One of the most puzzling moves in the history of Southern Rock occurred when vocalist Danny Joe Brown left MOLLY HATCHET at the top of their huge late Seventies success. He formed THE DANNY JOE BROWN BAND and released the group’s self-titled debut, finely remastered by Rock Candy Records.
Shortly before Brown abandon Molly Hatchet, the group recorded one of the genre’s definitive albums, but Brown wanted his own career. Hence, this album is of interest to Southern Rock / bluesy hard rock fans because it should come as no surprise that it sounds like Molly Hatchet around that era – the early ’80s.
Like Molly Hatchet, Brown’s band also featured a three-guitar attack, courtesy of Bobby Ingram, Steve Wheeler and Kenny McVay.
A couple of extra musical touches support Brown’s throaty growl: slide guitar riffing by Ingram and Wheeler, keyboard accents by John Galvin and harmony vocals that certainly must have been encouraged by producer / engineer Glyn Johns, a legend who’d worked with The Rolling Stones, The Who, Eagles and Eric Clapton.
The “The Danny Joe Brown Band” album is about as good a Southern Rock record as you will ever hear. With impassioned vocals and copious lead guitar playing, the songs are superior examples of a genre now considered as part of the classic rock legacy.
Indeed, it houses two of the movement’s greatest signature tracks; ‘The Alamo’ and ‘Edge Of Sundown’, the latter a mythical guitar-driven epic containing an extended guitar showdown in the finest Southern Rock tradition.
The Southern Rock hall of fame is decorated with some of the finest voices in the music business; Ronnie Van Zant and Gregg Allman being two fine examples. Equally as impressive is the immediate and identifiable rasp of Danny Joe Brown.
A fine remaster by Rock Candy on this very good slice of moving Classic Rock.
1 Sundance 4:19
2 Nobody Walks On Me 3:08
3 The Alamo 3:05
4 Two Days Home 3:15
5 Edge Of Sundown 6:33
6 Beggar Man 3:45
7 Run For Your Life 3:40
8 Hear My Song 3:13
9 Gambler's Dream 3:32
10 Hit The Road 4:09
The Danny Joe Brown Band – Danny Joe Brown And The Danny Joe Brown Band [Remastered Rock Candy] 2008
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