record collection revisited: The Marshall Tucker Band "Beyond The Horizon"

The Marshall Tucker Band had a revitalization in 2004 with their record "Beyond The Horizon" and this extended into another album called "The Next Adventure" in 2007.  Now, "Beyond The Horizon" will be looked at first, and there will be a blog entry about "The Next Adventure" at some point in time.  "Beyond The Horizon" has some great songs on it, and very well could have been a record made by the original Marshall Tucker Band back in the '70s.  But, the new lineup with Doug Gray, Chris Hicks, Stuart Swanlund (may he Rest In Peace), the late Tony Heatherly on bass, David Muse on saxophone and flute, and drummer B.B. Borden, it was a great tribute to the original lineup. 

Two of the tracks are old Toy Caldwell chestnuts from his solo album that was also blogged called "Son of The South".  Those are "Texas On My Mind" sung by Doug Gray, and "Midnight Promises" sung by Chris Hicks, who was supposed to be the original duet partner for Toy on his version, but, of course, Gregg Allman nails the duet vocal on that particular version from "Son of The South".  The other tracks on this record are very strong and poignant, crossing between the traditional mix for Marshall Tucker of country, blues, southern boogie rock, and R&B.  Swanlund and Hicks play guitar lines on the tracks that would make Toy Caldwell proud despite some naysayers out there who might believe that the newer iterations of the MTB aren't as good as the original.  That may be true.  But, at least on the studio record, they nailed it.

Here are the tracks for "Beyond The Horizon"

1. Ride of Your Life
2. Give It All You've Got
3. Texas On My Mind
4. Beyond The Horizon
5. Into Your Eyes
6. King of The Delta Blues (a very cool tribute to Robert Johnson, featuring Jimmy Hall from Wet Willie on vocals and harmonica)
7. Set You Free
8. The Rain
9. Angel (With A Honky Tonk Heart) (great ballad about country music and all it's legends)
10. Midnight Promises (one of Toy Caldwell's most well known songs)
11. Never Find Another You
12. Down This Road Before (Part 1) (a little ditty written by drummer B.B. Borden to close the record which continues into a full length song on "The Next Adventure")

Check out this record and stay tuned for a piece about "The Next Adventure".