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Rating:  -
THE CAR OVER THE LAKE ALBUM is a great CD reissue by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, an underrated country-rock band who never got the recognition they deserved, probably because they often lacked the edge of the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Marshall Tucker Band, and the Outlaws. However, that's not always true, because although the band were often mellow, their best known songs were actually harder-edged or very humorous. "Keep On Churning" opens this CD in a great rocking mode, and while the rest of the CD doesn't quite keep up the pace, the band prove themselves to be versatile musicians in a variety of styles, with a great sense of humor. This one, along with IT'LL SHINE WHEN IT SHINES, the self-titled debut, and MEN FROM EARTH, forms the essential Ozark Mountain Daredevils library.
Rating: -
They did it again with their third release, and again with David Anderle at the producer's console. There are some problems - - the two tracks which originally were the album-side openers ("Keep On Churnin'" and "Thin Ice") are perfunctory exercises in both performance and intention. And it seems they front-loaded the album a bit, as tracks two through six play like a best-of sequence: five absolutely astonishing songs, parading gloriously one after another. Randall Chowning's "Leatherwood" is peerless, a beautiful countrified paeon to the easy life, with a gorgeous harmonized chorus and an instrumental break straight out of the woods. And when Chowning teams up with Steve Cash for the harp-and-yodelling, oboe-flavored fourstep "Gypsy Forest", hey - - go on and levitate. I do, every time I hear it. Cash's and Larry Lee's airy "If I Only Knew" should have been as big a hit as was "Jackie Blue". The CAR OVER THE LAKE ALBUM flags a bit as it goes on, though. The last half isn't quite as strong as the first but again, it's relative as all the songs are at least very, very good. The original LP closed with Chowning's stately, arresting elegy "Whippoorwill", a fitting closer if ever there were one. The three bonus tracks, originally a flexi released with the LP, aren't exactly essential and mitigate the closure. They hold up well enough on their own though, so it's nice to have them on CD. The admonishing text printed on the original flexi was somewhat apologetic regarding the quality of the songs and their putatively irreverent humor, but with people like Oscar Brand running around releasing humorously peurile albums since the late '40s, why bother apologizing? These guys were on a roll.
Rating:  -
The ozarks had much to live up to following two superb debut releases and in some ways this is a marginally disappointing effort. It's still a rewarding disc, nicely produced and their most country tinged venture.
When it's good such as Randle Chowning's glorious 'leatherwood' and the poignant 'cobblestone mountain' it's really good. I also like 'southern cross' with brilliant Steve Cash lyrics and Larry lee's atmospheric 'from time to time'.
Sadly some of the material is a little uninspired ('Thin Ice' and ' 'Out on the Sea') and the vocal arrangements on Mr powell are a little messy. This is a shame if you consider some of the bands earlier unreleased material (as evidenced on 'log cabin sessions') which perhaps should have found the light of day.
Despite these reservations, this is still superior country rock: try listening to the guitar opening on 'whipporwill' or the folky oboe on Gypsy Forest and you are reminded just how great this band was.
If the bonus tracks from 'the little red record' (a copy of which I have) had replaced the weaker ones on the original release this would surely have been up there with 'it'll Shine when it shines'.
Rating: -
If you are not swayed by what top 40 radio wants you to listen to, then you will not think Jackie Blue was the OMD's best song. Not remotely! As most OMD fans will attest to, it is the songs that did not get radio airplay that are their best songs. Car Over the Lake is one of my favorite albulms. These guys flawlessly combine bluegrass, country, rock, pop, etc...and their lyrics are thoughtful, not self indulgent, like much of today's (and yesterday's) music is. My favorite songs on this albulm are: 1. Out on the Sea (a romantic ballad that makes you feel as though you actually are drifting at sea on a star filled night with your loved one on your mind) 2. Gypsy Forest (this blue grassy tune sounds like a classic,,,one for the ages) 3. Whippoorwill (one of my all time favorite daredevil tunes...I love the dreamy music and mysterious nature of the song). Really, you'd be missing out if you just bought "greatest hit" releases from the OMD's. The richness of their talents is much deeper than that.
Rating: -
Being 18, most would figure that i've never heard of these guys, but their wrong. i discovered this daredevil album along with about 4 more in my dad's old vinyl collection, and let me tell you, it blew me away. "if i only knew" is a great song, but "mr. powell" is the definate best on this album. This record is a must for any country-rock-bluegrass fan.
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