- Barry Bailey -- guitar (1970-)
- J.R. Cobb -- lead guitar, backing vocals (1970-)
- Paul Goddard -- bass (1970-)
- Dean Daughtry -- keyboards, backing vocals (1970-)

- Ronnie Hammond -- vocals, guitar (replaced 

  Rodney Justo) (1972-)

- Rodney Juston -- vocals (1970-72)
- Robert Nix -- drums, percussion, backing vocals (1970-)

- Roy Yeager - drums, percussion

- Beaverteeth (Rodney Justo)

- The Candymen (Dean Daugherty, Rodney Justo and

  Robert Nix)

- The Classics IV (J.R. Cobb and Dean Daugherty)

- Robert Nix (solo efforts)

- Noah's Ark (Rodney Justo)

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Back Up Against the Wall

Company: Decca

Catalog: 7-5390

Year: 1972

Country/State: Doraville, Georgia

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5168

Price: $20.00

One of the more talent, if overlooked 1970s and 80s-era Southern rock bands, these guys had an interesting history that most folks were completely unaware of.  In 1970 music engineer Rodney MIlls raised enough money to build a music studio in the Atlanta suburb of Doraville, Georgia.  Known as Studio One, Mills the decided he needed a house band and quickly rounded up a collection of local talent including local players Barry Bailey and Paul Goddard, Buddy Buie and guitarist J.R. Cobb (both former members of The Classics IV), as well as ex-Candymen keyboardist Dean Daugherty, singer Rodney Justo and drummer Robert Nix.

Serving as the Studio One house band the group played on a stream of 1970-71 releases by acts like Bonnie Bramlett, Al Kooper, Joe South, B.J. Thomas, and a late inning version of Dennis Yost and the Classics IV. 

Continuing their sessions work, the band somehow found time to record a follow-on LP, but not before original singer Rodney Justo decided to tender his resignation.  Increasingly frustrated by the band's lack of financial reward (being told the band was going to cut some tracks for a kiddy cartoon program apparently pushed him over the edge), Justo headed off to New York and stints as B.J. Thomas' band leaders, an in-demand jingle writer/singer, a couple albums with the band Beaverteeth and a real job working for a Southern beverage distributor.  Originally hired as an engineering assistant at Studio One, Ronnie Hammond was subsequently brought in as Justo's replacement.  

In spite of the personnel shaek-up,1972's Buddy Buie produced "Back Up Against the Wall" proved more consistent and rock-oriented than the debut. Exemplified by tracks like 'Cold Turkey Tenn.', their cover of Joe South's 'Redneck' and the title track Hammond's likeable voice proved a nice match for the band's blend of pop, blues and Southern rock moves. While nothing here was particularly original, the performances were all professional and worth a couple of spins.  Probably the most overlooked album in their catalog (okay, maybe that distinction went to the debut), this one displayed a laidback charm that they never managed to recapture. Highlights included the pretty leadoff ballad 'Wrong', 'Superman' and 'What You Gonna Do About It?'. Elsewhere Decca tapped the album for a single in the form of 'Conversation' v/w 'Cold Turkey, Tenn.' (Decca catalog number 7-40059).  While the band hit the road in support of the album,  absent a breakout single the LP did little commercially.  

"Back Up Against the Wall" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Wrong   (Buddy Buie - J.R. Cobb) - 2:39

2.) Cold Turkey Tenn. (Robert Nix) - 3:12

3.) Will I Live On?   (Robert Nix - Dean Daughtry - 2:46

4.) A Livin Lovin Wreck   (Blackwell) - 3:08

5.) Superman   (Delaney Bramblett ) - 3:20

(side 2)
1.) What You Gonna Do About It? (Buddy Buie - Ronnie Hammond ) - 2:54

2.) Conversation   (Buddy Buie - J.R. Cobb) - 3:23

3.) Redneck   (Joe South) - 3:43

4.) Make Me Believe It   (Buddy Buie - Ronnie Hammond - Robert Nix) - 3:12

5.) Back Up Against The Wall   (Buddy Buie - J.R. Cobb) - 3:17

6.) It Must Be Love   (Robert Nix - J.R. Cobb - Dean Daughtry) - 4:00

  Charlie Daniels, among others.

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Third Annual Pipe Dreams

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD-6037

Year: 1977

Country/State: Doraville, Georgia

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: --

Available: 2

GEMM catalog ID: 5169

Price: $20.00

Whereas the first two albums served as showcases for producer Buddy Buie penned material, 1973's "Third Annual Pipe Dreams" saw the rest of the band stepping up to the creative plate - every member save drummer Dean Daugherty credited with at least co-writing one track.  Musically the album also marked a subtle change.  With lead singer Ronnie Hammond sounding increasingly comfortable with his surroundings the album was far more consistent that the first two.  Elsewhere, exemplified by tracks like 'Doraville', 'Close the Door' (sporting a killer pair of guitar solos) and 'Angel (What in the World's Come Over Us)' the LP also reflected a modest shift towards a more pop oriented sound.  That wasn't to imply the band had lost touch with their Southern rock roots.  'Join the Race' rocked as hard as anything The Allmans or Skynyrd had churned out; the instrumental 'Blues in Maude's Flat' served to underscore their R&B roots and instrumental prowess, while 'Jesus Hearted People' could never have been pulled off by a band from north of the Mason-Dixon line.  That musical dichotomy probably helped explain the collection's poor commercial performance - too pop for Southern rock fans and too Southern rock for pop fans ....  Still the collection was a complete commercial disappointment.  Released as a single ''Doraville' b/w 'Who You Gonna Run To' (Polydor catalog number PD-14248) provided the band with their first brush with top-40 success.  While it didn't sell as well (peaking at # 75), 'Angel (What in the World's Come Over Us)' b/w 'Get Your Head Out of Your Heart' (Polydor catalog number PD-14262) was actually the better single.  The extended album version featured a killer instrumental jam with some fantastic work by guitarist J.R. Cobb.

"Third Annual Pipe Dreams" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Doraville   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 3:28

2.) Jesus Hearted People   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 3:48

3.) Close the Door   (Ronnie Hammond - Paul Goddard) - 3:22

4.) Blues in Maude's Flat (instrumental)  (Green) - 3:47

5.) Join the Race   (Fristo) - 3:57

(side 2)
1.) Angel (What in the World's Come Over Us)   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 5:10

2.) Get Your Head Out of Your Heart (Robert Nix - Ronnie Hammond) - 2:28

3.) The War Is Over   (J.R. Cobb - Barry Bailey) - 2:00

4.) Help Yourself   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 2:54

5.) Who You Gonna Run To   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 3:18

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Dog Days

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD-6041

Year: 1974

Country/State: Doraville, Georgia

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: cut top right corner; original inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5171

Price: $20.00

Maybe due to the fact it was heavily oriented to up-tempo material, 1975's "Dog Days" has always stood as one of my favorite ARS releases.  Exemplified by tracks like 'Boogie Smoogie' and ' It Just Ain't Your Moon', this was clearly Southern rock, but something completely different from the rest of the competition - far more diverse than anything coming out of The Allmans, The Outlaws, Skynryd, 38 Special, etc. Sure, most of the songs had to do with evil women, evil liquer and the pains and strains of being a rocker, but then it was hard to imagine any of their competitors daring to do something like the Latin-flavored 'Cuban Crises'.  With Hammond and company finally seeming comfortable in their studio surroundings, they responded with their most consistent set of material, with much of the album showcasing their potent Bailey-Cobb twin guitar line-up.  

"Dog Days" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Crazy   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Dean Daughtry) - 3:07

2.) Boogie Smoogie   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 7:37

3.) Cuban Crisis   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - J.R. Cobb) - 3:50

4.) It Just Ain't Your Moon   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Dean Daughtry) - 4:50

(side 2)
1.) Dog Days   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Dean Daughtry) - 3:35

2.) Bless My Soul (instrumental)   (J.R. Cobb) - 4:00

3.) Silent Treatment   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 6:15

4.) All Night Rain   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Dean Daughtry - McRee) -3:10

Genre: rock

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Are You Ready!

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD-2-6236

Year: 1979

Country/State: Doraville, Georgia

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: double LP; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5170

Price: $20.00

Spurred on by the band's recent commercial successes, for all intents and purposes, 1979's "Are You Ready!" served as a somewhat premature 'best of' compilation.  A 14 track, double album set, the collection offered up a mixture of concert performances and in-studio numbers (supposedly recorded before an audience). Perhaps a reflection of extensive post-production touch ups, as a live testament the set was surprisingly impressive with vocalist Ronnie Hammond acquitting himself throughout the set.  Understandably the emphasis was on recent accomplishments, with about half of the tracks coming from recent studio sets ("A Rock and Roll Alternative", "Red Tape" and "Champagne Jam").  For better or worse most of the performances offered up pretty close replicas of the studio versions, though frequently with more chops than you'd have expected from the radio version ('Champagne Jam' and their Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute 'Large Time').  While being able to replicate their studio sound probably kept the fans happy, it didn't make for the most exciting concert set you'd ever heard.  That left the one new song (the closing cover of 'Long Tall Sally') and a couple of numbers with modestly different arrangements as the collection highlights; notably an extended 'Another Man's Woman' - be sure to check out Paul Goddard's stunning bass solo).

"Are You Ready!" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Prelude: Tara's Theme   (Steiner)  - 6:15

2.) Sky High   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Ronnie Hammond - Dean Daughtry) - 6:05

3.) Champagne Jam  (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - J.R. Cobb) - 5:14

4.) I'm Not Gonna' Let It Bother Me Tonight (Buddy Buie - Dean Daughtry - Robert Nix) - 5:03

5.) Large Time   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 3:28

(side 2)
1.) Back Up Against the Wall   (Buddy Buie - J.R. Cobb) - 4:06 

2.) Angel (What in the World's Come Over Us)  (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) - 7:17

3.) Conversation (Buddy Buie - J.R. Cobb) - 3:57,

4.) Imaginary Lover   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Dean Daughtry) - 5:38

(side 3)

1.) Doraville   (Buddy Buie - Dean Daughtry - Robert Nix) - 4:09

2.) Another Man's Woman  (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Barry Bailey) -14:33

(side 4)
1.) Georgia Rhythm   (Buddy Buie - J.R. Cobb - Robert Nix) - 5:40

2.) So Into You   (Buddy Buie - Robert Nix - Dean Daughtry) - 7:47

3.) Long Tall Sally   (Johnson - Penniman - Blackwell) -3:41