Vintage Trip (late 60's and early 70's rock): Tucker County and Duane Allman

I can't believe I have gone this long without mentioning The Marshall Tucker Band or The Allman Brothers. Those are 2 of my favourite bands.

The Marshall Tucker Band... it was the pedal steel, and then it was the rock and roll flute and then it was just the complete awesomeness of their tunes. Southern boys and that Southern rock.

Sure I always loved 'Can't You See' and 'Fire on the Mountain', but I discovered more when I picked up 3 albums on vinyl at a record fair in Greenwich, London a few years ago. 'Carolina Dreams', the self titled album and 'Long Hard Ride'. Since then I can never get enough. Bryce and I do some major air banding in the car to 'Running Like the Wind'. Have you heard the awesome drums and bass in that song? The flute gets some honour of its own. Toy Caldwell has a great voice and I love singin' along.

I just received the album 'Where We Belong' for Christmas and it's been in the car stereo ever since.

Together Forever is another good album. But there are still so many more. I love that I LOVE the Marshall Tucker Band but don't have all of their albums, so when I get a new one it's just love over and over again.

They kick major Southern arse.

Now onto Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers Band. I have a major love-on for Duane Allman and his slide guitar. I started learning how to play lap steel because Duane's slide is so fucking awesome. And, listen to Gregg Allman's voice! I mean come on!!!

Duane had a short-lived life (he died in a motorcycle accident weeks before his 25th birthday) and I can't imagine how much amazing music he could have made or collaborated on if he had more years. I mean, just in the 2.5 + years he was in the Allman Brothers Band, he collaborated with some pretty fucking great talent. Eric Clapton in Derek & the Dominos, Aretha Franklin, Delaney & Bonnie, Johnny Jenkins to name only a few.

Allman Brothers tunes? Whipping Post, Dreams (both live versions with Duane for y'all). Their self titled album is amazing. The album artwork? Fucking great. Brothers and Sisters, Eat a Peach (tribute of sorts to Duane).