Capricorn Rhythm Section
" Alive At 2nd Street Music Hall "
Rockin' Camel Music

Capturing The Glory Of Capricorn Records?, (01/09/08)

Southern rockers, the Capricorn Rhythm Section, got their name from backing bands that recorded mostly with the wonderful Capricorn Record label back in the 1970s. CRS consists of somewhat familiar names like Scott Boyer, Tommy Talton, Paul Hornsby, Bill Stewart, and Johnny Sandlin, who, for the most part, backed greats like Duane and Greg Allman, Dickie Betts, Bonnie Bramlett, the Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie & Jimmy Hall, and the underrated Cowboy band. Prior to the formation of Capricorn Records, the members of CRS also produced and occasionally wrote material for some of those young Georgia rockers; plus they were in the background of the invention of what was later to be wildly categorized as Southern Rock, which had its origins in and basically put Macon, Georgia, on the map. For example, Johnny Sandlin and Paul Hornsby were part of the Hour Glass group that also had the two very young Allman brothers, Greg and Duane. Scott Boyer knew Butch Trucks from back in their high school days where they played together in various bands. Enter Phil Walden, who around this same time founded Capricorn Records and pulled together all the seams. Plus, at the suggestion of Atlantic Records label exec/wizard Jerry Wexler, Walden signed Duane Allman to Capricorn and the rest was history.

Let's roll forward some thirty-five years as the Capricorn Rhythm Section reaches back to attempt to recapture the glory of its illustrious past. Upon listening to the live recording, Alive at 2nd Street Music Hall, it is easy to understand why CRS had musical relationships with as many future stars as they did, as they all have excellent playing chops. But one can also understand why they were sidemen, as their vocals are somewhat suspect. All in all there are seven originals, three Eddie Hinton tunes, a Dan Penn track, and an awful rendition of the great Otis Redding's "Shout Bamalama," which closes the disc. Vocally, one of the saving graces is Lee Roy Parnell's singing on "Ought To Be A Law," otherwise this recording is aimed at those fans who are in search of southern roots Rock nostalgia.

Bob Putignano: www.SoundsofBlue.com