Outlaws (Outlaws album)
| Outlaws | ||||
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| Studio album by Outlaws | ||||
| Released | July 1975 | |||
| Recorded |
March 1975 Elektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles, CA | |||
| Genre | Southern rock, country rock | |||
| Length | 41:15 | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Producer | Paul A. Rothchild | |||
| Outlaws chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Outlaws | ||||
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Outlaws is the debut studio album by American southern rock band Outlaws, released in 1975. The album is known for the rock classic "Green Grass & High Tides", which is considered by many to be one of the greatest guitar songs, plus the hit single "There Goes Another Love Song". A cover version of "Green Grass & High Tides" appears as a playable song in the video game Rock Band.
Drawing influences from southern rock bands The Allman Brothers & Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as folk rock and country rock bands such as The Byrds, Poco, Eagles, and New Riders of the Purple Sage, the band developed a unique, hard-driving country rock sound, due in part to the quick pickin' quasi-country style guitar playing of Hughie Thomasson, coupled with their use of three and four part harmonies. They even incorporated elements of bluegrass on the album.
The album was also the first produced by a Southern rock band, to feature three front men. Thomasson, Henry Paul, and Bill Jones, all wrote and provided lead vocals. Paul's vocals and his self penned "Song in the Breeze", "Stay with Me" and "Knoxville Girl" brought the strong country flavor to the album, while Billy Jones teamed with Thomasson for the dueling Southern rock guitar sound.
The album, with its blend of Southern rock, country rock, hard rock, was well received by critics, and also helped the band become a huge concert draw. It peaked at #13 on the billboard 200.
Green Grass & High Tides
For years it was thought by many that "Green Grass & High Tides" was about marijuana, but according to writer Hughie Thomasson that is not the case at all. He once stated that it is about all his dead rock star favorites like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Duane Allman and more... coming back and playing a show just for him. The title was taken from a Rolling Stones greatest hits album called "High Tides and Green Grass" released in 1966. Henry Paul once referred to the lyrics as Alice In Wonderland like, while giving praise to Thomasson's creative songwriting.
Track listing
- "There Goes Another Love Song" (Thomasson, Yoho) – 3:04
- "Song for You" (Jones, Thomasson) – 3:34
- "Song in the Breeze" (Paul) – 3:07
- "It Follows from Your Heart" (Jones) – 5:22
- "Cry No More" (Jones) – 4:21
- "Waterhole" (Instrumental) (Outlaws) – 2:06
- "Stay with Me" (Paul) – 3:32
- "Keep Prayin'" (O'Keefe) – 2:46
- "Knoxville Girl" (Paul) – 3:32
- "Green Grass & High Tides" (Thomasson) – 9:46
Personnel
Outlaws
- Hughie Thomasson - lead guitar, vocals
- Billy Jones - lead guitar, vocals
- Monte Yoho - drums
- Frank O'Keefe - bass guitar
- Henry Paul - electric and acoustic guitar, vocals
Others
- J.D. Souther - harmonies on "It Follows From Your Heart"
Charts
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Top LPs & Tapes | 13 |
- Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | "There Goes Another Love Song" | Billboard Hot 100 | 34 |