Another nice remaster
S. M. Engel | Amsterdam Netherlands | 12/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These two albums have already been released by New Era with nice bonustracks. This cd has no bonustracks but another great big plus: it has the full album version of "You know like I know" from the Men From Earth album on it, while on the New Era version only the single version (which is rather shorter) can be heard.
The remastering is just as good as the New Era versions."
Two Of the Best 70's CDs on One Disc!
D. R. Saxton | Bemus Pt. N.Y. USA | 02/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I own every possible record, CD, and 45 by the Daredevils. Larry Lee is one of my favorite singers in all of pop-rock music. So, with these two albums being heavily influenced by the writing and singing of Larry Lee, I was thrilled to see these albums combined! I already owned the New Era versions, which are excellent, but the thing that had eluded OMD fans was the "Album" or "Longer version" of the hit, "You Know Like I Know". How this song has appeared on several albums with it always being the shortened version, is beyond me!! Finally the long version is here, with great sound quality!
Other highlights are: "Mr. Powell", "It's How You Think", and "Whipporwill". The only Top 40 hits are "You Know Like I Know" and "If I Only Knew". The Daredavils never dominated the Top 40 charts but their albums are just "Good Old Times" back in the day. I can always get such a feel of sunny days out in the country, boppin' along an old dusty dirt road. The ballads are beautiful and the combination of bluegrass, country, pop, and rock, make for a group that has no true category. For reflecting back to the 70's, happy times and great tunes to hum along with. It's the Daredevils, they never got the recognition deserved! Also recommended are their first two albums."
Ozark Mountain Daredevils
F. N. Noone | Cape Town South Africa | 01/10/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Paul Peterson manager of Brewer & Shipley first found this amazing bunch of Hippies when they were called Rhythm Of Joy , the name of one of their early songs from the Lost Cabin Sessions. Blues harpist Steve Cash then came up with the name Cosmic Corncob & his Amazing Ozark Mountain Daredevils which celebrated with the release of "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" based on John Dillon's infectious guitar riff. The single climbed the charts to # 25 in 1974. The group actually re-formed in 1971 as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils in Springfield, Missouri and released three successful albums of which their self titled debut went gold. `A&M Records' signed up Hilly Billie Larry Lee drums / Steve Cash vox & harmonica / J. Dillon guitar / fiddle and Randle Chowning guitar, vox & keyboards Buddy Brayfield, Michael Granda bass. The group released some of the finest bluegrass to pacify rock & roll. From the Jewish harp and chirping harmonica of "Chicken Train" in true jug band fashion, they would touch the heavenly realms with their expansive "Spaceship Orion" and "Road To Glory". Randle Chowning's vox washes the craters of the moon on the "Colorado Song" with Dillon's guitar runs reaching celestial sensualtity. The crochet quilt of this diverse ensemble could reflect the most authentic jug and with the very next breath, the most articulated love ballad to rise from the scented hills of the Appalachians, namely the trickling "Within Without". The Ozark Mountain Daredevils was one of a kind, placed on earth for a special purpose and overflowing in the gifts from above. Cash & Lee's high-energy single "Jackie Blue" reached #3 in 1975 boosting It Will Shine When It Shines into #19. Although commercially edged, "Jackie Blue" has a complex arrangement that few groups would attempt to cover. The future was never destined to be commercial and the bluegrass finesse of this puritan ensemble could be found in the Appalachian beauty of the debut and the tranquil Car Over The Lake album. Here was a blend of Gods breath as Randle Chowning soars through "Mr Powell", a tale about Mr Powell's party that explored the Grand Canyon 100 years ago and the revelations they felt within. The harpsichord/ woodwind and background vox was played and sung by Bill Jones.The untouchable "Whippoorwill" also had Bill on synthesizer / Elks, a garden of Gethsamene written by Randle Chowning. Chowning's ethereal "From Time To Time", "Leatherwood" and "Cobblestone Mountain" so like the debut's cheerful "Beauty In The River" are typical of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band flavour. Chowning's yodel gifts find hydraulic on "Gypsy Forest" largely due to Buddy Brayfield's oboe. The critics were blinded to this haven of beauty other than the single "If Only I Knew". Another fine creation to float out of the Appalachian commune is the much loved Men From Earth album giving source to the running streams of "Fly Away Home ". Larry Lee's therapeutic "You Know Like I Like Know" is simply a floating cloud of ethereal ecstacy with it's `na na na' motif. The album gets really Ozark on the Fairport Convention styled "Red Plum" or John Dillon's psyche easing "Mountain Range". The groups double Live album showed the world that they could do everything live and spontaneous, even in softness as "Love Makes The Lover". Randle left in 1976, which resulted in a slow dissipation of their canyon feel. In 1994 they recharged that old spirit with their critically acclaimed Modern History with added D.Clinton Thompson. Lee & Dillon also played on the concept White Mansion with Waylon Jennings and Jesse Colter."
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1