Customer Reviews

Marshall Tucker Band

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

 

 

Released in 1973, The Marshall Tucker Band's debut album of the same name is one of the best southern rock albums this reviewer has ever heard. The hit's "Can't You See" (here in it's full length 6 min. version), "Take The Highway" and "Ramblin'" are all included in this excellent newly remastered cd. Also, as a bonus you get a "live" twelve minute version of "Everyday (I Have The Blues)" which is a kick butt jam featuring the late Toy Caldwell's awesome guitar playing. The remastering is superb and is much better than the regular (non-remastered) cd version with crisp highs, increased midrange and extended output. If you enjoy listening to The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Charlie Daniels Band, The Outlaws and the other great southern rock bands of the seventies, then this cd is a must have for your collection. Highly recommended.

The debut album from The Marshall Tucker Band is one of the greatest. This album brings out the sound that MTB does so well, from country, to rock, to blues, all rolled together into a southern sound. Doug Gray's vocals on "Take the Highway" are fantastic, Toy Caldwell's "Can't You See" remains a favorite, "Hillbilly Band" adds a bluegrass feel, "Ramblin" is full of energy, and the live "Everyday (I Have the Blues)", displaying how massively skilled Toy Caldwell was, is one of the greatest guitar songs I've ever heard. All in all, I highly recommend this album to every MTB fan along with fans of Southern Rock and Country rock.

The Marshall Tucker Band's debut album is great. It contains sveral essential Southern rock songs,including, especially, "Take The Highway" and "Can't You See." There are a couple of songs here that aren't so terrific, but the true gems more than make up for any shortcomings in the other songs. If you love the Allman Brothers Band, the Outlaws, or Lynyrd Skynyrd, you'll love the Marshall Tucker Band.

It was great on vinyl on initial release and it's a pleasure to have it back in my collection. "Take the Highway" and "Can't you see" are absolute classics. I heard "Can't you see" on Sirius the other day and immediately remembered to look for the CD. The live bonus track on the CD, "Everyday I have the blues" cements what a great band they were. If you loved early Allman Brothers you must add this to your collection.

I wasn't expecting so little reviews for such a fantastic album here on amazon. It surely deserves to be experienced by more music fans, especially those who are fans of southern rock.

I believe the Marshall Tucker Band (the band) has two strengths. One, their creative and imaginative lyrical imagery. Most of their music reminds me of fields upon fields that never seem to end, along with rivers, skies and anything else related to spiritual energy. I realize I sound goofy by expressing my feelings in such a way, but I honestly can't help it. The Marshall Tucker Band's second main strength are their occasional attempts at instrumental variety (not really utilized on this particular album, mind you, but later on in the bands career... yeah- mellotrons, flutes, and other lovely arrangements).

"My Jesus Told Me So" is a classic. I love the soulful verse melody and the spiritual chorus. There's a short guitar solo later on that's positively great. "Ramblin" is memorable for a *magnificent* guitar jam in the middle. Judging by the fairly ordinary, jazzy verse melody in the beginning, I wasn't expecting such a top notch jam to suddenly appear out of nowhere like that. I hear subtle shades of the legendary Allman Brothers Band in that guitar jam.

The big hit (that continues to receive radio play to this very day, might I add) is "Can't You See". I originally wasn't the biggest fan of this song, but that has all changed in recent years. I finally grew up and learned to appreciate the soulful passion in the vocal melody, which by the way, is the main thing that carries the song.

Now my number one favorite song (and perhaps my favorite song the Marshall Tucker Band ever created) is the opener titled "Take the Highway". GREAT vocal melody- perhaps the greatest vocal melody I have honestly ever experienced by a southern rock band. I think very highly of it. Other high points include "See You Later, I'm Gone" which is nothing especially unique or anything- just a nicely written country song with lovely guitar licks in between the verse melody.

I believe this album deserves more attention than it's received over the years. Not really an Allman Brothers Band wannabe band or anything like that. I mean, if THAT'S the reason people aren't listening to the Marshall Tucker Band, it's foolish reasoning, I can assure you.

The first album by The Marshall Tucker Band was released in April 1973 on Capricorn Records and produced by one time Allman Brothers sideman Paul Hornsby. The Marshall Tucker Band have a more country sound in their music but manage to incorporate all different kinds of styles into their music. The album opens with the soaring Take The Highway with the band in full force and main singer Doug Gray in great voice. Can't You See was the album's single sung by lead guitarist and songwriter Toy Caldwell which became popular enough to still get airplay on radio stations today. Losing You is a cool laid back cowboy swing number with a cool jazz break featuring a far out horn solo from reeds player Jerry Eubanks while Hillbilly Band features some nice "chicken pickin'" from Toy. See You Later, I'm Gone is a very good "you've done me wrong and I'm leavin'" kind of song while Ramblin' is a fun upbeat jazzy song. My Jesus Told Me So is a nice song and the last one Ab's Song is sung by Toy for his wife. There's a bonus live song from Winterland September 1973 called Everyday (I Have The Blues) witch is quite nice although it would become more developed over the next couple of years. That entire performance is now available as Way Out West!: Live From San Francisco September 1973. I loved this album back in the '70's as it filled my mind with pictures of wide open spaces and cool clear streams and has help up well today.

the Marshall Tucker Band were pioneers in their time, so much so that they helped create what would later be called the genre of Southern Rock!

I love this CD. I have it in a vinal also, but now I can listen to it in my car or at home. I have downloaded it onto my Ipod so I can listen to it when I travel also.

The music of the Marshall Tucker Band brings neverending enjoyment to my ears. It's like the Metallica of Southern Rock: I just can't stop listening. Their first self-titled album is solid from beginning to end. "Take the Highway" and "Can't You See," both being my personal favorites on the album, should be considered timeless classics in the Southern Rock genre. The other songs, including the 12-minute Everyday (I Have the Blues) recorded live, are extraordinarily well-written and well-played. To be honest, however, this is the first time I have ever stumbled across an album by the Marshall Tucker Band. And I don't think I'll stop right here. This is great music; it's certainly better than the mainstream music that we have today. Up next: the second CD called A New Life!

Grade: 9.5/10

This wondrous platter was burned through in college once a year. The first 3 cuts (side 1 of the "LP") was probably one of the most impressive album sides of a group's debut album...along with "side 2" of Steely Dan's "Can't Buy A Thrill", which came out the same year.

"Ramblin'" seems very out of place after all these years...but the instrumental break in the middle of "Losin' You" is priceless.

An underrated gem.