Great Rock Albums of 1979: Blackfoot- Strikes

Naturally, after hearing “Flirtin’ With Disaster” by Molly Hatchet, I wanted to further explore this phenomena known as Southern Rock. Eventually, I came into contact with this fine album compliments of Blackfoot. “Strikes” was the third album by Blackfoot but the first one I listened to and for me, it’s their best.

This album takes the southern sound and just pounds the hell out of it with straight ahead power rock. The intro to the opening track, “Road Fever,” speaks volumes as it lures you by being rather hard but melodic and then the power chords strike and you can’t help to headband away to the rest. That is why that in 1980, “Road Fever” was one of my official travelling songs. The lyrics “Every time I am down and out and don’t know what to do. I drop a lude and hit the road and play me a song or two” may have something to do with it as well.

The rest of the album follows suit. The second track, “I Got a Line On You” although a cover, is done with the classic Blackfoot touch. The same can be said with their cover of the Free classic, “Wishing Well.” This doesn’t take anything away from their originals. The harmonica in the “Train Train, Prelude” sticks in my mind over 30 years later. The actual song is a classic rocker in its own right. And all this ends with the final jam “Highway Song.” I won’t get into the debate that it rips off the legendary “Freebird” because for me, the song has me playing air guitar for the entire length of the ending guitar solos, five minutes plus.

Track Listing:

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

Blackfoot

Rick Medlocke- lead vocals, guitar

Charlie Hargrett- guitar

Greg T Walker- bass, keyboards, vocals

Jakson Spires- drums, percussion, vocals

I can’t help believing that along with Molly Hatchett, Blackfoot, especially with this album, went on to influence a lot of metal bands from the South. At the time, and quite a bit now, Blackfoot were what I would call metal. The hard sound of “Strikes” bears testimony to that.

Next post: Nantucket- Your Face or Mine

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