Their Best - I saw them play in 1971 at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I was in the 11/12th grade. I still have the flyer that was stapled to the pole outside. This CD is the only one I own and still listen to on occasion. Usually when drinking Jack Daniels and watching young college girls across the street. Just kidding of course...(here that scrub board?)
their best of the bunch - This is the best of BOA s output. period. the next 2 LPs are really good, basically extensions of this body of raunchy rock music. Get Keep the Faith too. Their 3rd release, If an Angel Came to see you, Would You Make Her Feel At Home has never been released on CD for some reason...but the LP is cool.
great balls of fire - jerry lee may be able to top this, but that it.these guys have balls and great licks. i heard them in the 60s, so i m prejudiced this way. but for that good crzy sounds and fun these guys are worth 5 stars. This is the album to get, it is tight and like SgtPepper, it holds up as one feeling of fun from start to finish. No comp comes close, or other album by them.
groovin hill billies.... - i am a long haired death metal country boy from arkansas, this is not my kind of music. but, i grew up listening to these guys. yes, Black Oak Arkansas is an actual small town on highway 18 in north east Ark., and as far as i know Jim Dandy Mangrum still lives there. this is the bands debut album, a great disc of country inspired rock blues, jazzy funk. Lord have Mercy on my Soul is an easy choice for a fave , but i prefer the lively Uncle Elijah, and the haunting Memories at the Window. this is a milestone in rock music, don t overlook it.in the early 70 s when this album came out and the band was in they re heyday, BOA was often on television on NBC s Midnight Special on friday nights. on spur of the moment one night about 10 years ago i stopped in a local club late one night, a lean blonde haired dude in his late 40 s was sitting in on guitar and vocals with a local band. when he came and stood next to me at the bar, i realized it was Jim Dandy Mangrum. here was a man who was once world famous, still looked like a rock star but had none of the arrogance.get this album and enjoy one of the founders of southern country rock groove and boogie
UNPREPARED - Black Oak Arkansas (BOA) caught the Rock world unprepared for thier high decible blend of Rock, Country, Hillbilly, Rock-abilly.... Also BOA added a touch of history and spiritualism to their outstanding lyricism. They paved the way for Charlie Daniels, Leonard Skinyrd, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Marshall Tucker, Alabama..... Well, BOAs contribution to an evolution within the Rock community puts them on the same cloud as Buddy Holly, and the Beatles. Cuts Uncle Elijah, and Lord Have Mercy on my Soul, are but two of the standouts on this album. No production values are missing, or lost. NOTE: BOAs Singin the Blues track is a Rock update from the 1920s. One might say thier style is from all the right places in Hell. The evil sounding vocals - as yet unmatched - sound like Ol Scratch himself.