"They never achieved competence, they are actively untalented" - Critic, Robert Christgau
such is the load carried from the mid '60s when 6 kids on a dirt Arkansas country lane vowed a pact to be a Rock n Roll band of Brothers forever then competed as greatest Southern Rock group in history overshadowed by all those who followed through the doors Black Oak Arkansas unwittingly helped open. in depth review of their history is beyond belief, easily past most RnRHoF myths. after a very good early studio track record their path finally led to the happy ears of Ahmet Ertegun, head honcho of Atlantic Records and guru recording engineer, Tom Dowd. there, Pat was further schooled from '72-'74 in the art of swampy Swing and Soul grooves the studio icon was famous for, forever solidifying the abilities of possibly the genre's best example in aptly named Dirty who never failed to have one of the hottest beltbuckled tones and overall pure rock sounds whether on his modded Jazz or EB-L. he was essential to the plot just like Oakley was to the ABB.
Add to that his superb taste in coonskin and kneehigh stagewear, he was, like Dolly Parton, The Package. Rebel determination, raw creative rhythm talent, mixed with the perfect Rock looks and moves to counter crotchmaster Jim Dandy's hot n nasty scene-stealing antics with a good voice of his own on par with all the members. one listen to them harmonize the South's revered anthem, Dixie (written by a Yankee lol) and try finding any other band that brings raw emotions like that by getting it dead right in short order. along with Alice Cooper, Black Oak were THE cool party bands in those unmatchable times of excessive excess and limitless fun, both had crazy efficient roadie support.
to emphasize the point of dominance in the ranks, the band came back together in fine form with Pat keeping it real around 1998 as The Wild Bunch with an outstanding effort in league with their past primetimes. recorded tour evidence of this incredible resurgence is sorely lacking cos with guitar Ace, Rocky Athas and drummer since '77 Johnnie Bolin they were again kicking it big time, just not in private Learjets as before.
here's hoping retirement is as good as the days when they faced us at the first California Jam and really got the party going. should Pat see this I'd appreciate any corrections or additions to an amazing tale that has far too little recognition even within the TB ranks. no better place to salute a true Rock God.
when you can top KC of any phase, especially '73/'74 that's balls. I've seen early best Steely Dan, Focus, Freddie King, and even Brownsville Station bow to these headers.
another memorable nite @ The Palladium ...that's all I can legally say
a previous show there that year was Dandy's HBD where he was surprised with a sequined piglet by strippers which he and them smooched to everyone's squeals.
Black Oak Arkansas: the band who had it all, then gave it all away | Louder
- recorded by my bootleging buddy, DJ (RIP)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nhP5PXw-Kfh3ivAR2AUECFzj8_2UnKJNA
obvious caveat; the Allmans will always reign in public view as monarchs of Southern Rock and I'm in those ranks as I listen to classics like Cross To Bear, but I've made it point from 1969 to pay attention to the quality circus these guys and Ruby brought to the game and they hang tight in close examination if only cos once you heard an ABB concert, as great as they were and the jams were epic... you heard'm all. their set list was almost the same from day 1 to Duane's last. Black Oak's diverse catalog vastly outweighs theirs and Harvey Jett was hot on bottleneck, when Stanley Knight switched to steel he was a good counter to Gregg's B3. with superb but opposite rhythm sections they were different sides of the same coin, one rough and ready with humor and the other dedicated to refined attention, but I'll bet each were aware of the other early on having similar tight 'family' bonds and band philosophy, uncommon even in those days.
such is the load carried from the mid '60s when 6 kids on a dirt Arkansas country lane vowed a pact to be a Rock n Roll band of Brothers forever then competed as greatest Southern Rock group in history overshadowed by all those who followed through the doors Black Oak Arkansas unwittingly helped open. in depth review of their history is beyond belief, easily past most RnRHoF myths. after a very good early studio track record their path finally led to the happy ears of Ahmet Ertegun, head honcho of Atlantic Records and guru recording engineer, Tom Dowd. there, Pat was further schooled from '72-'74 in the art of swampy Swing and Soul grooves the studio icon was famous for, forever solidifying the abilities of possibly the genre's best example in aptly named Dirty who never failed to have one of the hottest beltbuckled tones and overall pure rock sounds whether on his modded Jazz or EB-L. he was essential to the plot just like Oakley was to the ABB.
Add to that his superb taste in coonskin and kneehigh stagewear, he was, like Dolly Parton, The Package. Rebel determination, raw creative rhythm talent, mixed with the perfect Rock looks and moves to counter crotchmaster Jim Dandy's hot n nasty scene-stealing antics with a good voice of his own on par with all the members. one listen to them harmonize the South's revered anthem, Dixie (written by a Yankee lol) and try finding any other band that brings raw emotions like that by getting it dead right in short order. along with Alice Cooper, Black Oak were THE cool party bands in those unmatchable times of excessive excess and limitless fun, both had crazy efficient roadie support.
to emphasize the point of dominance in the ranks, the band came back together in fine form with Pat keeping it real around 1998 as The Wild Bunch with an outstanding effort in league with their past primetimes. recorded tour evidence of this incredible resurgence is sorely lacking cos with guitar Ace, Rocky Athas and drummer since '77 Johnnie Bolin they were again kicking it big time, just not in private Learjets as before.
here's hoping retirement is as good as the days when they faced us at the first California Jam and really got the party going. should Pat see this I'd appreciate any corrections or additions to an amazing tale that has far too little recognition even within the TB ranks. no better place to salute a true Rock God.
when you can top KC of any phase, especially '73/'74 that's balls. I've seen early best Steely Dan, Focus, Freddie King, and even Brownsville Station bow to these headers.
another memorable nite @ The Palladium ...that's all I can legally say
a previous show there that year was Dandy's HBD where he was surprised with a sequined piglet by strippers which he and them smooched to everyone's squeals.
Black Oak Arkansas: the band who had it all, then gave it all away | Louder
- recorded by my bootleging buddy, DJ (RIP)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nhP5PXw-Kfh3ivAR2AUECFzj8_2UnKJNA
obvious caveat; the Allmans will always reign in public view as monarchs of Southern Rock and I'm in those ranks as I listen to classics like Cross To Bear, but I've made it point from 1969 to pay attention to the quality circus these guys and Ruby brought to the game and they hang tight in close examination if only cos once you heard an ABB concert, as great as they were and the jams were epic... you heard'm all. their set list was almost the same from day 1 to Duane's last. Black Oak's diverse catalog vastly outweighs theirs and Harvey Jett was hot on bottleneck, when Stanley Knight switched to steel he was a good counter to Gregg's B3. with superb but opposite rhythm sections they were different sides of the same coin, one rough and ready with humor and the other dedicated to refined attention, but I'll bet each were aware of the other early on having similar tight 'family' bonds and band philosophy, uncommon even in those days.
