The Marshall Tucker Band - Southern Spirit (1990)

Following the moderate success of Still Holdin' On, original Marshall Tucker Band members Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks broke ties with the Nashville studio musicians they had used for a little over a year, and came back home to Spartanburg to hire a fresh new set of musicians who had grown up in the shadow of the Marshall Tucker Band, making the entire band, except for keyboardist Don Cameron, hometown boys. Perhaps familiarity breeds creativity, because Southern Spirit is filled with the good old-fashioned Southern energy and down-home sound that the Tuckers cut their teeth on. All 12 songs were written by the band, including the country and adult contemporary charting "Stay in the Country," penned by bassist Tim Lawter. Other outstanding tracks include Rusty Milner's "Destruction," a heavy electric blues offering, and the harmonizing gospel number that closes the set, "Closer Today," written by Gray. A fine set of musicians coupled with some very pleasing songs make Southern Spirit a very listenable Marshall Tucker Band record.