Strikes

by Blackfoot

Overview

After missing the boat with Lynyrd Skynyrd (for whom he played drums early on), guitarist/singer Rick Medlocke formed Blackfoot, arguably the first all-Native American rock group. The band struggled for almost a decade, playing run-of-the-mill Southern rock that they eventually injected with extra volume and attitude before signing with Atco, for whom they recorded their 1979 breakthrough Strikes. Known as a ferocious live unit and probably the heaviest of Southern rock bands (see opener "Road Fever"), Strikes also proved that Blackfoot could write great melodies for the gloomy "Left Turn on a Red Light" and the inspired cover version of Free's "Wishing Well." But the band's biggest hit would come in the form of the seven-minute "Highway Song," a tune that was admittedly very reminiscent of Skynyrd's "Freebird" and that helped drive the album to gold status. Also of note is the harmonica performance of Shorty Medlocke (Rick's grandfather) on his own blues, "Train, Train." ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Atco
UPC:	0075679041920
Rank:	21602

Tracks

1. Road Fever
2. I Got a Line on You
3. Left Turn on a Red Light
4. Pay My Dues
5. Baby Blue
6. Wishing Well
7. Run and Hide
8. Train, Train (Prelude)
9. Train, Train
10. Highway Song

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Blackfoot   Primary Artist
Rick Medlocke   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (12 String)
Charlie Hargrett   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (12 String)
Shorty Medlocke   Harmonica
Donna Davis   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Henry Weck   Percussion
Cynthia Douglas   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Pat McCaffrey   Keyboards
Greg T. Walker   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Pamela Vincent   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jakson "Thunderfoot" Spires   Drums,Vocals
Cub Koda   Harmonica

Technical Credits

Henry Weck   Producer,Engineer
John "Rabbit" Bundrick   Composer
Rick Medlocke   Composer
Charlie Hargrett   Composer
Shorty Medlocke   Composer
The Blues Image   Composer
Zenon de Fleur   Composer
Al Nalli   Producer
Randy California   Composer
Scott Anthony   Composer
Jakson "Thunderfoot" Spires   Composer
Paul Kossoff   Composer
Paul Rodgers   Composer
Andy de Ganahl   Assistant Engineer
Tetsu Yamauchi   Composer
Simon Kirke   Composer