Here's another band from Jacksonville, not Jacksonville, Florida but Jacksonville, North Carolina. Having spent most of my military career there, it was a no brainer that I would be introduced to their finest, Nantucket. Like their kinsmen in Florida, Nantucket had their own Southern sound but the difference is that instead of the hard rock boogie sound of a Molly Hatchet or metal sound like Blackfoot, Nantucket's was more of a progressive sound with some great use of keyboards and saxophone while still keeping a hard rock feel to it. The result is something I have always liked.
That all brings around to their second album "Your Face or Mine." The album typifies the sound that made Nantucket so popular in the Southern states at the time. Songs like "Your Place or Mine" and "Just the Devil's Way" show their hard rock Southern roots while "California" tends to show their more progressive side. And of course the saxophone adds another uniqe touch. I have heard many a sax in rock music and I have to say that as far as saxophonists are concerned, Eddie Blair is one of the best. The title of the final song on the album asks the question, "Is it wrong to rock and roll?" Listening to this album, I have to give an emphatic "NO!"
Track Listing:
1. Gimme Your Love
2. I Live For Your Love
3. Hey Hey Blondie
4. California
5. Wide Awake
6. Don't Hang Up
7. Your Place or Mine
8. Just the Devil's Way
9. Is it Wrong to Rock And Roll
- Nantucket
Tommy Redd- lead and rhythm guitars, spoon lead and backing vocals
Larry Uzzell- bass, lead and backing vocals
Mike Uzzell- keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Mike Downing- lead, rhythm, slide and 12 string guitars, backing vocals
Eddie Blair- saxophones, organ, piano, clavinet, backing vocals
Kenny Soule- drums, percussion, tympani, backing vocals
Refamiliarising myself with this cool album from Nantucket, I find myself asking the question I asked 30 year ago. Why weren't they more popular up North? My only conclusion was that a lot of people I knew in my native New Jersey still viewed bands from the South as redneck country singers. One friend admitted he had a bit of a culture shock when I played some Nantucket to him (Not sure if it was this album). For those into a good hard but progressive rock, especially those who like Jethro Tull, will like "Your Face or Mine" by Nantucket.
Next Post: The Outlaws- In the Eye of the Storm
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London
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