Mo' Peaches - Vol. 1 LP (col.)

If, like me, you’re a die-hard Southern Rock fan, you might remember the Peaches compilation albums from the early ‘70s. Released in the dirt-cheap Warner Brothers Loss Leaders series, those double albums, which cost just two dollars (Yes, $2!), were crammed full of great, grooving rock music from south of the Mason-Dixon line, showcasing the then current releases from the home of Southern Rock, Capricorn Records.

When I started compiling this record, I knew what music I was going to be seeking out, but I needed a name that reflected the feeling that the music evoked for me. It seemed both fitting and appropriate to honour those legendary compilations of the ‘70s that brought so much great music to the wider public, music that was clearly as much of an influence on the bands on this album, as it was on me. So, I decided to call this album Mo’ Peaches, in homage to that original compilation series.

The albums by the individual artists featured here were not released on JukeJoint500, but they might as well have been, they are all great records. The majority of the artists on Mo' Peaches may be unknown to many fans of this music, as most of the albums were self-released on CD-only by the bands themselves, gaining some level of local or regional recognition at the time. I am pleased to be able to collect these songs together for the first time and present them together here for your enjoyment. Who knows, maybe Mo’ Peaches may go on to influence future bands in turn, spinning the wheel of southern rock once more.

A-Side
1. John Mohead – Due South
Clarksdale, Mississippi
(John Mohead/Mohead Music)
Taken from Lula City Limits CD. Okra-Tone Records 1995.

2. Alligator Stew – Louisiana Man
Monticello, Indiana
(Gary Jeffreys/Copyright Control)
Taken from Alligator Stew CD. Hogleg Records 2000.

3. Judge Parker – Slow Down Irene
Fort Smith, Arkansas
(Larry Pearson/Hanging Gallows Pub.)
Taken from their self-titled debut. Court Records 1998.

4. Bishop Black – Long Road To Bama
Decatur, Alabama
(Preston Grammar; Jeremy Braswell/SLC Records)
Taken from Bishop Black CD. SLC Records 2009.

5. Morrison Brothers Band – Little Miss Whiskey
Washington D.C.
(Morrison Brother Band/Copyright Control)
Taken from State Of The Union CD. Self-released 2013.

B-Side
1. Chase Walker Band – Red House
Riverside, California
(Jimi Hendrix/Experience Hendrix LLC)
Taken from Not Quite Legal CD. Self-released 2016.

2. Railbenders – Black Chrome Horse
Denver, Colorado
(James Dalton; Glenn Gibson/Triple JD Ranch)
Taken from Like A Wheel CD. Whiskey Road Records 2009.

3. Alligator Jackson – Enjoy The Ride
Huntington, West Virgina
(David Williams/Copyright Control)
Taken from Chomp On CD. 9 Lives Records 2009.

4. Eat A Peach – Ain't Wastin' Time No More
Wilmington, Illinois
(Gregory L. Allman/Unichappell)
Taken from Bound To Shine CD. Self-released 2001.

5. The Remus Tucker Band – Bury Me On The Banks Of Mississippi
Denver, Colorado
(Remus Tucker/CD Baby Publ.)
Taken from South Of New Orleans CD. Graystone Records 2013.

Review:
"

Can anyone still remember the Capricorn Records compilations "Peaches"? In the very back of my brain a little light came on, above which the words 'Southern Rock' were shining. For a mere two dollars the double LPs could be ordered directly from the Warner Brothers inhouse mailorder. Via discogs they can still be bought today as second hand for a few dollars or euros more. Fresh on the turntable, the fabulous new label JukeJoint500 is now putting ten new tracks on the table in the spirit of Capricorn Compis. New in this case are songs that were recorded by the artists themselves between 1992 and 2010. If you think of third class bands, you're wrong - and wrong big time. After all, behind JukeJoint500 is Reinhard Holstein, the ex-Glitterhouse boss who, after Stag-O-Lee and Whiskey Preachin' Records, has now created JukeJoint500. If there's an expert in Southern Rock, it's the tasteful East Westphalian, who once again proves that he's the gold digger par excellence in our latitudes.

He also has the appropriate title ready: "Mo' Peaches - Southern Rock That Time Forgot Volume 1". Here tradition is preserved and continued. Accordingly, John Mohead starts the engine with "Due South", the slide guitar howls, the rhythm section swirls, the piano jingles and Mohead sings with a sonorous, passionate voice. Alligator Stew tells about the "Lousiana Man", he gets going, Gevatter Southern- dances with Auntie Boogie-Rock. Judge Parker demands "Slow Down Irene", how is that possible with this heavy played southern rock? With Bishop Black we take the "Long Road To Bama". And how? Just like Little Feat, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers are sitting together on the truck loaded with Peaches. The Morrison Brothers Band conjures up "Little Miss Whiskey", a hot melodic, hard-rocking brew. Fire, sex and pure passion are in this song. So the break for turning the LP comes just in time. The B-side begins with the Chase Walker Band, which acoustically ignites Jimi Hendrix' "Red House", and then ignites an electric Southern Blues Rock that makes the flames flicker high. Wow! Afterwards the Railbenders ride the "Black Chrome Horse", a midtempo rocker with power! Alligator Jackson bring it to the point: "Enjoy The Ride". But of course, what else can we do with these songs. If you name your band Eat A Peach (after the Allman Brothers Band double album), you'll get some advance praise and it's more than deserved. "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" is a reminiscence of the kings of Southern Rock (The Allman Bros. of course!) as well as a new evocation of this classic: joy of playing and passion create a unique atmosphere! The Remus Tucker Band is the gravedigger of our "Mo' Peaches" compilation: "Bury Me On The Banks Of Mississippi" ploughs deep furrows into the earth with the slide guitar. A slightly deep Southern Blues hole that disappears in the run-out groove of the LP.

The only thing that helps is a demanding prayer to JukeJoint500: "Mo' Peaches" please! Or just start again from the beginning: turn the vinyl LP and play the A-side. Keep on Southern Peaches Rockin'!" (Günter Ramsauer)