Customer Reviews

Nightrider

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is undoubtedly the Charlie Daniels Band's finest hour, and in my opinion, a classic in the Southern Rock and Country Rock genres. "Nightrider" follows on the heels of CDB's commercial breakthrough "Fire on the Mountain" and raises the bar several notches. From the opening track "Texas" through the final track "Tomorrow's Gonna be Another Day," this album epitomizes everything that CDB is about. "Willie Jones" is a classic country rock story song, "Funky Junky" and "Evil" rock, and "Birmingham Blues" is a great fusion of Southern Rock and blues. Newcomer, Tom Crain contributes the amazing "Franklin Limestone," arguably his finest moment in his fifteen year career with CDB. Unlike virtually all future CDB releases, there is not a throw away song on here. The songwriting and musicianship are top notch on this album. In addition to CDB, Toy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band, provides an amazing steel guitar on "Damn Good Cowboy." I would recommend this album to anybody who is even remotely into Southern Rock or Country Rock. It is an absolute must for a fan of any phase of the Charlie Daniels Band's career. It is an amazing album.

This is the music Charlie Daniels wanted to go away after he quit drinking and came to Jesus. But he was wrong. I remember having this album on vinyl back in the '70s and wearing it out because it spoke to me and my hard-drinkin' outlaw life. Or at least I believed that was my life. Though I haven't come to Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna or any of the other myriad deities, I have settled down quite a bit these days. But does that mean my past goes away? I think not. It didn't kill me, therefore it made me stronger. Unfortunately, this CD is the strongest the CDB ever produced. You can point to Nightrider and say, "This is where the best of country and the best of rock met in a funky honky-tonk on a crossroads in a sleepy Southern town, got drunk and went home together and produced a child who never grows old."

I have to strongly disagree with the "fan" who gives this album only 3 stars and says it is "not one of his best". HELLO!
This is a great album, featuring some excellent guitar work and songwriting. There are the up-tempo, driving songs such as Texas, Willie Jones, Evil, and Funky Junky. Then you have the more mellow songs like Damn Good Cowboy (featuring the steel guitar of the legendary Toy Caldwell), Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day, and Everything's Kinda All Right. Heck, the only song I believe is marginal is Birminghham Blues. It doesn't flow very well. I'd listen to this CD many times before the over-rated "Decade of Hits". That CD includes some average (at best) songs such as Stroker's Theme and Let It Roll. The album needs to have Trudy and Texas instead. Enough said. Thanks for the music, Charlie and CDB.

I am beyond thrilled that the CDB's "Nightrider" has finally been released on CD. I received my copy yesterday and was driving around air-guitaring to Birmingham Blues like a high schooler again- remembering a number of old Philly Spectrum performances back in the days when the CDB still played such big Northern venues. All my CDB (and other) vinyl still follows me through life, but I haven't been able to listen to it for YEARS. What a treat this disc is; no "Bonus" material necessary.

"Nightrider" is the perfect mix of bluegrass, blues, rock, jazz, and country influences that showcase the musical versatility of this group. Also the first album with Tom Crain and Charlie Hayward and listening to the interplay between Charlie and Tommy- wow! Barry Barnes ("Fire on the Mountain" guitarist) was no slouch but Tommy Crain just takes the band to another level. The dual drumming of Fred Edwards and Don Murray is smooth, seamless, and Allmans worthy and moves the music along effortlessly.

If you are a fan of the Charlie Man and don't have this album you are missing perhaps his best overall studio recording. While most revere "Fire on The Mountain"- and rightly so- for my salt, this has always been the superior record that demonstrates the musical versatility that truly defines The CDB.

If you're new to Charlie's music and are one of the millions who simply know him as a fiddle player- boy, are you in for a pleasant surprise!

Best,
Rick D

After hearing Full Moon, Fire on The Mountain, Million Mile Reflections, and many more Charlie Daniels Band albums, I have to say this is my favorite. It's the kind of album you could leave on repeat and it just flows. It's the perfect mix of fast and slow songs. Guitar harmonies and fast fiddle action make this a gem. While this is some great music for taking road trips, drinking, and shooting pool, I'm not so sure I understand what previous comments regarding Charlie hoping this album goes away are all about. I personally e-mailed Charlie regarding this and he said he never made such comments. While he is more active in sharing his beliefs today, this music tells me he found God years ago. This soulful hill-billy rock and blues is not created. It's inspired. You do not know Charlie until you bought this album.

This album starts off with Texas a rocking fiddle song about the lone star state. Charlie performed this tune in Urban Cowboy staring John Travolta. Willie Jones is one of my favorite Charlie Daniels ballads. In this story two men become great friends while one was a gaurd and the other serving time. Willie Jones attemps to escape the gaurd has him in his sights but shots over his head. This cd is worth it just for this song! Tom Crain is a new addition to the CDB on this album and contributes Franklin Limestone.

I bought both the Fire On the Mountain and Nightrider records when they first came out. While coming back from my honeymoon in Colorado in 1976 I heard on the radio while getting close to Dodge City, Kansas The Charlie Daniels Band and The Outlaws were playing at the Memorial Hall. We got a motel room and I thought it was a good idea to wash our clothes at a laundry mat across from the motel, after entering not knowing where the place they were playing I asked a couple of long haired guys there if they knew where it was. They responded they were playing there that night and they didn't know where it was and they were playing there. They were members of the group called the Outlaws and i was told they drew straws on who was to wash The Daniel's band and their clothes..guess what they lost.Well all in all I made it to the concert and it was the best darn live concert I ever saw. What a fond memory!!!

Always loved this album, classic mid-seventies Daniels with uber guitarist Crain at his side, this could be his best CD, love, Birmingham Blues, Willie Jones, Cumberland Mt # 9.

One of my favorite country rock lps. from the seventies. I put this country rock lp right up there with the Allman Bros. live at the Fillmore and skynards first lp.

One of the early Charlie Daniels Band albums and one of the best, long before he became jingoistic. His work in this album has an edge to it. Songs about drug use (Funky Junky, Tomorrow) and escaping from prison (Willie Jones) are mingled with more flat-out countrified tunes. All the while, Tom Crain's fiery guitar lights up nearly every song, and Daniels' unique fiddle playing gives the album a feel like no other southern rock group. This album hangs with the best from the heyday of the southern rock era.