Kingcrimsonprog Blackfoot were a Southern Rock band from Jacksonville Florida formed by Jackson Spires, Greg T. Walker and Rick Medlocke (of Lynyrd Skynyrd) around 1970, named after several of the band member’s Native American ancestry.

The band broke through big from around 1979-1981 with a trio of superb records that mixed Southern Rock attitude and stylings with a more heavy metal approach and production style. Before that however, the band released two albums that were more traditional, Flyin’ High and their debut album No Reservations.

1975’s No Reservations shows the potential that the band had even at this early stage in their career. Despite its basic production values and slightly derivative songwriting, there is still a lot of interesting material to be found.

In terms of positives, the album has variety on its side. Mixing some great rock moments like the album highlights ‘Born To Rock N Roll’ and ‘Take A Train’ with quieter moments like the ‘Simple Man’ referencing ballad ‘Stars’ and the excellent Bluegrass album closer ‘Railroad Man.’

The only problem with the album is that the level of energy is comparatively restrained for the majority of each song’s duration, which can make the songs seem a lot less dynamic and interesting than they really are.

Every song does kick right into life when the guitar solos break out however, and suddenly all band members start playing the absolute hell out of their instruments. Had they delivered more of the album with this level of passion and intensity it would be a truly powerful and memorable record.

As it stands it is a nice addition to your Blackfoot collection, although not really something I would recommend to non-fans or first time buyers in the same way that I would recommend any of the four albums which followed. That being said; the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you and while it isn’t just as world beating as some of their finest work, it is still way above average.

Kingcrimsonprog Blackfoot are a Southern Rock band from Florida who mixed hard rock and heavy metal into their sound to create a trilogy of fondly remembered albums between 1979 and 1981.

They are notable for featuring Rick Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd on Guitar and Vocals as well as for being one of the heaviest bands in the Southern Rock genre. This band is something that I would highly recommend to fans of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, Outlaws and the Allman Brothers, as well as to fans of the likes of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Rainbow and Scorpions.

Before the aforementioned ‘79-‘81 period commonly accepted the band’s golden-age, Blackfoot had already released two underrated studio albums; their 1975 debut No Reservations and this album, 1976’s Flyin’ High.

While not as famous as the three albums that would follow, not as well produced and not as easy to find a first-hand copy of these days, Flyin’ High is still a great album for both fans of the band and fans of the genre in general. The style of music is raucous and energetic Southern Rock with a mixture of quiet moments, boogie and outright hard rock, and the execution of said style is wonderful.

Highlights include the storming ‘Junkie’s Dream,’ as well as the fun ‘Dancing Man’ and the ballad ‘Mother.’

Overall, if you are already familiar with Blackfoot’s more famous moments, Flyin’ High is an excellent addition to your collection and well worth checking out if you can find yourself a copy at a reasonable price.

Kingcrimsonprog Blackfoot are a Florida based Southern Rock band started around 1970 by bassist Greg T. Walker and Singer/Guitarist Rick Medlocke (of Lynryd Skynyrd) Their style combines the flavor of Southern Rock with a mixture Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

Marauder is the band’s fifth studio album. It was released in 1981 and has went on to become one of the fan’s favourite Blackfoot albums; released during the band’s creative and commercial high point, and spawning the famous tracks ‘Fly Away’ and ‘Diary Of A Working Man.’

This was to be the last Blackfoot album before they changed their sound dramatically with the inclusion of synthesizers and a change in songwriting approaches.

For the most part, the album is a mixture between storming heavy numbers like ‘Good Morning,’ ‘Too Hard To Handle’ and ‘Rattlesnake Rock And Roller’ with mid paced Hard Rock tracks and slower, quieter tracks like the delightful ‘Searchin’ as well as the aforementioned ‘Diary Of A Working Man.’

Stylistically, the album is a nice mixture of everything that the band are good at and the quality of musicianship and songwriting is excellent. The album, alongside Strikes and Tomcattin’ is often considered to be one of the three best albums that the band have ever released.

If you want some want some very fun music that takes the Southern flavor of Skynyrd, Outlaws and Molly Hatchet, but delivers it with the intensity of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, then there is nothing so suitable to your tastes as the classic era of Blackfoot, which definitely includes this album. Overall, if you are interested in Blackfoot or want more Southern Rock but harder and heavier than usual, then you really ought not be without a copy of Marauder. Its well produced, balances heaviness and commerciality and is simply packed full of excellent music and live favorites.

Kingcrimsonprog Strikes was the third studio album by the Southern Rock band Blackfoot, it was released on the Atco label in 1979 and was something of a breakthrough release for the band.

Blackfoot were named after the Native American Blackfoot Confederacy due to several of the band member’s Native American heritage. The band was based in Florida and featured Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Rick Medlocke on Lead Vocals and Guitar.

Strikes was the first of an unbeatable three-album streak of classic gems, followed in 1980 by Tomcattin’ and then 1981’s Marauder. The three albums, along with the incendiary live album Highway Song Live are all considered by fans to be utterly essential. If you are interested in the band for any reason, any of these three records, including Strikes, should really please you.

While Marauder is a bit more commercial and Tomcattin’ is a bit heavier, Strikes is the album that most truly follows the specific Southern Rock formula laid down by Lynyrd Skynyrd and followed by the likes of Molly Hatchet and Outlaws. If you enjoy any of those bands then Strikes is definitely worth checking out. That being said however, the album isn’t exactly dripping in Southern Rock conventions; it is more of a solid Hard Rock album with a Southern tinge.

One thing that separates Strikes from the rest of the band’s catalogue is that it contains three cover songs by Spirit, Blues Image and Free respectively.

Strikes also distinguishes itself by featuring the anthemic ‘Train, Train’ and ‘Highway Song’ which are two of the bands most popular and recognizable tracks, and the avenue through which many fans discover Blackfoot.

Overall; if you like the band it would really be advisable to get a copy of Strikes, Tomcattin’ and Marauder at a minimum. The other two records have the heaviness and heavy metal charm and they are perfectly complimented by Strikes, which has the hits and the variety.

Kingcrimsonprog Tomcattin’ is the fourth full-length studio album by Southern Rock legends Blackfoot, it was released in 1980 and is one of the band’s harder and heavier albums.

The band, who hail from Jacksonville Florida and are lead by Rickie Medlocke (Lynyrd Skynyrd) deliver a brand of Southern Rock flavoured music only focused with an almost Heavy Metal intensity.

For most fans, the band’s pinnacle is always considered to be the three studio albums Strikes, Tomcattin’ and Marauder, in addition to the incendiary live album, Highway Song Live. These albums represent the band’s artistic and commercial best, before industry politics and shifting musical climates would change Blackfoot from a big deal set for stardom into a band that you discover when you get into other artists from the same genre.

While Strikes is more authentic to the genre’s Skynyrd influence, and Marauder is more radio friendly and commercial, Tomcattin’ is the heavy moment in between that maintains some of the Southern Feel, hints at the catchy and melodic future and lays down a furious metallic backbone all at the same time.

Tracks like ‘Fox Chase’ and ‘Warped’ are fast and aggressive, ‘Street Fighter’ is a mid paced rock number and ‘Spendin Cabbage’ is the one acoustic track on there.

So if you like the heavier moments from bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers and Molly Hatchet or would like to hear what a band like Judas Priest or Scorpions would’ve sounded like with a Southern edge then give Blackfoot a try, and if you want a direct and heavy Blackfoot album then pick up a copy of Tomcattin.