Mar 2, 2009

OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS - THE CAR OVER THE LAKE ALBUM & MEN FROM EARTH (A&M 1975-76)




The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were among the more popular of mid-'70s country-rock outfits, slotting in chronologically and stylistically between the Eagles and Firefall. As exponents of '70s country-rock, the group rode a wave of success for five years on A&M Records and survived in some form into the 1990s, with a following just large enough to justify occasional record releases in their later years. The sextet was formed in Missouri during the early '70s, consisting of guitarists John Dillon and Steve Cash, blues harpist/singer/guitarist Randle Chowning, drummer/guitarist/singer Larry Lee, keyboard player Buddy Brayfield, and bassist-vocalist Michael Granda, and was signed to A&M Records in 1973. Their first album, recorded under the supervision of producer Glyn Johns (who had also worked with the Eagles), was a critical success and yielded a Top 30 hit in "If You Want to Get to Heaven." A year later, they had the biggest hit in their history, "Jackie Blue," a mellow piece of country-rock that got to number three on the charts and still gets played occasionally as a '70s oldie. They had an ethereal edge to their sound and songs that made them especially appealing to college-age listeners during the middle of the decade. Their self-titled debut album set the tone for the group's next four releases, although by 1978's Don't Look Down, the sound was somewhat closer to country-pop than country-rock. Collegiate girls and their boyfriends could relate to them, and a sense of humor didn't hurt (their third LP, The Car Over the Lake Album had cover art featuring -- you guessed it -- a car over a lake). Lee, Dillon (who later played with fellow Daredevil Steve Cash on the Waylon Jennings/Jessi Colter White Mansions concept album), and Chowning authored most of the songs that anyone knows ("Jackie Blue," "Following the Way I Feel," "Fly Away Home"). The group enjoyed success primarily on FM radio from 1973 until 1978, and were popular enough to justify the recording and release of a double-LP concert album...[net]
Here

7 comments:

18 RODAS said...

I bought "The Car" record in the seventies but i didn´t like and i sold it, i listened it again maybe my tastes have changed, grazas

Georgie Hirezola said...

I got these two in the early eighties sealed,for just a couple of bucks...I like this group...
my original A&M copy of the "Car" album also has a red flexi EP disc inside with 3 songs under the title "Secrets Of the Universe Revealed"...heh..heh...

Anonymous said...

Thankx for this. I've liked this album a lot.

Mario

Anonymous said...

Hi from Cy
Thanks for this. I recall seeing the Ozarks in Edinburgh Playhouse. At the encore they brought on the whole of their extended families for a rendition of Will the Circle be Unbroken. Steve Cash couldn't stop going on about Edinburgh Castle, a magic night from an under valued group. Steve's work and voice is first class, check out his contribution to White Mansions.
Cy from Pck.

Anonymous said...

I have the Lake album in its original and true form. These 70 gems should be listen as they were.

Put the record on the turntable and listen to the music.

Greeting from Finald to Ozark lakes !

Tre Won Yola said...

I've got the red vinyl ep that came with the album. Hit me up lameduck1@comcast.net

and i'll send ya a copy.

ripped & remastered on professional equipment (not a computer)

Georgie Hirezola said...

I also have the original LP with the red "flexi" EP "Secrets Of the Universe Revealed" as I said in my comment above....
but if you could send me the album & the EP ripped & remastered on your equipment it would be really great!!!
Georgie+++