Released in 1977, Carolina Dreams was a commercial breakthrough for the Marshall Tucker Band in large part due to a pair of hit singles -- "Heard It in a Love Song" and "Fly Like an Eagle." It was also the beginning of their transition from one of Southern rock's preeminent "boogie bands" to a unit that was equally versed in country, rock, blues, folk, pop, and jazz.
The easy grace of Doug Gray's voice and Jerry Eubanks' reeds and woodwinds, juxtaposed with the edgy sting of Toy Caldwell's guitars, was a solid combination that is exploited here to its fullest. Paul Hornsby's production accents the ballads and midtempo rockers to fine effect. The band contributed heavily to the compositions on Carolina Dreams, and because Caldwell's singles are so transcendent, the other songs on the set are ratcheted up, as evidenced by the beautiful horn-drenched "I Should Have Never Started Lovin' You" or "Life in a Song," which successfully brought together hard country and Southern R&B in a tight, punchy, and bluesed-out mix.
The remastered and expanded edition contains a smoking live version of George McCorkle's "Silverado." It's a bit thin in fidelity, but the performance more than compensates.
by Thom Jurek 
1974 The Marshall Tucker Band - Where We All Belong (2004 remaster with bonus track)
Tracks
1. Fly Like An Eagle (Toy Caldwell) - 3:02
2. Heard It In A Love Song (Toy Caldwell) - 4:54
3. I Should Have Never Started Lovin' You (Doug Gray, Tommy Caldwell, George McCorkle) - 7:07
4. Life In A Song (Jerry Eubanks, George McCorkle) - 3:32
5. Desert Skies (Toy Caldwell) - 6:20
6. Never Trust A Stranger (Tommy Caldwell) - 5:24
7. Tell It To The Devil (Toy Caldwell) - 6:43
8. Silverado (George McCorkle) - 4:28
The Marshall Tucker Band
*Doug Gray - Vocals
*George McCorkle - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, 12-String Guitar
*Toy Caldwell - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Steel Guitar
*Jerry Eubanks - Flute, Saxophone, Background Vocals
*Tommy Caldwell - Bass Guitar, Tambourine, Background Vocals
*Paul Riddle - Drums
With
*Charlie Daniels - Fiddle, Background Vocals
*Dezso Lakatos - Tenor Saxophone
*Paul Hornsby - Piano, Organ
*Chuck Leavell - Piano
*Jaimoe - Congas
1974 The Marshall Tucker Band - A New Life (2002 Bonus Track)
1975 Marshall Tucker Band - Searchin' For A Rainbow (2004 remaster and expanded)
1976 The Marshall Tucker Band - Long Hard Ride (2004 extra track remaster)
1975 Marshall Tucker Band - Searchin' For A Rainbow (2004 remaster and expanded)
1976 The Marshall Tucker Band - Long Hard Ride (2004 extra track remaster)
