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Rating: The Molly Hatchet can undoubtedly be considered the greatest Southern rock band after the legendary LYNYRD SKYNYRD, from whom they differed from the start with a wilder and more hard-rock oriented approach to music. Originating from Jacksonville, Florida, like their cousins Skynyrd, they have had a turbulent career marked by an often cruel and cursed fate. The Southern curse?
This "Beatin' the Odds" is their third album, released in 1980, after the successful "Molly Hatchet," debut dated 1978, and their most known and sold album, the famous "Flirtin' with Disaster," released a year later. The release of Beatin' the odds was accompanied by the significant entry of the new singer, the burly Jimmy Farrar, called to replace their original singer Danny Joe Brown who was ill with diabetes, who would rejoin the group in 1982 only to leave again until his premature death in 2005.
The album stands out from the cover featuring the famous Viking drawn by Frazetta, which would become their symbol gracing all subsequent covers to this day. Although less vocally gifted than his predecessor, Farrar would still make an impact, to the point where this album and the subsequent "Take No Prisoners" are considered among the best works of the Southern band. Driven by the famous three guitars introduced by the Lynyrd Skynyrd, the tracks are a summation of Molly Hatchet's ethos, which mixes songs with a strong Hard Rock foundation with the most visceral blues, leaving out country, and in this album, there are no traces of acoustic solutions.
Immediately highlighted are the guitars of Steve Holland, Dave Hlubek (the only survivor in the current lineup), and Duane Roland (who passed away in 2006) with the initial riff of the title track "Beatin' the Odds, plundered in the years to come (...among others... remember Cambio by Negrita?). This song would become a classic for the group, still performed live today. Certainly, originality has never been their strong suit, so much that the various "Double Talker", "Sailor", "Dead and Gone", and "Get Her Back" flow almost alike one to another.
The only slow track of the album "The Rambler" offers a bit of a breather, in which Farrar showcases his voice, though still falling short compared to Brown. Also noteworthy is the Creedence Clearwater Revival cover, "Penthouse Pauper". Less original than the early Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, as the choice of the name suggests, it's up to you to discover its meaning, focus everything on aggression and strength, making concerts their strongest point by fully exploiting the spectacle of the three guitars on stage that, during live performances, embark on electrifying jam sessions.
After the subsequent album, Farrar would leave the group for a solo career with little success, while the band would bring back Joe Brown, but the best of the group seems to have already been given.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Beatin' the Odds (03:18)
Well she grabbed me and asked me,
If I had a name,
She told me she was interested to see,
If I could play the game,
She said her name was victory,
She didn't want to know the rules,
That's just the way I wanted to play,
In a game designed for fools.
Chorus:
We were beatin' the odds, we were beatin' the odds,
We were beatin' the odds again,
We were gambling with our souls,
We were playing to win,
We were beatin' the odds again.
Well I rolled the dice feelin' cold as ice,
And Victory drew the cards,
We knew that loosin' when the stakes were high,
Could really hit us hard,
I strapped into the drivers seat,
With Miss Victory by my side,
She knew at a glance she was takin' a chance,
By coming along for the ride.
Chorus:
We were beatin' the odds, we were beatin' the odds,
We were beatin' the odds again,
We were gambling with our souls,
We were playing to win,
We were beatin' the odds again.
Time and space stood still that day,
With Victory's soul and mine,
We were running a race between heaven and hell,
And we could not find the finish line,
And when it was all over we won it in the end,
We were splittin' the prize when she opened her eyes,
And said Baby let's try it again.
Chorus:
We were beatin' the odds, we were beatin' the odds,
We were beatin' the odds again,
We were gambling with our souls,
We were playing to win,
We were beatin' the odds again.
Chorus:
We were beatin' the odds, we were beatin' the odds,
We were beatin' the odds again,
We were gambling with our souls,
We were playing to win,
We were beatin' the odds again.
02 Double Talker (03:15)
You said you loved me baby,
I believed in you,
But the words you're saying now,
Just ain't ringing true,
Lord you been steppin' 'round,
With someone new,
And that look that's in your eyes,
Been tellin' on you.
I just can't take it baby,
All your running 'round,
You know you make me look,
Just like a clown,
But a change better come on soon,
Or I'll be gone,
I can't be hangin' 'round with all of this,
Goin' on.
You're tellin' me lies,
With those lyin' eyes,
You take me for a fool,
I've seen the light,
You better get right,
Tell me baby,
What you tryin' to do,
oooh you double talkin' fool.
You've been singin' that same ol' song,
And I've been cryin' the blues,
I've just about had enough,
Enough of being used,
Gonna be some changes comin',
Changes comin' soon,
I've had my fill of your sweet talkin',
Now you're gonna pay your dues.
I just can't take it baby,
All your runnin' 'round,
You know you make me look,
Just like a clown,
But a change is comin' soon,
Or I'll be gone,
I won't be anyone's fool,
For very long.
You better change your ways,
Here one of these days,
Or I'll send you back to school,
Better shoot straight,
Before it's too late,
'Cause I tell you baby,
I'll be puttin' on my walkin' shoes,
I'm runnin' from a double talkin' fool.
03 The Rambler (04:50)
I'm going down to the river,
Just to bide my time away,
Don't you look or me tommorrow,
Cause I won't be back this way,
Oh girl I hate to leave you,
But I just can't seem to say,
When I see the sunrise in your eyes,
Darling I'll be on the way.
The miles go by so slowly,
It seems that time stands still,
I long for the day that I can settle down,
But I guess I never will,
Oh the cities they pass by me,
Like the ships that sail the sea,
Lord I here that highway calling,
Darling I hope you'll wait for me.
Oh it's cold here in the city,
I live my life from day to day,
Guess I'll always be a rambler,
But it's so hard to find my way,
Lord I need someone to help me,
I just can't go on this way,
I need your smiling face beside me,
So darling I'm coming home today.
09 Poison Pen (03:06)
Poison Pen can there be no end,
The words on the page,
Make you no man's friend,
Change a man's fate,
With a drop of a line,
What your gonna write about next time,
Bite like a snake,
But it's never too late to look,
Yourself in the eye,
You're gonna have to pay for all you say,
Before your ink runs dry
Poor Mr. Pen you're the Devils friend,
you talk so much there ain't no end,
Is it a game to wreck my mind,
When you print your name at the Top of the line,
The bite of a snake,
Is easier to take,
'Cause once that ink is dry,
The venom's on the page,
Till you end your days,
Makes me wonder why
Poison Pen you're no man's friend,
Wish I knew what's inside of you,
Poison Pen ain't there no end,
To those men with the Poison Pen
Poison Pen can there be no end,
The words on the page,
Make you no man's friend,
Change a man's fate,
With a drop of a line,
What your gonna write about next time,
Bite like a snake,
But it's never too late to look,
Yourself in the eye,
You're gonna have to pay for all you say,
Before your ink runs dry
Poison Pen you're no man's friend,
Wish I knew what's inside of you,
Poison Pen ain't there no end,
To those men with the Poison Pen
Chorus:
Poison Pen you're no man's friend,
Wish I knew what's inside of you,
Poison Pen ain't there no end,
To those men with the Poison Pen
Ooh Poison Pen
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