Southern fried boogie never sounded so good as with the first pair of Doc Holliday albums released during 1980 and 1981.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Doc Holliday
ALBUM: Doc Holliday Rides Again
LABEL: A&M
SERIAL: SP 6-4882
YEAR: 1981
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Bruce Brookshire – vocals, guitars * Ric Skelton – guitars, vocals * Eddie Stone – keyboards * John Samuelson – bass * Herman Nixon – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Last Ride * 02 Good Boy Gone Bad * 03 Don’t Go Talkin’ * 04 Southern Man * 05 Let Me Be Your Lover * 06 Doin’ (It Again) * 07 Don’t Stop Loving Me * 08 Hot Rod * 09 Lonesome Guitar
WEBLINKS: FB Page
Background
Southern fried boogie never sounded so good as with the first pair of Doc Holliday albums released during 1980 and 1981.
Formerly known as Roadhouse and originating from the same era as contemporaries Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet, the Macon GA boys were unfortunate not to rack up the same sort of success, though they did gig all over the place, so it wasn’t because of lack of exposure.
If you loved the debut album, then ‘Doc Holliday Rides Again’ might disappoint, because there are only three or four real rockers on the album, the remainder is filled up with mid-paced affairs, traditional southern blues numbers plus a ballad or two.
The Songs
‘Last Ride’ and ‘Hot Rod’ are the two ‘for sure’ rockers on the LP. ‘Last Ride’ is very similar to material found on the debut. It’s a pity that this classic style is not maintained for the remainder of the album. By far it’s the best track here.
‘Good Boy Gone Bad’ has commercial streaks throughout, it’s followed by the country-fied boogie of ‘Don’t Go Talkin’, with dual lead guitars putting the boot in.
‘Southern Man’ and ‘Don’t Stop Loving Me’ are both smooth southern affairs, kinda laid back with nice organ providing a harmonic layer. The guitar solos break out in the same way that Floridians The Outlaws used to do on their albums.
‘Let Me Be Your Lover’ veers toward country rock and has an ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ riff mostly. ‘Doin’ It Again’ has that Muscle Shoals sound mingled with that Macon style, very southern, no mistaking. The finale ‘Lonesome Guitar’ at 6 minutes plus is Doc Holliday’s ‘Freebird’ equivalent, extended guitar playing and solos everywhere.
In Summary
‘Rides Again’ is an OK album, though it probably needed to have more excitement and energy. It’s a pity that a track like ‘Last Ride’ wasn’t followed up elsewhere on the album, though ‘Lonesome Guitar’ is pretty fiery, it’s just the rest of the album in between isn’t as consistent.
Doc Holliday changed tack completely for their third album ‘Modern Medicine’, emulating ZZ Top‘s synth riddled’ Eliminator’ and spoiled the broth as a result.
Rock Candy Records released this on CD back in 2005, with a couple of bonus tracks and a 400 word essay written by Derek Oliver, though the original A&M CD is out there too, this is the copy that I have.
Doc Holliday on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
