#7 - "I've Got The Blues": Blues, Country Rock and Southern Rock

There was a new brand of rock that really developed in the 70's called "Southern Rock".  It took elements of blues and country and added some heavier guitars and dual-guitar solos.  Southern rock had its beginnings toward the end of the 60's with bands like The Allman Brothers, but the sound was defined and became popular in the 70's.  Several of the decades most famous bands and solo acts had aspects of blues, country and southern rock.  In this entry, we will take a look at a few that defined the genres...

Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton had achieved success in the 60's as a member of The Yardbirds and later with the first "Supergroup", Cream.  He also played lead guitar on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on The Beatles White Album.  His style was heavily influenced by the blues, but Clapton had the ability to take the blues and create his own unique sound.  At the start of the 70's, he formed "Derek and The Dominos" and had hits with "Layla" and "Bell-Bottom Blues", both of which were written for the then-wife of Clapton's friend and collaborator, George Harrison.  Shortly after the album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" was released by the band, Eric left the band and began his very successful solo career.

Over the course of the 70's, he released several charting singles, including "Let It Rain", "Lay Down Sally", "Wonderful Tonight" and the cover of the Bob Marley song "I Shot The Sheriff" which went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100...Eric Clapton is the only three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee (solo, The Yardbirds and Cream).

Eric Clapton - Layla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C74sjfGUQXo

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Lynyrd Skynyrd was originally formed in the mid-60's as the band The Pretty Ones, but changed their name to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1968.  Named after a strict p.e. teacher "Leonard Skinner" who was always enforcing the "No Long Hair" rules in his school.  The band developed their "Southern Rock" sound and began gaining popularity in the early 70's.  Before long, their popularity took off and they became the band that became the epitome of the "Southern Rock" sound. They released several singles: "Gimme Three Steps", "Saturday Night Special", "What's Your Name?", and "That Smell".  Their highest charting single, "Sweet Home Alabama" reached #8 on the Billboard charts and their 14 minute epic "Free Bird" is considered to be their signature song.  In fact, there is a long-standing joke at concerts where somebody will yell out a request for any band to "PLAY FREE BIRD".

Sadly, three days after their album "Street Survivors" was released, a tragic plane crash in 1977 took the lives of three of the band members: Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines all died when the plane they were flying in ran out of fuel.  The original cover for the album showed the band standing in flames and was quickly pulled from shelves and re-issued with the flames removed.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Free Bird"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpmsv7-OKQo

ZZ Top - While ZZ Top is mainly known for their long beards and early 80's MTV video hits "Legs", "Sharp-Dressed Man" and "TV Dinners", they had mainstream success in the pre-MTV days.  Billy Gibbons formed the band in Houston, TX with two different players, but eventually recruited Dusty Hill and Frank Beard to join the band.  Their first album, aptly named "ZZ Top's First Album" was released in 1971.  During the 70's, ZZ Top defined their sound and their first hit "La Grange" about a brothel in the Texas town of La Grange reached number 41 on the Billboard Charts.  Their next hit "Tush" made it up to #20 on the Billboard Chart.  They had a couple of other hits in the 70's with the cover of Sam & Dave's "I Thank You" and their own song "Cheap Sunglasses".  Once the 80's rolled around, the band re-defined its sound and its image and would be one of the first pioneers of the early "video age".

ZZ Top - "Tush"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jB_QM73Slk

Eagles - While (The) Eagles are perhaps more known for defining the "California Rock" sound, they started out more of a "Country Rock" type band.  They were formed by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and were actually started as the backing band for new artist Linda Ronstadt.  Their self-titled debut album released in 1972 produced three Top 40 singles: "Take It Easy", "Witchy Woman" and "Peaceful, Easy Feeling".  Their next album, "Desperado" did not produce any Top 40 hits, but contained two of the bands most popular tracks, "Desperado" and "Tequila Sunrise".  In 1974, Don Felder joined the group, followed by Joe Walsh in 1975.  They still had a "country" sound to their music at this period, but they would gradually get away from this sound.  Before adopting the more "California Rock" style, they continued to release hit singles such as "Already Gone", "One of These Nights", "Lyin' Eyes" and "Take It To The Limit".  They hit their commercial peak in 1976 with the mega-hit album "Hotel California" and their sound had developed into the defined "California Rock".

Eagles - "Witchy Woman"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcLwneGLCEU

There were several other bands during the era that only had minor success, but were able to produce hit singles based on the same blues/country/southern rock sound.  These included:

The Marshall Tucker Band - "Heard It In A Love Song"
Pure Prairie League - "Amie"
Molly Hatchet - "Flirtin' With Disaster"
Black Oak Arkansas - "Jim Dandy"
Ram Jam - "Black Betty"
Blackfoot - "Highway Song"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy" (Note: This was my first favorite song that I can remember)