THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND 1973 - 1983

If you're expecting an unbiased, editorial style review of this band and their music then you're going to be solely disappointed with what's here. I love this band. I loved them from the first time I heard "Take The Highway" in 1973 and I still play their music frequently when I need an upper. This was one of the most talented and prolific emsembles to come out of the '70's music explosion and on 13 studio albums released between 1973 and the end of '83 there is 100 or so tunes, all of which are individual jewels.

I've been fortunate to see this band live over a dozen times during the '70's. It was an annual thing for a number of years as they would come to play at the old dome on the Grand Valley State college campus every summer. Myself and a buddy would get there early in the afternoon and wait for the equipment trucks to roll in. We'd ask if we could help and always got a "Sure thing, partner!" More than once we got to sit inside and listen during sound checks before going outside to get in line with our tickets for the show. Some of the best times I had in those days was standing up in front of Toy and Tommy Caldwell watching those boys pick and grin.

This wasn't a band with one star, it was a true ensemble. Doug Gray's voice is unmistakeable for anyone else and the power behind it was awesome. I can remember in concert having him let out a hollar and not be anywhere close to a mic and still hear it loud and clear. Doug Gray was the voice of MTB period. Doug still fronts the band even today and although it's still called The Marshall Tucker Band it's more the Doug Gray Band these days.

Toy Caldwell was the song writer and guitar picker extrordinaire. Toy wrote the bulk of MTB's tunes with occasional help from George Caldwell and the other boys, but it was Toy's guitar playing that did most of the talking for him. He had an awesome picking style, using his thumb and it was amazing to watch the things he could do not even using a guitar pick. Toy Caldwell went to sleep at his home on the night of February 25, 1993, never to awaken again.

Tommy Caldwell was a hero of mine too. Being a bass player of sorts in my younger days I would judge a band on the talent of their bass player and MTB had a bassist who kept the band moving all the time. He would play with such intensity that the sweat would just be pouring off him, particulary on the longer jams that they were famous for in their live shows. When he died in April of 1980 in a car accident it was a sad day in my world. The first piece of the original band was gone and although his replacement, Franklin Wilkie did a good job, he wasn't Tommy. If there is a heaven those two brothers are up there putting on a heckuva show every Saturday night.

Paul Riddle played drums for MTB and no matter what type of tune they were playin', Jazzy, swinging or out and out rockin' he was right there with style and feeling pushing the boys up front with his two hands and two feet pumping away like a well oiled machine.

George McCorkle was the strong, silent one for the band. He was just always there playing great rhythm guitar, either acoustic or electric, behind Toy's lead work. George also wrote a number of tunes for the band and one of them, Searching for a Rainbow was a large hit for MTB. George succumbed to cancer last summer, July 2007, and went to join the brothers for those saturday night shows.

Last but certainly not least there was Jerry Eubanks. The man who created a large part of that famous Tucker sound with his excellent Sax and Flute work. Always melodic and always moving, his playing helped MTB stand out head and shoulders above most of the music being created at the time.

This was the original band. Doug Gray continues to front the MTB in the new millenium and the quality of the music is still excellent. They just released a new album in 2007 Called The Next Adventure which is certainly worth owning.

What we have here now is the MTB discography from their 1st album in 73 thru Greetings From South Carolina in 1983. After Greetings the band effectively broke up and only Jerry and Doug went on under the MTB moniker with a variety of excellent southern musicians filling the spots left by Toy, Paul, George and Franklin. If you're new to MTB I'd suggest going chronologically and see where that takes you. I hope you enjoy the music as much as I have and still do......

MARSHALL TUCKER BAND - TAKE THE HIGHWAY 1973

THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND - 1973

Take The Highway

Can’t You See

Losing You

Hillbilly Band

See You Later, I’m Gone

Ramblin’

My Jesus Told Me So

AB’s Song

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A NEW LIFE - 1974

A New Life

Southern Woman

Blue Ridge Mountain Sky

Too Stubborn

Another Cruel Love

You Ain’t Foolin’ Me

24 Hours At A Time

Fly Eagle Fly

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WHERE WE ALL BELONG - 1974
This Ol’ Cowboy

Low Down Ways

In My Own Way

How Can I Slow Down

Where A Country Boy Belongs

Now She’s Gone

Try One More Time

Ramblin’

24 Hours At A Time

Everyday (I Have The Blues)

Take The Highway

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SEARCHIN' FOR A RAINBOW - 1975
Fire On The Mountain

Searchin’ For A Rainbow

Walkin’ And Talkin’

Virginia

Bob Away My Blues

Keeps Me From All Wrong

Bound And Determined

Can’t You See

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LONG HARD RIDE - 1976
Long Hard Ride

Property Line

Am I The Kind Of Man

Walkin’ The Streets Alone

Windy City Blues

Holding On To You

You Say You Love Me

You Don’t Live Forever

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CAROLINA DREAMS - 1977

Fly Like An Eagle

Heard It In A Love Song

I Should Have Never Started Lovin’ You

Life In A Song

Desert Skies

Never Trust A Stranger

Tell It To The Devil

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TOGETHER FOREVER - 1978
I’ll Be Loving You

Love Is A Mystery

Singing Rhymes

Dream Lover

Everybody Needs Somebody

Change Is Gonna Come

Asking Too Much Of You

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RUNNING LIKE THE WIND - 1979
Running Like The Wind

Last Of The Singing Cowboys

Answer To Love

Unto These Hills

Melody Ann

My Best Friend

Pass It On

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TENTH - 1980
It Takes Time

Without You

See You One More Time

Disillusion

Cattle Drive

Gospel Singin’ Man

Save My Soul

Sing My Blues

Jimi

Foolish Dreaming

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DEDICATED - 1981

Rumors Are Raging

Tonight’s The Night (For Making Love)

Love Some

Silverado

Something’s Missing In My Life

This Time I Believe

Tell The Blues To Take Off The Night

Special Someone

The Time Has Come

Ride In Peace

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TUCKERIZED - 1982
Reachin’ For A Little Bit More

If You Think You’re Hurtin’ Me (Girl You’re Crazy)

Even A Fool Would Let Go

Sea, Dreams & Fairy Tales

Any Way The Wind Blows Rider

Mr. President

Heartbroke

Unforgiven
Sweet Elaine

Ace High Love

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JUST US - 1983
8:05

Stay A Step Ahead

Time Don’t Pass By Here

Testify

Long Island Lady

A Place I’ve Never Been

Wait For You

When Love Begins To Fade

Paradise

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GREETINGS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA - 1983

Carolina Sunset

Good ’Ole Hurting Song

If I Could Only Have My Way

I May Be Easy But You Make It Hard

Closer To Jesus

Blood Red Eagle

Shot Down Where You Stand

Feel A Drunk Comin’ On

Bags Half Packed

Rollin’ River

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MARSHALL TUCKER BAND - 24 HOURS AT A TIME WITH CHARLIE DANIELS ON FIDDLE