Black Oak Arkansas - 10yr Overnight Success (2004)

Uncompromising and noisy rockers from the American South, whose peak of popularity fell in the mid-1970s, BLACK OAK ARKANSAS played dynamic and hard guitar rock with a blues base and soul intonations, achieved audience recognition at the cost of endless tours and proved to be a link between the traditions of the southern boogie THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND or LYNYRD SKYNYRD and metal of the 80s.and their biography can serve as an illustration to the favorite American story about the rise "from dirt to princes." All future members of the original band were born and raised in rural Arkansas and went to school together in the town of Black Oak, where they soon gained dubious fame as members of a street gang that terrified neighbors and passers-by. In 1964, its leader, Jim Mangram, who preferred to be called Dandy (Jim Dandy Mangrum, p. March 30, 1948, Black Oak) — the dude nickname came from a song fashionable in the 50s and was explained by his lifestyle - invited his colleagues to make a group for which he had previously come up with the name THE KNOWBODY ELSE. As part of: Dandy (vocals, washboard, which initially replaced the bass), Rick "Ricochet" Reynolds (p. October 29, 1948, Manilan; lead guitar, vocals), Stan "Goober" Knight (p. February 12, 1949, Little Rock; guitar, violin, tenor saxophone), Harvey Jett (rhythm guitar) and Pat "Dirty" Daugherty (p. November 11, 1947, Jonesboro; drums, vocals) - they began performing in cafes and on nearby dance floors with a repertoire of current hits and old rock'n'roll- rolls. The quality left much to be desired and served as an obstacle to access to more prestigious venues, so Dandy and Ricochet, egged on by manager (and classmate) Barry Smith, stole amplifiers and speakers at Monette High School in Black Oak. In January 1966, the police found the criminals, and the trio were expected to receive harsh sentences, but then the parents intervened: the equipment and moral damage were paid in full and the thieves were
They were released on bail. (In 1976, the band issued a press release in which this story was made public, albeit in a very embellished way.) A year later, a new drummer, Wayne Evans, joined the band. Dougherty bought a bass guitar, and Dandy freed up his hands for the microphone. The group continued to conquer Arkansas, but with the growth of its reputation and professionalism, it ventured into Memphis and
New Orleans.
In 1969, they recorded an album for the Memphis-based Stax company, but there was very little interest in it (and the company, focused mainly on black music, did not even try to advertise it), so in the same year THE KNOWBODY ELSE left the South and moved to Los Angeles, where, without further ado, they called themselves BLACK OAK ARKANSAS and effortlessly signed a contract with Atco. In September 1971, the band's debut album (produced by Mike Pinera and Lee Dorman of IRON BUTTERFLY), after a two-month stay on the charts, reached number 127, although the song Memoirs At The Window was played by many DJs. Despite such a meager result, the company believed in BLACK OAK ARKANSAS and the records were released one after another: Keep The Faith (1972, No. 103), If An Angel Came To See You Would You Make Her Feel At Home? (1972, No. 93), Raunch And Roll (1973), and although they were not mega-sellers, they continued to pay dividends slowly but surely due to continuous touring. Long-haired, usually shirtless and loud-voiced, Dandy kept the audience in constant suspense while the band played their endless boogie. An attempt to invade CREEDENCE territory with their swamp rock (on the third album) caused a drop in demand and the band returned to proven style patterns.
In 1972, having earned the first million, BLACK OAK ARKANSAS decided not to trifle and bought the Boone Country estate in the vicinity of Bull Shoals Lake in their native Arkansas, where they built a house and settled in a commune - like the GRATEFUL DEAD.
The breakthrough to national popularity took place on Christmas Day 1973, when their number Jim Dandy To The Rescue (a free reworking of Laverne Baker's 1956 hit), with the support of local radio, reached the 25th line, fueling interest in the album High On A Hog. He did not overcome the 52nd mark, however, he spent 22 weeks on the lists, sold half a million copies and brought BLACK OAK ARKANSAS the first "golden disc". During the recording of Hog, singer Ruby Starr made her debut in the band. She sang with them for several years, bringing balance to the BLACK OAK ARKANSAS stage show. Prior to that, Ruby recorded with CRUSADERS trombonist Wayne Henderson. After the release of the album Street Party (1974, No. 52), Jett left the band, and Jimmy Henderson (p. May 20, 1954, Jackson, Mississippi; guitar, banjo, piano) took his place, followed by the less successful Hot And Nasty (1974) Wayne Evans was replaced by Tommy "Dork" Aldridge (p. August 15, 1950, Nashville), who made his debut on their first British tour when the band "warmed up" the halls for BLACK SABBATH (Ozzy remembered the drummer and six years later invited him to his band). In 1975-77, several more records were released: studio (Ain't Life Grand) and another live (Live Mutha) albums, a reissue of their inglorious debut (The Early Years) and several compilations. In 1975, they signed a new contract with MCA, resuming their career with the X-Rated album (No. 99) and the single Strong Enough To Be Gentle (No. 89 in January 1976).
The hitherto monolithic unity of the band suddenly cracked and crumbled overnight: Reynolds was replaced by Greg Reding, Knight and Dougherty were replaced by Jack Holder (guitar) and Andy Tanas (bass), and in 1978 Aldridge left for Pat Travers and was replaced by a new drummer Joel Williams (Joel Williams).
After another lucky record on MCA (Balls Of Fire), Dandy once again changed the "home port" and entered into an agreement with Phil Walden's Capricorn company, on which almost all the southern boogie bands worked, but after the albums Race With The Devil (1977) and I'd Rather Be Sailing (1978) the line-up the band finally lost stability, and the demand for such music faded, and at the turn of the 80s, Mangram and random partners continued to play clubs (on the billboard he was usually called Jim Dundee), without having a contract, but a heart attack right on stage put an end to concerts. He was remembered again only in the spring of 1984, when Tony Yommi unsuccessfully invited him to take Gillan's place in BLACK SABBATH. In the same year, the newly empowered Dandy and Rick Reynolds reorganized BLACK OAK ARKANSAS and released the revelationless "all-metal" comeback album Ready As Hell on Heavy Metal Records.