•
Rating: Among the best Southern Rock groups, among the many that thrived in the United States during the seventies and of which only faint reflections reached Italy, were these Outlaws from Tampa, Florida. Compared to the average Southern rock trend, they were considered moderates: this was because, unlike almost all their genre colleagues, the Outlaws fully utilized the presence of three different voices in their ranks, organizing rich harmonies that, even if not reaching the complexity and importance of specialist groups, steered their music towards a sort of "country hard rock", if such a term can convey the idea. Melodic yet tough, like Eagles that consistently played "Life In The Fast Lane" or similar stuff.
The three vocalists were also the three guitars of the group, in a five-piece lineup with unusual guitar power, albeit not uncommon in the Southern realm. While jumping on stage to play, they were invariably introduced as the "Florida Guitar Army," and indeed live, they always delivered with commendable fervor, while on record, the music was rounded and softened due to a more mellifluous and catchy production.
The band leader, the most prolific composer, and the sharpest guitar was Hughie Thomasson, the perfect icon of a Southern musician: frizzy and unkempt hair, drooping mustache, a goatee, five o'clock shadow, and a beer belly. A lifelong devotee of the Fender Stratocaster, which he wielded with divine skill, showcasing demonic agility and precision. Mr. Thomasson was inducted in the nineties into the Fender Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on those who have significantly contributed (like Hendrix, Beck, Blackmore, and company) to the development and unparalleled glory of this famous guitar brand, historically the most important and widespread in rock. As a vocalist, though, Hughie was nothing special, a bit raspy and hoarse, with a good range on the high notes. But on the instrument, as mentioned, he was a beast, with great taste and brilliance, ensured by the choice of always clean and "difficult" sounds, those that do not tolerate inaccuracies.
More anonymous and normal was the talent of the other lead guitarist Billy Jones, but very effective was the contrast of style and timbre (his tool being a Gibson Les Paul) compared to colleague Thomasson, not to mention the voice, sharp and nasal as if he were Neil Young's cousin. The third man with a six-string in hand is named Henry Paul, and his duties were strictly rhythmic, while he had the warmest and most baritone voice of the trio.
The jewel of this album, the first in a discography that counts about a dozen releases, is the concluding "Green Grass & High Tides", a powerful and copious (ten minutes) guitar tour de force (an almost indispensable moment in the repertoire of any good Southern group worthy of the name), in which the "Florida Guitar Army" goes at it with unheard strength, maintaining extreme lyricism even in the rough intertwining between the soloists. Live, this piece was further expanded to reach about twenty minutes and remains one of the masterpieces of Southern Rock, not to be missed for any reason if you are a lover of such exaggerations.
A lot of time has passed since this electrifying debut (1975), and the Outlaws have been touring the States again for a couple of years, bringing these songs to the stages of their great and grateful country, played by the two survivors of the group Henry Paul and drummer Monte Yoho, along with new companions. The other three original musicians have all, alas, passed away: bassist Frank O'Keefe fell victim to an overdose in 1995, and in the same year, Billy Jones decided to bid farewell to this world by taking his own life. Both had long since left the group, and Billy even left music, resuming his old profession as a teacher in Tampa. The virtuoso Thomasson, instead, left us last September during a full phase of reconstituting the group after years and years of brilliant service with Lynyrd Skynyrd, with the recordings of a new album under the Outlaws’ name just completed. A heart attack took him away, and the new record release of the Outlaws was suspended.
Indeed, it's hard to think of the Outlaws without him; time is a scoundrel, and even the best things must pass. Great Hughie, you were a great talent, you're no longer with us, but your strength is always with us, in these records full of genuine musical passion.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Breaker Breaker (02:57)
Breaker breaker, take me home
You're the one I want to see
Gimme your north bound seven five,
I've been heading for that camping town
South-bound is my ride
Eight more hours, I'll be shifting gears
Look over my shoulder
Guy, won't you lend me your ears?
It's been so long since I've seen my home
I've got to get on down that road tonight
The one I love is waitin' there for me
With open arms and love in her eyes
Seeing the days and the nights pass me by
I've been seeing the road signs
The white lines are in my eyes
Hands on the wheel and my radio on
This is pony boy breaker down and I'm goin' home
You know I've tried to make the best of it
But there's somethings a man's just got to do
The big ten wheels keep rollin' along
And I'll be there before the mornin' dew
Breaker breaker take me home, clear the highway for me
Breaker breaker take me home
You're the one I wanna see
Hearin' that old lonesome highway song
I been hearin' the diesel hum, she's runnin' again
Back on the road, I got a heavy load
Lookin' over my shoulder now
It's clear to L.A.
It's been so long since I've seen my home
Got to get on down that road tonight
Freeways and highways and back roads and byways
Come on back you cotton picker you
Breaker breaker, take me home, clear the highway for me
Breaker breaker, take me home you're the one I wanna see
Breaker breaker, take me home, clear the highway for me
Breaker breaker, take me home you're the one I wanna see
Breaker breaker take me home, clear the highway for me
07 You Are The Show (04:56)
My life is changing; the seasons seem to come and go
Too fast for me to remember who I am, I myself.
The crowds and faces, the times and places I don't know
I am just the player, you are the show
You are the show
You are the show
You are the show
An honest man with a dealer's hand, he played to lose.
No signs of fortune, no lucky lady by his side, his heart cried.
A game of chance and a lost romance is found once more.
We're just the players; you are the show.
You are the show
You are the show
You are the show
You are the show
You are the show
You are the show
You are the show
You are the show
You are the show
Loading comments slowly
