Old West dreams meet Southern memories in the tracks of Searchin? for a Rainbow, The Marshall Tucker Band?s fourth album. Released in 1975, this song collection found the group refining its multi-faceted sound into an appe... more »aling country-rock essence. Still present were the jazz and blues-based elements that had always made Marshall Tucker a distinctive unit. By dressing up their music in Western garb, the band found a way to reach a huge new audience?all it took was a little "Fire On The Mountain" to light the way. "We?d found a bit more direction on how to design songs for a record," says lead singer Doug Gray. "Our record company Capricorn had always said, ?Try to give us something that would work on the radio.? We tried to do that, and at the same time please each other. We were known as a jamming band. This was the first time we really tried to give them Marshall Tucker?s interpretation of what a hit song was." Helping to spur things on was "Fire On The Mountain," the lead track off Searchin? for a Rainbow. Released as a single in the fall of ?75, the tune reached #38 on the pop charts. A vivid, Old West, lyric-storyline combined with bluegrass-tinged instrumental licks and an ear-grabbing chorus brought Marshall Tucker its first Top 40 hit.« less
Old West dreams meet Southern memories in the tracks of Searchin? for a Rainbow, The Marshall Tucker Band?s fourth album. Released in 1975, this song collection found the group refining its multi-faceted sound into an appealing country-rock essence. Still present were the jazz and blues-based elements that had always made Marshall Tucker a distinctive unit. By dressing up their music in Western garb, the band found a way to reach a huge new audience?all it took was a little "Fire On The Mountain" to light the way. "We?d found a bit more direction on how to design songs for a record," says lead singer Doug Gray. "Our record company Capricorn had always said, ?Try to give us something that would work on the radio.? We tried to do that, and at the same time please each other. We were known as a jamming band. This was the first time we really tried to give them Marshall Tucker?s interpretation of what a hit song was." Helping to spur things on was "Fire On The Mountain," the lead track off Searchin? for a Rainbow. Released as a single in the fall of ?75, the tune reached #38 on the pop charts. A vivid, Old West, lyric-storyline combined with bluegrass-tinged instrumental licks and an ear-grabbing chorus brought Marshall Tucker its first Top 40 hit.
"The series of recently remastered reissues (say that 3 times fast!) of The Marshall Tucker Band's classic albums by Shout Factory is a great service to music fans everywhere. They were one of the great early jam bands and don't often enough get their proper due. On the release of their fourth album, 1975's "Searchin' For A Rainbow," the band had mastered their blend of country, bluegrass, blues and jazz improvisation within a rock context and found a way to make it more commercial. The Top 40 single "Fire On The Mountain" was the sign of a bright future for the band's commercial endeavors. Luckily for us this doesn't mean they sacrificed their sound to get there. Also, "Searchin' For A Rainbow" was the album that brought the band's association with Western themes to the forefront. "Walkin And Talkin" is classic western swing. There's a bonus track on here too: a live version of "It Takes Time," the leadoff track to their 1980 "Tenth" album. All in all this is a worthy addition to any 70s country-rock library and a fine improvement over the out-of-print original CD version of the album."
COUNTRY ROCK AT IT'S FINEST!
Sgt. Quincannon | california | 07/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My musical tastes run to the eclectic- classical, Beatles/British Invasion, Johnny Cash (especially the Sun Records years), '60's and '70's classic rock, country and many other genres as well. I am not a huge fan of this band, in fact the only songs by them I've heard are on this album. I first listened to this album in a friend's dorm room at college. The whole record just works for me. I take it as a unit, and I really like listening to it. It's worked for me since 1975, and I'll probably keep listening to it 'til they put me under."
Destined For Greatness!
Mr. Music Critic | Georgia | 06/18/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Prior to the release of this album, the Marshall Tucker Band primarily played long, drawn-out jams. Let's face it they patterned themselves after the Allman Brothers. It was the 70's and people had a longer attention span back then. Lacking the commericial success that producers, studios, and record companies wanted, they too had to enter into the pop/country genre. Although, I like most of the songs on this one. Especially Virgina (which isn't one of their more notable songs). The title track and Fire On The Mountain are also good selections. Walkin' and Talkin' (A Texas swing-styled song)and Bob Away My Blues, Is a good honky-tonk selection. I don't care for Keeps Me From All Wrong. Bound and Determined sounds a lot like the Allman Brothers...I like this one. Can't You See (live) and It Takes Time (live) are very good songs. This CD shows that the MTB were destined for greatness! Although, I still like a lot of their older music better than this!"
My searchin' is over
B. E Jackson | Pennsylvania | 08/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Marshall Tucker Band is a really interesting bunch of musicians. No one blends country and rock together quite like these guys. The title song rules even though it reminds me of Bob Dylan's "Black Diamond Bay". Throw in some highly memorable vocal work and the occasional touches of violin and guitar playing and you have yourself a great band. While I would have preferred some more jamming on the record (because I KNOW these guys can jam like no other) I can't complain about the quality of the musicianship."
Great New Direction For The Marshall Tucker Band
The Footpath Cowboy | Kingston, NY United States | 07/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"SEARCHIN' FOR A RAINBOW features the Marshall Tucker Band going in a great new direction. The country, bluegrass, and Western swing elements that had always been there were moved to the fore this time around, and the band had its first hit single (#38) with the song "Fire On The Mountain", which uses the Gold Rush of the 1800s that was part of my high school Social Studies curriculum as a metaphor for how the music business chews up and spits out people. However, dig a little deeper, and the song is a parable about how self-indulgent behavior can kill you in the end, an interpretation that led to me hanging up pictures of pretty actresses as a deterrent to habits that might make me sick or injure me. That's hardly the only great song here, as the title track, "Virginia", and live versions of "Can't You See" and "It Takes Time" (the latter a bonus track), also stand out. There's more filler than usual, but this CD still gets five stars for effort and the great moments that do appear."