The Marshall Tucker Band - Where We All Belong

Gang-Twanger

Gang-Twanger

Resident Wharfedaliophool
Artist - The Marshall Tucker Band
Album - Where We All Belong
Label - Capricorn Records (original)/ Shout Factory (Remastered Version)
Year - 1974/2004
Genre - Southern Rock/Country Rock

Since I can't really explain it any better, I'm going to let Wiki tell the details -

"The Marshall Tucker Band arrived at a crossroads on its third album, Where We All Belong. With two successful LPs already under their belt, the Spartanburg, SC sextet was on the verge of even greater popularity. Marshall Tucker’s eclectic brand of musical Americana had won them a fervent following as a touring act. Now—thanks to lead guitarist Toy Caldwell’s knack for hook-laden songwriting—they were edging closer to breaking into Top 40 radio.
Where We All Belong gives a taste of both ends of the Marshall Tucker spectrum: the expansive jam band and the more tightly-focused recording act. Released in 1974 as a two-record LP, the album found the band refining its own distinctive brand of country-rock on the studio cuts.

Anticipating the mass appeal of cowboy culture a few years later, Toy and his band adopted a bit of a Wild West attitude in their music. For all the prominence of pedal steel guitar and down-home lyric imagery in its tracks, though, Where We All Belong was far more adventuresome than most mainstream country music of its time.

Balancing the well-honed studio cuts were the in-concert recordings that round out the album. The genre-spanning versatility and instrumental excellence of Marshall Tucker’s membership is caught here in all its unfettered glory. As a live act, the band had the power to drive audiences delirious with their soaring jams, as these recordings demonstrate." - From Wikipedia

Track listing
Side One
"This Ol' Cowboy" (Toy Caldwell) - 6:42
"Low Down Ways" (Toy Caldwell) - 2:57
"In My Own Way" (Toy Caldwell) - 7:17

Side Two
"How Can I Slow Down" (Toy Caldwell) - 3:19
"Where A Country Boy Belongs" (Toy Caldwell) - 4:32
"Now She's Gone" (Toy Caldwell & Tommy Caldwell) - 4:20
"Try One More Time" (Toy Caldwell) - 4:46


Track listing, (live)
Side Three
"Ramblin'" (Toy Caldwell) - 5:35
"24 Hours At A Time" (Toy Caldwell) - 13:17

Side Four
"Everyday (I Have The Blues)" (Peter Chapman) - 11:30
"Take The Highway" (Toy Caldwell) - 6:56

Personnel
Toy Caldwell - Electric and acoustic guitars, steel guitar and lead vocal on "This Ol' Cowboy"
Tommy Caldwell - Bass guitar and background vocals
George McCorkle - Electric and acoustic guitars, banjo
Jerry Eubanks - Flute, alto, baratone and tenor saxophone, background vocals
Doug Gray - Lead vocals and percussion
Paul Riddle - drums


I've always thought of the Marshall Tucker Band as more of "jam band" than a "southern rock" or even "country rock" band (I think they're a lot like the Allman Brothers, who also shared the Capricorn label). But call them whatever you want, I've always dug Marshall Tucker. And in my opinion, this is their best album (It's definitely my favorite - I think "This Ol' Cowboy" is one of the greatest songs ever recorded - It's the reason I originally bought the album). I love the "Eat A Peach" formula in effect here - 2 sides studio/2 sides live. And the music is beautifully-recorded in both cases. The band is incredibly-tight and focused, plus there are some guests as well, including Charlie Daniels (who plays on both studio and live cuts). And vocalist Doug Gray and guitarist Toy Caldwell (who died in 1993, and sings lead vocals on "This Ol' Cowboy" and, I believe, "Everyday I Have The Blues", though he's not credited) are both in their prime on this album. Also, I really think Paul Riddle is the unsung hero of southern-rock drummers (not to mention this album). He plays "driving music" as well as anybody I've heard. And this album is definitely one for the road.

If you like the southern-rock/jam-band/jazzy blues kind of thing, then this album is a keeper (and it's CHEAP, especially for an album that was originally a double-LP). A band I was playing in had the pleasure of opening up for them years ago. They were a great bunch of guys, and it was one of the best gigs we had. And I was giddy because I'm a big fan. Great night. - Derek

P.S. - Again, I apologize for the album art not being at the top in larger form. I've been trying to do it, but my computer's not letting me paste images for some reason. Plus, my computer skills suck, so it may actually be a human-related error.
 

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P.S.S. - I remember when Toy Caldwell died in '93. We lost Danny Gatton right around the same time. Actually there were several great guitarists that died that year (or close to the same time). I remember talking to a friend of mine who I had jammed with a lot - He's a blues singer/guitarist who knew Caldwell very-well (and had also done gigs with Roy Buchanan and knew Danny Gatton as well) - I asked him how he was doing, and he said, "Lousy. All my friends are dying.".

BY the way, supposedly the original "Where We All Belong" LP incorrectly has a live version of "Can't You See" included on the tracklist. This live version of the song actually appears on their next album, "Searchin' For A Rainbow" instead.
 
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Saw them in Martin TN in the mid 80's with Freddie King I think it was. They were a great live band. Freddie didn't do so bad that night either. Good times.
 
Hayes said:
Saw them in Martin TN in the mid 80's with Freddie King I think it was. They were a great live band. Freddie didn't do so bad that night either. Good times.
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Sorry, that was the mid 70's. I'm still trying to forget the 80's ( the Reagan years ).
 
Excellent band, the entire side 1 of WWAB is an all-time favorite of mine. Searchin' for a Rainbow and Carolina Dreams are also really good, and there's outstanding cuts on all the other albums as well.

Enjoy the music,
-Mark
 
24 Hours at a Time is one of the all time driving songs, can't help but crank that up in the car. I saw Charlie Daniels open for MTB at the Schaefer music festival in Central Park here in NYC for $2.50 around 1974. Too bad both of the Caldwell brothers are dead. My second favorite southern rock band after the more talented Allman Brothers.

Gang-Twanger, send me a PM, I may have something of interest for you.
 
Yeah, it's always been that way with me too - Allmans first and "MTB" (as the road dogs call them) second.

I listened to their first five albums today - all the original, non-remastered CD's (which didn't need remastering, if you ask me).

Right now I'm listening to the MFSL "Eat A Peach" gold CD, which just might be the best-sounding CD Mobile Fidelity ever put out. It's perfect. Warm, balanced, dynamic, punchy, and with a beautiful soundstage (Even the volume level is perfect). Nothing on CD sounds better through my speakers. If this CD was a chick I'd marry it - whether it could cook or not.
 
MTB is some very good stuff and the Capricorn recordings sound very well recorded to me.
I was at the actual live show recorded there and it was as good as it sounds. :yes: :thmbsp:
 
Hayes said:
Sorry, that was the mid 70's. I'm still trying to forget the 80's ( the Reagan years ).
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Ditto. I'm still trying to forget that, and Poison. Oh, and high school. And leg-warmers. And A-Ha. And, well, ... pretty-much everything else that sucked in the '80's.
 
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Andyman said:
MTB is some very good stuff and the Capricorn recordings sound very well recorded to me.
I was at the actual live show recorded there and it was as good as it sounds. :yes: :thmbsp:
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Wowzers!

I haven't heard the remastered CD's yet, as I'm apprehensive about buying "remasters" - That's become a contradiction of terms as of late. But like I said, the original CD versions sound great - perfectly-balanced, non-fatiguing, perfectly-leveled, warm-sounding, ...... just great all around. Didn't need a remaster in my opinion. I guess people forget what they have in front of them sometimes. I was the same way for years. It's like what John Doe (Kevin Spacey) said in the movie "Seven" - "Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer. Then suddenly you've got their undivided attention".

Somehow, there's actually a life lesson in that ("Don't hit people with sledgehammers").

This "Eat A Peach" disc rocks. I like it so-much-more than the Mofi "Fillmore East" gold CD (the album itself is awesome, but EAP is a better-SOUNDING disc).
 
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Well, I was really speaking to the vinyl, but I can see where a good recording would carry over to CD. The LPs really do sound quite nice.
 
Being a Spartanburg native I have always loved MTB. My dad was friends with Paul; I worked with George's son for a while and have met and talked to Doug and Jerry on several occasions. Their music is incredible, my favorite is one not very well known called "Tenth", check it out.
 
I have 2-3 MTB albums but not that one.
I do remember seeing them between Joe Walsh and the Allman Brothers at Texas Statium in 1975(?).

One hell of a concert!

Allman's did their encore and people started leaving. We had a little tequila that night and wanted to wait for the parking lots to slow down so we stayed in the stands. After 10-15 minutes, ABB, MTB & Joe Walsh all came back on-stage and jammed together for another 15 minutes.

I never leave concerts early now... (or was it just too much tequila!?!?!)

:banana::banana::banana:
 
Mc_Man said:
Being a Spartanburg native I have always loved MTB.
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I went to college in "Sparkle City" down the road from Moore, SC and have some fond memories of the old schoolhouse where their old studios were located. My step-brother bought it from the MTB. I'm guessing that building was around 5K square feet or more, with a cedar-planked 24-track studio on the top floor and living quarters on the bottom.

His "Shady Lady" made a go of a lamp business on the bottom floor while he did his best to eek a living doing jingles and recording local artists in the studio, all while raising their kids and living below. He had many of the MTB's master tapes, which had oddly been left behind. I had the pleasure to lay down a few tracks in that studio for some jingles, an experience I'll never forget.

Ken
 
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Urizen said:
I went to college in "Sparkle City" down the road from Moore, SC and have some fond memories of the old schoolhouse where their old studios were located. My step-brother bought it from the MTB. I'm guessing that building was around 5K square feet or more, with a cedar-planked 24-track studio on the top floor and living quarters on the bottom.

His "Shady Lady" made a go of a lamp business on the bottom floor while he did his best to eek a living doing jingles and recording local artists in the studio, all while raising their kids and living below. He had many of the MTB's master tapes, which had oddly been left behind. I had the pleasure to lay down a few tracks in that studio for some jingles, an experience I'll never forget.

Ken
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Wow, what a story! I'd love to hear THOSE tapes. All that stuff was recorded so-well. You know, studios have GOT to stop being so careless with tapes - That's money. You would think that at least the big corporate labels would've figured it out, but we already know that wasn't the case.
 
For anyone considering purchasing MTB there is collectors edition (metal box) that has 3 cds: The Marshall Tucker Band, Carolina Dreams and Searchin for a Rainbow. These are the remastered versions and include bonus tracks. The price of 3 is only slightly more than buying one. The sound quality is excellent.

I really enjoy MTB and need to purchase a couple of the other titles mentioned in this thread.
 
Searchin' For A Rainbow and Carolina Dreams are my 2 favorite Marshall Tucker Band albums. I prefer them on vinyl to cd anyday, especialy if its a clean, pop free press, which I have. I wet clean them every time I play them and they sound BETTER after every time I do.

Peace,

Phil
 
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