Customer Reviews

Carolina Dreams

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The MTB run of truly outstanding records peaked with Carolina Deams, an lp that was deservedly their best selling. Although it's a relatively country oriented release, somehow, it also managed to break out in a big way on album rock radio, and then, of course, more mainstream radio with Heard it in a Love Song. It's an unbelievable shame that Capricorn didn't release the live follow up "Stompin' Room Only" as was planned; because as we now know (it's just been released more than 25 years later) it would have been a good career move at that time. MTB had some other good releases prior to the demise of the original band, but this was the last of the 5 star albums.

Just couldn't get the song "Heard It In A Love Song" out of my head so had to buy this.

The band excells in this album-my favorite is the flute player. I had the pleasure of hearing them live and they were rockin'.

Ever since the first time I heard Can't You See and Take The Highway on their first album I became a fan of Meshall Tucker. I have slowly converted most albums to CD's and Carolina Dreams was on I didn't have. With Marshall Tucker you are always getting songs that leave you toe tapping. In Carolina Dreams you have Heard It In A Love Song to many other quality songs. The one that I think is a sleeper and I like the most on this CD/Album is I Should Have Never Started Loving You which has some great guitar and sax.

Oh now THIS is awesome. The Marshall Tucker Band lost my attention span in a few spots concerning their previous album (Long Hard Ride) but they MORE than make up for it with this masterpiece. "Heard it in a Love Song" is NOT the only worthwhile song like I ignorantly spent my entire life believing. No way. The album contains one masterpiece after another, and furthermore, I believe this is quite possibly the best musical representation of a cowboy novel ever laid down on tape.

"I Should Have Never Started Lovin' You" isn't like anything I've ever heard the Marshall Tucker Band experiment with before. It's a slow-moving, jazzy, saxophone filled ballad of some kind, and the fact it's over 7 minutes means it *better* feature likeable traits because otherwise it would get boring after a while. The melody has an extremely strong and unavoidably depressing vibe- it's not exactly pure jazz or anything like that. It really is a straight up jazz ballad, and a memorable one at that.

I have to laugh a little at the song title though. I mean, had they called it "I Never Should Have Loved You" it would have made more sense and gotten the point across easier without twisting words around in a confusing manner, but... then the magic of the lyrics wouldn't have worked, and the vocal melody would have been disappointing (or downright awkward) as well. Anyway, the trademark instrumental portion of the Marshall Tucker Band (you know, the instrumental solos that go from sax or violin directly into piano directly into guitar directly into *whatever*) is done particularly well here. Perhaps I just love the vibe, but this song really works for me.

My favorite is of course (of *course!*) "Heard it in a Love Song". An upbeat vocal melody that does a perfectly suitable job illustrating the feeling of the southern rock movement that was honestly deteriorating by this point (the late 70's- thanks disco *sarcasm*). It's a well-paced love song, and it's fun singing along to the lyrics and the vocal melody but... yeah, that IS the question, isn't it? Is it really a ballad? I mean, some would argue it is, but the lyrics feel slightly unrelated to what we associate with a love song, and the pace isn't much different from -to use one example- the Allman Brothers Band's "Ramblin' Man" so I don't know. Interpret it anyway you wish.

"Desert Skies" is a perfect ballad for a dreamy, star-gazing cowboy looking for a carefree life of outdoor adventure. The sax/violin/guitar solo in the middle illustrates a cowboy taking a ride on his horse during a full moon without a single care in the world. What a superb song though- everything about it. "Tell It to the Devil" is a wonderfully written country song with tasty instrumental solos including a banjo in the intro and nicely performed piano work later on. I love it, especially the line about picking up the Bible and memorizing every single line. A highly melodic and instantly enjoyable vocal melody too. "Never Trust a Stranger" has more of that western theme continuation with a rhythm that chugs along in an exciting way, and a really interesting guitar solo near the end. Oh, and I can tell you from past experience- NEVER trust a stranger, ever.

I feel really terrible for believing the Marshall Tucker Band continued to gradually get worse, assuming the disco movement and the changing times may have swallowed them whole. However, the songwriting here proves the band had more talent hidden deep within, and here it is, revealed to you on Carolina Dreams.

The Marshall Tucker Band seems to have been largely forgotten today but in the mid-1970s this band was one of the best Southern rock, country-rock outfits around.

Marshall Tucker had a very unique sound; they combined what was essentially a country and country-rock sound with elements of blues and jazz to create one of the most distinctive musical styles among the many successful bands that, at the time, were coming out of the south eastern U.S.

Bands that come out of the South at the same time as Marshall Tucker included Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Charlie Daniels Band.

If you're not familiar with the Marshall Tucker Band, there are three of their albums you should check out: Searchin' For A Rainbow, Long Hard Ride and Carolina Dreams. All three are excellent.

One aspect that I liked about MTB was that they weren't comical like other southern rock bands. First band that comes to mind was Molly Hatchet. They had some great songs and outstanding musicians but Danny Joe Brown was a bit of a goof ball singer. Even The Outlaws reached dangerously close to Spinal Tap lows with Ghost Riders In The Sky. And LS got close to going over board with Free Bird. But MTB had some great song writing and of course, great musicians. Love this album. The best of the 70's southern rock bands. Almost "Country Fusion" or "Progressive Country." I mean, how many southern rock bands have a flute and horn section?

When you've worn out several eight tracks and a dozen or so cassettes, then I guess you're a big fan. This classic "show band/cross over" group is entertainment at it's best. Not a bad song on the set. These guys were super musicianns and their arrangements are so balanced. " I'm gonna tell that to the Devil....when I see him today!

The Marshall Tucker Band

The Monarchs of combining Country, Blues, Jazz, and Rock.

Who the hell can accomplish this feat like they did. No review required.

This is such a great MTB album. They were a great band and this really highlights how good they were. Even though there are only 7 tracks (a bonus track not counted) they were all great. Not a very long album but most of their albums were like this so there is no difference. I like all the songs here. Fly Like An Eagle is one of my favorites. MTB rocks so go get this album.

Without a doubt, the best that The Marshal Tucker Band had or ever will have! A genuine classic! The opening cut grabs you at the beginning and never lets go throughout the entire album. Classic!