guitar licks to satisfy everyone . I Heard it in a Love Song sounds as fresh today as in the 70's with great lyrics and melody along with a fine piano solo . If you can't close your eyes and imagine yourself transported to the Old West while listening to Never Trust a Stranger and Desert Skies then your imagination might need some serious work . Great flute playing on Never Trust ... and fine guitar on both . Doug Gray's vocals shine throughout . While I would say this CD doesn't " rock " quite so much as perhaps the Marshall Tucker band's first few albums , it makes up for it in picture evoking lyrics , and strong melodies . Don't misunderstand me please , it has plenty of energy to spare ! Highly recommended !

I can remember saying "Wow!" the first time I finished listening to this album. Nearly every cut is strong and I get the sense that the band had fun making it. If you have to hit the interstate highway for any length of time, this is great album for rolling down the road.

"Fly Like an Eagle" (no, not the Steve Miller version) is a little shot of energy and always gets me hoppin' (hard to do while driving). Of course the well-known "Heard It in a Love Song" is here but is eclipsed by some of the other songs. 'I Should Have Never Started Lovin' You" is a slowed-down, 7 minute plus track that may grow on you with each playing. It also makes effective use of horns, something that I said a song from the A New Life album didn't do. However, "Life in a Song" does not use the horn section very well and as a result is the weakest song of the bunch (even so, it's not bad). "Desert Skies" plods along in the traditon of old singing cowboy trail songs and is another good substitute for company while traveling. The final two tracks, "Never Trust a Stranger" and "Tell It to the Devil" are the best on the album. The former has Jerry Eubanks' flute at its best and the latter has some of Toy caldwell's outlook on life. Enjoy this album any way you like, but do enjoy it.

Back then I only listened to hard and heavy rock in my early teens. This co-worked owed my money and gave me this album, he said it was super good. I listened to it and HOT DAMN!!! I fell in love with it. After "Carolina Dreams," I welcomed Molly Hatchet, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allmans, Blackfoot, and all country rock music!!!! Thank God for MTB and especially this album, because it totally rocks, great guitar sound on Toy's Les Paul and they have a wonderful "jazzy" feel to some songs. They truly do rock so good. Take it from someone who luvs Sabbath, Zep, Riot, BOC, Alice, Montrose, UFO, Q'Ryche, Scorps etc....

With the band at its artistic creative peak with a superb,well-crafted 7-song set, excellent production, and soothing eye catching cover and album art, 1977's "Carolina Dreams" arguably is the 70's country rock genre's most sophisicated album ever. The album contains several of MTB's best tracks including their first commercial breakthrough smash, "Heard It In A Love Song". The band's fine, consistent texture in their songs is evident throughout with the flawless guitars of Toy Caldwell and George McCorkle, the masterful bass of Tommy Caldwell, pristine lead and harmony vocals of Doug Gray, the flair of Jerry Eubanks on the saxes and flute, and the tight drumming of Paul Riddle capped off with the awesome horn section arrangements. Each fantastic song gives you the feel of breathing cool, fresh country air while sitting on your porch rockin'away and gazing at the gleaming stars - feelin' good!

Note: Watch out for a re-issue of this album on CD coming soon on the SHOUT!Factory/Ramblin'Records label. The CD is currently out on the hard-to-find AJK Music label.

This is the "last" Marshall Tucker Band "country" CD. What a great CD! Heard It In A Love Song, I Should Have Never Started Loving You, Desert Skies and Tell It To The Devil are the best tracks on this CD. To this day, I'm always scratching my head wondering why the MTB "formula" drastically changed in their next CD - Together Forever. See my scathing review.

This is the best country rock CD ever. Right from start to finish. Like every CD this one has it's hi-lite, Desert Skies. This song shows the bands talents plus it gives you the Marshall Tucker sound and feel at it's best. This song alone is worth buying the CD for. There is no band that has ever sounded like this, and thanks to Doug Grays excellent voice there never will be. ENJOY, get TUCKERIZED.

A really good friend of mine named seth moved to south carolina a little while ago and i couldnt help crying while i listened to this one! the songs are amazing, the lyrics inspiring, and the music captivating. it has rockability with slowdanceability and mendingbrokenheartability (ya i know that sounds stupid but its entirely true)<and seth, we needed this one to jam toon the bus! i love you and miss you lots!> this is southern rock at its best!!

This is music written straight from the soul. Only seven songs but boy are they all winners especially in the lyrics department. The scene that each songs paints is just beautiful. Never Trust A Stranger really takes you into the mindset of the outlaw from the old west. Fly Like An Eagle with its easy rolling lyrics and rollicking rhythms will take you to a special happy place. This recording will appeal to good old boys and rock n rollers. Oh I almost forgot, Doug Gray is one powerful vocalist as he really brings these seven songs to life. Go out and buy it today.

"Carolina Dreams" was the last album from the MTB's creative peak in the 1970s. As such, it is also the band's most country-ish record from that time period as well as its least interesting. "Heard it in a Lovesong" was the band's last big hit before it faded from the public consciousness. Its a good country song and is surrounded with a few other good moments, but it is not up to the standards set by Tucker classics such as their self-titled debut album and "A New Life."

The remnants of Lynyrd Skynyrd just keep on truckin, but without Van Zant they basically got nothing going on. If you are an Almond Brothers Fanatic, or a worshipful devotee of Skynard, you might like MTB's uninspired southern boogie posturing, but everyone else should avoid.