Atlanta Rhythm Section – Atlanta Rhythm Section

Rodney Justo steals it but the band are awesome. The playing is tight and pure southern. Don’t think I’ve heard them play with so much freedom. Wonderful.

To my ears The Atlanta Rhythm Section stands as one of the most talented, if overlooked 1970s and 80s-era Southern rock bands. They actually enjoyed an impressive streak of mid-'70s hits, but faded into the background as popualr tastes changed. Shame since these guys had mounds of talent and an interesting history tracing back to the mid-'60s.

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 musicians Barry Bailey (guitar), bassist Paul Goddard, keyboardist Buddy Buie, and guitarist J.R. Cobb (the latter two former 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.  Signed by Decca Records in 1971, the band finally got a shot at recording on their own. Recorded at Studio One with Buddie Buie behind the boards, they debuted with 1972's "Atlanta Rhythm Section". To my ears this is one of the tightest debut albums in my collection, The fact that these guys were veteran studio players having worked on dozens of projects certainly didn't hurt. The Goddard - Yeager rhythm section was razor sharp. Bailey and Cobb were first-rate guitarists who played with styled and verve. Finally having a first-rate singer in Justo was merely an added bonus. With five of the six contributing to songwriting chores (Buie was the main songwriter), the album was pretty varied covering territory from sophisticated The Classics IV-styled ballad 'All In Your Mind', the Gospel-tinged 'Forty Days and Forty Nights' (also the album's only cover tune), to Southern-tinged rockers like 'Another Man's Woman (It's So Hard)' and the heartbreaking 'Can't Stand It No More'.

This isn't a flashy album. There were no hit singles; there weren't any songs that were going to climb into your mental playbank and refuse to leave. At the same time it's one of my favorite ARS releases. It's tight, smooth and with the exception of the throwaway boogie jam 'Earnestine', every one of these tunes was worth checking out.

"Atlanta Rhythm Section" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Love Me Just a Little (Sometime) (Robert Nix - Dean Daugherty - Buddy Buie) - 6:05 rating: **** stars
Powered by Rodney Justo's awesome voice, 'Love Me Just a Little' opened the album with one of those big, epic rockers that showcased the band's nice blend of pop and Southern rock moves. The pop edges came in the form of a nice melody and some gorgeously sunny group vocals, while the Bailey-Cobb guitar line-up added a tasty Southern rock punch. Would have loved to hear this one in a live setting.
2.) Baby No Lie (Robert Nix - Dean Daugherty - Buddy Buie - Barry Bailey) - 3:51 rating: **** stars
The ballad 'Baby No Lie' was one of the album's more commercial tunes. Showcasing Justo's lovely voice (love the way he hits the higher notes),on one of the album's sweetest melodies, this was a perfect prom ballad. Awesome guitar solo.
3.) All In Your Mind (Buddy Buie - J.R Cobb) - 3:18 rating: **** stars
Maybe it had something to do with Justo's unique voice, Goddard's melodic bass lines, or Bailey's melodic lead guitar, but the breezy 'All In Your Mind' has always reminded me of The Classic IV's hit 'Spooky'. Bailey and Cobb turned in some classy moves on this wonderful ballad. One of the album highlights and I'm guessing the Classic IV reminiscent sound may have had something to do with the song being tapped as the album's single. Shame it flopped.
- 1972's 'All In Your Mind' b/w 'Can't Stand It No More' (Decca catalog number 7-32928) 
4.) Earnestine (instrumental) (Robert Nix - Dean Daugherty - Barry Bailey - Paul Goddard) - 2:33rating: ** stars
The instrumental 'Ernestine' was the album's first disappointment. While it deftly showcased Bailey and Cobb's prowess, musically it was a standard and pedestrian slice of boogie-rock. Forgettable.
5.) Forty Days and Forty Nights (Randall Bramblett - Davis Causey - Bob Jones) - 4:21 rating: **** stars
The only cover on the debut album, their version of Randall Bramblett's 'Forty Days and Forty Nights' offered up an impressive slice of Southern rock-meets-pop. Justo really did have a fantastic voice, giving the song a Gregg Allman-styled bittersweet edge that I find immensely appealing. Kudos to Daughtry's barrelhouse keyboards and to Bailey for the slide guitar moves. One of those songs you wish would have appeared in an extended format. 

(side 2)
1.) Another Man's Woman (It's So Hard) (Robert Nix - Dean Daughtry - Buddy Buie) - 4:46 rating: **** stars
One of my all-time favorite ARS songs, as good as this version was, the "Red Tape" remake with Ronnie Hammond on lead vocals was even better. The remake stripped off the original's pop-flavorings in favor of a much tougher arrangement with an extended instrumental segment highlighted by a crazed Bailey-Cobb workout.
2.) Days of Our Lives (Buddy Buie - Barry Bailey - J.R. Cobb) - 3:12 rating: *** stars
A bluesy, mid-tempo ballad, always loved the guitar-propelled melody on 'Days of Our Lives'. Yeah, Justo's vocal was a touch melodramatic, but what a melody ...
3.) Yours and Mine (Robert Nix - Buddy Buie) - 2:39  rating: **** stars
Full of jangle guitars and nice harmony vocals, 'Yours and Mine' was probably the album's most commercial tune. Loved Dean Daughtry's keyboards on this one. Shame nobody was paying attention since it should have been a massive hit for the band.
4.) Can't Stand It No More (Buddy Buie - J.R. Cobb - Rodney Justo) - 4:02  rating: **** stars
'Can't Stand It No More' found the band trotting out their impressive Southern rocker credentials. I'll simply say that anyone into classic Allman Brothers is likely to find this one equally impressive. Damn if Justo didn't have a fantastic voice.
5.) One More Problem (Robert Nix - Dean Daugherty - Barry Bailey - Buddy Buie) - 3:08 rating: *** stars
With a driving, angry beat and similar lyrics, I've always viewed 'One More Problem' as the band's anti-war statement ( this came out in 1972). Not my favorite performance, but once again Justo turned in a nice performance.

The album did little commercially with Justo subsequently bailing out. He reappeared in New York working as a sessions singer and recorded a couple of albums with the band Beaverteeth. Studio One engineer Ronnie Hammond was subsequently brought in as Justo's replacements.

ON GOD? THIS RECORD IS HASH AS FRIG! IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS THATS OKAY, JUST MEANS YOU'RE A SQAURE. LIGHT IT UP BABBBBY!

Very good studio musicians finding their own sound which blossoms in the next 2 albums.