Great Rock Albums of 1980: Southern Fried Rock

If there was ever any proof needed that Southern Rock had finally come into the spotlight in 1980, it is the fact that some corporate record executive had the bright idea to put out a compilation album of great Southern Rock songs. I first saw this album on record store shelves in the summer of 1980 and almost after it appeared, advertisements for it began playing on radio and television. I had heard most of the songs previous to this album and now there was an album where I could listen to them all together.

"Southern Fried Rock" is full of great songs featuring classics like "Ramblin' Man" from the Allman Brothers and the Charlie Daniels Band classic "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." There is also a lot of variation on the album with slower songs like "So Into You" by the Atlanta Rhythm Section and the big country/rock crossover from the Pure Prairie League, "Amie" to rock outs like "Flirtin' With Disaster" from Molly Hatchet, "Train Train" from Blackfoot and 38 Special's "Rockin' Into the Night." This album has it all in terms of Southern rock with fifteen great songs.

Track Listing:

1. Ozark Mountain Daredevils- If You Want to Go to Heaven

2, Blackfoot- Train Train

3. The Charlie Daniels Band- The Devil Went Down to Georgia

4. The Allman Brothers- Ramblin' Man

5. 38 Special- Rockin' Into the Night

6. Black Oak Arkansas- Jim Dandy

7. Molly Hatchet- Flirtin' With Disaster

8. Pure Prairie League- Amie

9. Bellamy Brothers- Let Your Love Flow

10. Elvin Bishop- Fooled Around and Fell In Love

11. Wet Willie- Keep On Smiling

12. Atlanta Rhythm Section- So Into You

13. Greg Allman- Midnight Rider

14. The Outlaws- There Goes Another Love Song

15. Marshall Tucker Band- Heard It In a Love Song

Allman Brothers

Molly Hatchet

Blackfoot

Charlie Daniels Band

If I had to nit pick at this album, it is the fact that there are no Lynyrd Skynyrd songs on it. They were one of the most influential Southern Rock bands and it is a travesty that none of their songs are on it. Still, this is a fantastic album for anyone who wanted to investigate some of the great gems "Southern Fried Rock" has to offer.

Next post: The J Geils Band- Love Stinks

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.80smetalman.wordpress.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London