Blackfoot were contemporaries of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and tried for years to make it as a Southern rock band, although they finally succeeded as a hard rock outfit, in the manner of AC/DC and the Scorpions. They racked up a hit album (Strikes) and a pair of successful singles ("Train, Train," "Highway Song") in the late '70s and early '80s, before they became lost in the post-MTV era of visually oriented bands.
The group started out as a quartet comprising singer/guitarist Rickey Medlocke (the grandson of bluegrass musician Shorty Medlocke, who wrote "Train, Train"), drummer/singer Jakson Spires, bassist/singer Greg T. Walker, and lead guitarist Charlie Hargrett. Named Blackfoot as an acknowledgment of Medlocke's heritage, they were signed to Island in 1975, evidently as that label's resident Southern rockers, but moved to Epic the following year. Neither relationship was successful, but in 1979, after moving to Atco, their first album for the new label, Strikes, hit a responsive chord -- the group spent the next few years on that label, racking up impressive sales with the follow-ups Tomcattin' and Marauder.
by Bruce Eder
Tracks
1. Railroad Man (Shorty Medlocke) - 2:22
2. Indian World - 2:52
3. Stars - 4:08
4. Not Another Maker - 5:08
5. Born To Rock And Roll - 3:37
6. Take A Train - 4:23
7. Big Wheels - 5:05
8. I Stand Alone - 7:47
9. Railroad Man (Shorty Medlocke) - 1:10
All songs by Jakson Spires except where noted
Blackfoot
*Rickey Medlocke - Lead Vocals, Rhythm, Lead, Acoustic Guitars, Dobro
*Charlie Hargrett - Lead, Rhythm, Acoustic Guitars
*Greg T. Walker - Bass, Backing Vocals, Keyboards
*Jakson Spires - Drums, Backing Vocals, Percussion
With
*Shorty Medlock - Banjo, Acoustic Guitar (Track 9)
*Barbara Wyrick - Backing Vocals
*Laura Struzick - Backing Vocals
*Suzy Storm - Backing Vocals
*Barry Beckett - Keyboards
*Roger Hawkins - Percussion
