Beyond the Horizon
Ramblin' Records
Release Date: May 11, 2004
I've heard the evolution of this album over the last two years - and I've said many times that it would be the best Tucker release since Tenth. There can be no doubt that this is true... and I find it hard not to say it's my favorite MTB album, period. Had this been released following Running Like the Wind, no one would have batted an eye. The songs are tight, the music is infectious and the lyrics are just what you'd have expected from the Tucker boys. It would have been considered a vintage MTB album. And as I was listening to this CD I had a vision of Tommy. He was tearing down his equipment after a show... Father Time had added some crows feet around his eyes and a few more pounds to the mid-section. He was in his 50's now and still wearing his usual cowboy hat and cowboy shirt... I said, "Great album." He replied, in his typical understated way, "Yeah, it's pretty good ain't it." I could tell by his smile and the gleam in his eye that he was darn proud of the new CD. And I know without a doubt that he'd feel this way if he were still with us. This is truly a Marshall Tucker Band CD - with emphasis on band. It was without a doubt a collaborative effort and the music shows.
I can't tell you with how much anticipation I've been looking forward to this new CD... and I can't find words adequate enough to express how much this CD means to me. It's as if there were a 20 year time warp between Tenth and Horizon. This CD bursts with the enthusiasm and genuineness of the first ten Tucker releases. It seems like the natural progression that would have been made had Tommy not left us so young. His spirit fills this album from beginning to end. If this is the last MTB CD, it is the perfect bookend to a storied career. But I truly hope there is much more beyond the horizon...
If Tommy's spirit is felt throughout the album, there can be no doubt who provides the heart - Doug Gray. He produced the album, but more importantly he provided the direction; allowing his band mates to let their immense talents shine. And he sings his ass off. His vocals are incredible. Through the roof in fact, especially on Ride of Your Life. But more on that later. The thing that really stands out is that Doug let the other members of MTB take the reins. Chris wrote the majority of the songs and sings almost as many as Doug. And Stuart gets a turn at the mic as well. And each band member, just like in the early days, has the chance to add their personality to the tunes. From Tony's thumping bass to David's sax and flute riffs... to Stuart's slide and Chris' leads... and B.B.'s incredible work on the skins. This line-up really comes together. Great leaders aren't afraid to tap the talents of others... and Doug truly is the band leader of MTB and the music on the album is incredible because of it.
B.B., Chris, Tony, Doug, David & Stuart
Now about the songs... Ride of Your Life - get ready for this - is perhaps my favorite MTB song of all-time. It features the vocals of both Chris and Doug - and Mr. Gray delivers perhaps his fiercest vocal performance ever! David Muse's flute and sax give the song that distinct MTB sound. You feel great songs. They create a vision and take you to another place and time. Ride, with it's vivid imagery, does all that and more -Ý it connects with your soul and lifts your spirit. Lyrically it takes me to a flickering campfire - and by song's end I'm in the lusty comfort of Bourbon Street. What a ride indeed!
Toy's songs always had a way of speaking the words that I felt... that I believed - and Give It All You Got, written by Chris, expresses my life's beliefs. As I write this it's early spring in central California and the almond blossoms are in full bloom... and the smell is heavenly.. The thrill of rolling the windows down and cranking this song as loud as I can is... pure unadulterated pleasure. If this song doesn't lift your spirit, you better crawl in the ground and ask someone to start throwing dirt on you. It's a powerful song of conviction and faith.. Perhaps better than any other, it is a reflection of what Chris Hicks is all about. For those that don't really know him, they will by the end of this album.
Texas on My Mind is a slow waltz written by Toy. If this performance isn't evidence that Doug was meant to sing the songs Toy wrote, I don't know what is. Doug sings so good on this song it hurts. And, man... Chris' guitar playing. Well, just wait 'til you hear it. It'll give ya chills, I promise.
The title cut, Beyond the Horizon, is reminiscent of the Old West songs (Fire on the Mountain, Unto These Hills, et al) that Tucker did in the early days. It would have sounded right at home on Searchin' for a Rainbow, Running Like the Wind or Tenth. Flute, drums, vocals and guitar all capture the urgency of a man on the run - and Tony throws in some licks on the bass at all the right times, providing the perfect punctuation. It's classic Tucker all the way.
What the Future Holds warms the soul like a slow summer sunrise on a clear mountain morning... and Stuart's voice cuts through the crisp mountain air like those first golden rays of sunshine. And David's flute adds a nice gentle breeze.
You can envision the steam rising from the crossroads on the next tune, King of the Delta Blues, a biography of the life of blues great Robert Johnson. To say this song smolders is an understatement. It's so hot, it melts the blacktop. If this song doesn't turn heads, I don't know what will. Incredible. Absolutely incredible!
Set You Free, penned by Chris and sung by Doug, packs more into a two-minute song than any I've ever heard. Over the top vocals, punctuating guitar and vibrant sax backed by electrifying piano fills. This one'll get folks dancing in the aisles without a doubt!
The pace slows down with The Rain. A sad bluesy song that, in the end, offers hope through redemption. Tucker fans have heard this for the last several years in concert and it's so nice to finally have this in hand, rather than just in my memory bank. David Muse's sax provides the perfect musical italics for the songs lyrics.
The band takes a turn down a country road with Honky Tonk Heart. It features a myriad of instrumentation and Doug once again is nails... and the line, "she stood next to Jesus when he gave it all." Wow. The tune also features great harmonies. It'll make you want to cry in a cold one for sure!
In 1997 MTB playing Midnight Promises in concert in homage to Toy. Originally, Chris was going to sing this with Toy (on the TCB's CD released in 1992) but that idea gave way to Gregg Allman doing what was to be Chris' vocal part....Ý But he is finally given his turn here and I believe Toy would be proud. I think it's a tribute to what Toy meant to the band that MTB still makes it a point to keep his spirit a part of their music. It's also a tribute to the band that they don't shy away from their past - indeed they embrace it. On this album, especially, it would have been easy to not do anything of Toy's... but with Chris and Tony being members of MTB, he is still such a presence spiritually, day in and day out, in the band. The time they spent on the road with Toy is clearly evident.
Never Find Another You cuts right to the heart of love lost. This is a song everyone can relate to because at one time or another we've all lost that one person we thought was the only one for us - and Chris captures the mood perfectly in this finely written song. Doug takes the reins vocally and delivers the message with heartfelt passion. Like all the songs on the CD you'll find the lyrics running through your mind long after you've shut the CD player off.
The CD closes with a short little romp called Down This Road Before, Part 1. Like the rest of the CD it leaves you wanting more... I just hope this time around it's not another five years before we get a new Tucker CD! This release is pure alchemy - just like all the classic Tucker works. Tucker fans are gonna love this CD, I just hope it sells as well as it should. Words can't express how incredible this CD is - at all kinds of levels. This is timeless, great music... Tucker music as it should be!
- Craig Cumberland
Songs Samples - just cick on the link!
Ride of Your Life
Windows - http://www.shoutfactory.com/av/1_ride_of_your.wma
Quicktime - http://www.shoutfactory.com/av/1_ride_of_your.mov
Texas on My Mind
Windows - http://www.shoutfactory.com/av/3_texas_on_mind.wma
Quicktime - http://www.shoutfactory.com/av/3_texas_on_mind.mov
Midnight Promises
Windows - http://www.shoutfactory.com/av/10_midnight_promises.wma
Quicktime - http://www.shoutfactory.com/av/10_midnight_promises.mov
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