The Marshall Tucker Band Albums (27)
'The Next Adventure'
Release Date 6/19/2007
Tracks 10
Label Shout Factory
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
What is The Next Adventure? Not to put too fine a point on it, but for the Marshall Tucker Band, it's simply surviving, finding their way as veteran rockers -- the kind who don't get respect from critics, or even the world at large, but they still have plenty of fans who will buy compilations, concert tickets, and new albums, like 2004's Beyond the Horizon or its 2007 follow-up, The Next Adventure. This isn't quite as lively as that 2004 comeback, but it doesn't need to be: this is the sound of the Marshall Tucker Band relaxed and confident, knowing that their audience is there and playing directly to them. As such, it feels familiar -- the blend of country, blues, and rock is certainly tied to their '70s peak -- but it would never be mistaken for the work of the band 30 years ago, not just because guitarist Toy Caldwell is among the departed, but because this is a warm, mellow record that rarely raises its temperature but never sounds lazy, either. It's comfortable, but in the best possible way -- the kind of record that longtime fans, who have stuck with them through the ups and downs, will like but the kind of record that may not carry the same resonance for those who haven't been through the twists and turns, because this familiarity only gains resonance when you know what the MTB has been through. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Carolina Christmas'
Release Date 11/8/2005
Tracks 12
Label Shout! Factory
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
So it's come to this: a Marshall Tucker Christmas album. The first urge is to dismiss this as another attempt to cash in on the holiday record market, but right from the onset of the opener, "White Christmas," it becomes evident that this is an album a long time in the making, reassembling bandmembers from incarnations spanning over three decades. The performances are inspired but relaxed, much like their earliest releases, and there are moments when their signature hard rock sound can easily wipe away the notions that this is a Christmas record if it weren't for the timeless melodies and lyrics. Much of this album (like Marshall Tucker's career) is a bold move, especially as there are very few Southern rock Christmas records available. A nice alternative to the ho-hum various-artists holiday compilations and ideal for those looking for their holiday records to have a little hot sauce thrown in the mix. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The core of the Marshall Tucker Band's sound had historically been Toy Caldwell's guitar and Doug Gray's voice. The band has been through many permutations and Caldwell has since passed on, but Gray and a core of members, including horn boss David Muse (formerly of Firefall) and guitarist Stuart Swanlund, have been carrying the torch for a while now. With second lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Chris Hicks, bassist Tony Heatherly, and drummer B.B. Borden, Marshall Tucker is in its fourth decade as a recording and touring entity. What's amazing is that the unit consistently comes up with compelling new material and hits the charts once in a while. In other words, this is not some jive revivalist move to make some quick cash before fading into oblivion. Beyond the Horizon offers 12 new tracks that rely heavily on the open Southern groove that was at the heart of the Tuckers' mature sound. Elements of soul, blues, and jazz blend seamlessly in the tracks "Ride of Your Life," Caldwell's "Texas on My Mind," the slippery Americana of "Into Your Eyes," and the swampy "King of the Delta Blues," which evokes memories of "Can't You See" in both chord structure and guitar attack. The band can still really rock it up when it wants to as well, as evidenced by the smoking strut in "Set You Free," the rootsy country of "Angel (With a Honky Tonk Heart)," and "The Rain." Marshall Tucker was always more musically adventurous than any of their rowdier peers. Besides the Allmans, they were the only other band of the "Southern rock" ilk that could play with as much texture, style, and sheer aplomb. Beyond the Horizon is a worthy installment in the band's continued history. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Twenty seven years after it was compiled, the apocryphal Stompin' Room Only is finally released. The album, which suffers only from being the seam album between Marshall Tucker's tenures at Capricorn and Warner Bros, was recorded during the European tour in support of Carolina Dreams. Here are 11 tracks by the original band -- with guests on a few -- with two cuts from a Milwaukee 1974 show tacked on for good measure. This is Marshall Tucker as they have never been heard on record. Like the Allmans, the Tuckers were all about seamlessly expanding from one musical form into another. Whereas studio versions of "Can't You See," "Take the Highway," "Ramblin'," and "24 Hours at a time," would weave elements of jazz, blues, honky tonk, gospel, and Appalachian folk music into the body of a song, on these extended jamming excursions they fully indulged their passions, winding in and out of genres without seams or sudden shifts. On an elongated cover of B.B. King's signature tune, "The Thrill Is Gone," with a number of guests including Dickey Betts and Charlie Daniels (making for a four-guitar front line!) as well as Jimmy Hall and Chuck Leavell, Chicago blues, jazz, and country are all enmeshed simultaneously, as the hidden nuances in the song come to the fore. On the gloriously long "24 Hours at a Time," Tom Caldwell's bass moves through the various jazz eras as Daniels fiddles his ass off to keep time with Toy Caldwell's knotty, razor-wire leads. And for those fans of the Marshal Tucker Band whose gauge is the song, "Can't You See," there isn't a better one on record or bootleg that's better than this one. With its shuffling, funky backbeat, and Toy Caldwell's impassioned vocal leading the charge to his burning solos, it literally send chills up the spine. This is one of the few cases where a found "lost" recording lives up its legend. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
'Greetings from South Carolina'
Release Date 11/16/1999
Tracks 10
Label Ramblin
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Greetings from South Carolina was the last album to be recorded by the original (except for the late Tommy Caldwell) lineup of the Marshall Tucker Band, prior to a breakup and a restructuring in 1984. While there are a few good songs on this one, it lacks the energy and creativity that burned so brightly within the band during the 1970s and into the early '80s. Exceptions include the Franklin Wilkie composition "Closer to Jesus" and the country "I May Be Easy But You Make It Hard." Of the three recordings produced at their studios in Spartanburg, SC, Greetings from South Carolina stands as the weakest. Still, there are always a few rare gems in any Tucker recording. ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
In April 1999, Marshall Tucker bandleader Doug Gray's mother was killed in a two-car automobile accident just weeks before the release of the spiritual album Gospel. Part of the sad irony is that one of the many great songs on Gospel is "Momma Don't Cry Anymore," a song co-written by Gray as a tribute to his father, who passed away a few years ago. Throughout the 12-song set, Gray performs some of his finest from-the-heart vocals to date. Every song on Gospel is a treat, especially to someone who was raised in the Southern Baptist church, and grew up listening to and playing old gospel songs himself. It is obvious even on the first listen that there is a higher power at work, helping the music flow. Gray, Tim Lawter and Rusty Milner are to be commended for their finest production efforts yet, bringing a major studio sound to CD from their small, self-owned home studio in Spartanburg. The addition of Ronald Radford's steel guitar, plus some amazing work from Milner, Lawter and Steve Poole (who plays both piano and organ), and the absolute brilliance of Dave Muse on sax and flute, helps give this entire album the feeling of vintage Marshall Tucker Band. Gray sings "Eye Is on the Sparrow" with his daughter Gabrielle; also included is "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," a regular feature of their '70s shows. Tim Lawter closes out the set by singing "Beauty of Life," a tune written by Milner. The song holds the perfect message to close out this recording: "It's not too late to say I'm sorry, It's not too late to say I want to change." In 1991, the group recorded an excellent album called Southern Spirit; with Gospel, they have tapped into the real Southern spirit. ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Face Down in the Blues, released in the summer of 1998, was the first all new Marshall Tucker Band album in over five years, and the band's first-ever blues-based recording. Both Leon Russell and the Cate Brothers contributed writings, as well as Doug Gray, Rusty Milner and Tim Lawter of the MTB. Hot tracks include "I Like Good Music," "Face the Music" and a smoking hot update of Toy Caldwell's "Ramblin'." Face Down in the Blues quickly established itself as one of the band's finest post-Caldwell efforts. ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Keeping the Love Alive includes Marshall Tucker classics like "Can't You See," "Heard It in a Love Song," "Hangin' Out in Smokey Places" and "Dancin' Shoes." ~ Keith Farley, All Music Guide
