“Stay Here with Me” all the way to the end of “Catfish Blues,” every song is a winner. One of the finest tracks on the album is
the rocking “Early Bird,” a tune I have been privileged to hear him play live a couple of times, and the infectious blues of “Poor Boy,” my personal favorite cut on the record. “Lone Outlaw” is another real winner. A “story song” that is reminiscent of Arnold’s work with the Outlaws. “Put Me Back” is a great rocker with a bit of a ZZ Top Feel, and “Catfish Blues” tops the whole set of with some nasty funky blues rock. Joining Arnold are bassist Zev Katz
(Paul Simon, James Brown, Carole King, Eric Clapton) and drummer Charley Drayton (Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Miles Davis), pi- anist Rob Arthur (Peter Frampton, Joan Os- bourne) and Zak Alister on guitar. “Stories to Live Up To“ is the good stuff, kids. Get you some.
-Michael Buffalo Smith
Bobby Bare Great American Satur- day Night (BFD) The 85 -ear old Bobby
Bare is nothing less than a legend, and he has always
been at his best when interpreting the songs of the late Shel Silverstein. One of Bare’s greatest albums, Lullabies, Legends and Lies was a record of all Silverstein songs, and he once teamed with Jerry Reed, Waylon Jen- nings and Mel Tillis recorded another full album of Shel material called Old Dogs that was unforgettable. Great American Saturday Night is an-
other collection of the wit and wisdom of Sil- verstein, recorded live back in 1978. The subject matter is a typical Bare/Silverstein mixed bag-songs about pollution, violence, aging, dieting, loneliness, and even nude
beaches. The audience is having a blast the
whole time, including during the great ballad “Living Legend” and “Someone to Talk To,” featuring old pal Dennis Locorriere (Dr. Hook) singing harmony. It’s a song that’s per- haps more relevant today than it was back when it was written. The album is one great song after another, all released for the first time. A true treasure. “Red Neck Hippie Ro- mance” and “Me and Jimmie Rogers,” are just a couple of the outstanding tracks. And nowhere is Shel’s gift for melancholy more evident than in the tune “Time.” Classic. All of this from a major star of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the same man who scored a truck load of major hits back in the day with songs like “500 Miles Away from Home,” “The Gambler,” and “Song of the South.” Of course, his prior work with Shel Silverstein is the stuff of legend, including Bare’s take on “Mariu Laveau,” “The Winner,” “Tequila Sheila” and others. Top of the line song writing, delivered
as only Bare can deliver them, coupled with a rowdy live audience make Great American Saturday Night a must-have album.
-Michael Buffalo Smith
The Marshall Tucker Band New Year’s in New Orleans Roll Up ’78 and Light Up ’79 (Ramblin)
What a thrill. I had not ripped the
shrink wrapping from a new Marshall Tucker vinyl LP since, gosh, maybe 1980? But now I was holding a brand new, double LP of the band at their peak, red hot, smokin’, flame throwing, ass kicking Southern Rocking, recorded 40- what? Yes, 40 years ago at New Orleans’ famed Warehouse.
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