I’ll admit to having a huge admiration for Mr. Ricky Rattlesnake Medlocke, this guy has lived it, breathed it, and walked it all at the same time. In early ’71, before Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded their first classic album, he was a member of the band when they did demos at Muscle Shoals. We all know he would rejoin the band at a much later date – he also had a lung removed! Ladies and gentleman this guy has lived.
Blackfoot were actually a band in ’72 and the name was chosen as three of the band are Native Americans. This album is actually the fourth album, and the first to bring them to the attention of a wider audience. Very southern in style, but with that very hard rock edge. All sorts of influences from the southern ages are evident, but for me ZZ Top are the main one as I can hear Billy G’s influences everywhere.
The album opens with the great Warped, a good hard rockin’ opener. On The Run has lots of ZZ grooves added to the mix – a great song with a great vocal from Medlocke. If you have heard the Tejas album by ZZ, you will know where the inspiration for Dream On came from – a wonderful track. Street Fighter is up next and is the perfect blend of southern fried groove and hard rock. The side closes out with Gimme Gimme Gimme, a good old fashioned boogie woogie drinkin’ song to get the party started.
Side 2 starts with possibly the band’s best known song, Every Man Should Know Queenie, a song that has everything: the big riff, the catchy chorus, the sing-a-long section, and it’s very well written. In The Night starts with the Mr. Big drum groove, but slightly faster, and has some mean harp playing care of Shorty Medlocke. Reckless Abandoner is another great solid track with a perfect vocal from Medlocke. Spending Cabbage is next up and wins the head scratching award for what the hell does that mean?! A very southern/country traditional ditty. The album closes out with Fox Chase, and an awesome intro again from Shorty. It’s my favourite on the album.
A very enjoyable album.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
