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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZAMAZING RHYTHM ACESCountry-rock band formed '74. Original lineup: Russell Smith, lead vocals, guitar, harmonica; Butch McDade, vocals, drums; Jeff Davis, bass; Billy Earhardt, keyboards; all from Tennessee. Main songwriter Smith began as disc jockey on WREN-Lafayette; some members played back-up for Jesse Winchester early '70s; Davis had played with Otis Rush. Smith song 'Third Rate Romance' recorded by others incl. Winchester (revived by Sammy Kershaw for country no. 1 '94); band got serious, adopted name, added James Hooker (vocals, keyboards), Barry 'Byrd' Burton (guitar, mandolin, dobro, steel guitar, vocals). Distinctive country-flavoured rock proved unsuccessful despite respectable sales (incl. country charts) because it was not easy to categorize: too much diversity, their live sound more R&B-ish than on records. Albums on ABC began with Stacked Deck '75: 'Third Rate Romance' reached no. 14 in pop chart; Toucan Do It, Too '76 incl. 'The End Is Not In Sight', no. 42 pop and won Grammy for best country vocal. Oldest member Byrd left to session in Nashville, replaced by Duncan Cameron. Burning The Ballroom Down '78 was followed by Amazing Rhythm Aces '79, prod. in Muscle Shoals by Jimmy Johnson, appeared first on ABC, then on Columbia; perhaps their best album but the mix of R&B style and country songs didn't sell well. Switched to WB for How The Hell Do You Spell Rhythum '80, then gave up. Smith went solo on Capitol '82, Epic '78 without much success, though he wrote numerous country hits. He formed spoof country/R&B band Run C&W '91 with Bernie Leadon, Jim Photoglo and Vince Melamed for more cult success. Smith, Davis and Earhart re-formed for Out Of The Blue '98 on Breaker, as much Muscle Shoals as country. |