RTJ - Atlanta Rhythm Section's discography

Atlanta Rhythm Section's discography
by John Molet - February 2003

The history of this great southern rock band really starts in the early 70's, even if they didn't get the recognition they should have (especially in Europe), they'll be somewhere in between bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers Band, which says a lot about their musical quality. Their first release "Atlanta Rhythm Section 1972" certainly suffered to be compared to these two mythical bands, but they already had their own identity. A band containing mostly sessions musicians were going to create their own style, the ARS style, and they'll become oine of the major southern rock bands. Their music won't go the the hard and heavy side of rock'n roll, but to a more melodic aspect of the music, incorporating blues and country.

ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION - 1972
A few songs from this first release let us think we were gonna have one of the major bands. Just listen ti the instrumental song "Earnestine", written by Ean Doughtry (keyboards), Robert Nix (drums), Paul Goddard (bass) and Barry Bailey (guitar). Rodney Justo was the lead vocalist back then and will leave the band to be replaced by Ronnie Hammond. "One more problem" or "Love me just a Little" (with background vocals reminiding a bit of the Doobie Brothers) were songs showing us a new style, the Atlanta Rhythm Section's style was born. The ones who had the chance to discover this first album know what I'm talking about.

BACK UP AGAINST THE WALL - 1973
Almost exactly a year after their first release, ARS had their second album in the stores, "Back up against the wall". The album title was also the name of a song which will become a standard of the band. The lineup didn't change except Rodney Justo who would be replaced by Ronnie Hammond. This album won't be one of the most important of their career but it certainly confirmed kk the good thoughts the fans of this band. They played this bluesy music where the keyboards of Dean Daughtry were so important. The guitar work from Barry Bailey was certainly not as predominant as it was in their first release, except on titles such as "Back up Against the Wall" or "Redneck" where people started to understand this guitar player was about to become one of the most important southern rock guitar player.

THIRD ANNUAL PIPE DREAM - 1974
ARS is working a lot and it's only one year after their second release that the third one, "Third annaul pipe dream" is coming out. They still play the same kind of great music, with these so beautiful ballads and these mid tempo rock songs with such a great work on guitar from Barry Bailey. This album will give the band an other standard with the song "Doraville", which is also the hometown of the band. "Join the race" and "Who you gonna run to" are also two interesting titles from this album.

RED TAPE - 1976
With the release of this new album, "Red tape", ARS certainly released the best album they worked on, which will also be one of the best albums of their career. ARS has definitely ots style deep in southern rock music. This album has a southern atmosphere : cactus, Jack Daniels and ROck'n roll. Most of the songs were written by Buie, Cobb and Nix and seem to be especially designed for Barry Bailey's style and Ronnie Hammond's feeling. Guitar riffs from songs such as "Jukin", "Mixed emotions" or "Oh What a Feeling" are just pure beauties. I even think that if they were about to be released these days, they'd be much more appreciated than they've been in the past. For sure, the ARS had one of their best albums.

ROCK N ROLL ALTERNATIVE - 1976
The huge success of the ARS after the release of "Red tape" and on the road (they constantly play on stage) sends them back top the studio and record the following of "Red tape", "Rock'n roll alternative". This new album is maybe a bit less rock than the previous one but they'll write major hits, "Georgia Rhythm", "So into you" adn "Sky High". As a reward to their hard work, they'll get a platinum album in the USA. With ARS and Skynyrd, the south can be proud and rise the flag high.

CHAMPAGNE JAM - 1978
After a well deserved year off the road, the band takes some more time to work on their new album. But whe, it comes out, "Champagne Jam" will be a major hit, the ARS's greatest album. It starts with one of the greatest rock'n roll song written by a southern band, "Large time", with lyrics being a tribute to the Lynyrd SKynyrd band, just a few months after the well known tragedy. Releasing a tribute song, or an album, seems nowadays to be more of a marketing decision, but, back then , in '78, it was certainly not the xases, it was a tribute song coming out from the after after the loss of friends. Barry Bailey has never been so inspired, he's playing like a god with the help of JR.Cobb on the second guitar. Ronnie Hammond gives me shivers on every phrase, Dean Daughtry is so efficient, the rythm section is so perfect with Paul Goddart on bass and Robert Nix on drums. This album i s certainly the most representative of the ARS work and style. Most of ths songs from this release will later become standards, "Champagne jam", "Imaginary lover", "The ballad of Lois Mallone" among others. This album will also certified platinum in the USA.

DOG DAYS - 1975
Back then, we had a new album from ARS every year, so it was normal for them to release their fourth album hust one year after the release of their third one. With "Dog days", the band with Ronnie Hammond and Barry Bailey is still on its way to the top. We must admit that they were a bit competitor of the Lynyrd SKynyrd band, among others, even if they played a totally different music. With this new album, we'll see some evolution in the guitar sound, more greasy, more dynamic with a great song "Boogie Smnogie". This song is a great blues, deep in the southern style, starting as a mid tempo and evolving into a hot boogie where the guitars from Barry Bailey and JR.Cobb will do a remarquable work. As often, the songs were written by Nix, Bailey and Daughtry with the addition of the producer, arranger, vocalist and bst friend of the band Buddy Buie.

UNDERDOG - 1979
With the release of "Underdog", Ronnie Hammond certainly surprised their fans, they were not disappointed but surprised. They had given so much in the last couple years, ARS needed something fresh and new. So is ithis album a lack of inspiration or just a new direction ? Underdog won't show a music style close to "Champagne jam" or "Rock'n roll alternative", songs such as "Do it or die", "While time is left", or "It's only music" were songs closer to the Eagles than what fans were used to listen to fropm ARS, but they are such great songs that we just love them. And if this album has been certified gold, there is certainly a good reason !

ARE YOU READY LIVE - 1979
We are in Atlanta, in the summer of 1979. Thousands of southern men all went to the Mega stadium, the sound system is playing "Gone with the wind", suddenly, a voice is yelling "Hello Atlanta, from Doraville, Georgia, here is the Atlanta Rhythm Section" !!! Yeah !!! The first chors of "sky high" is ringing, wouah !! To this very first moment, you know you're about to hear one of the greatest live album of southern rock music. Great work from Ronnie, Barry and their buddies. ARS is at its top. They follow their set list with "Champagne jam". In fact, they'll play mostly all of their greatest songs. This fabulous live album ends with a crazy "Long tall Sally", and the ARS will get an other album certified gold.

THE BOYS FROM DORAVILLE - 1980
After the fantastic album "Are you ready ?", we were wondering what the next ARS would be like. How could they be so creative ? so successfull ? They had to keep the machine on the road. So the guys from Doraville went back to the studio and worked their asses off with a new approach, without repeating themselves. The result was a bit different, with less impact of the guitar work, but with more impact from the keyboards. "Try my Love", "Strictly Rock n Roll", or "Cocaine Charlie" were surely interesting songs but I must admit this album wasn't what we were expecting. ANd don't forget, that was the times where many bands made mistakes playing music real close to the new fashion, FM rock.

QUINELLA - 1981
ARS didn't fall in this FM rock trap, and we were real happy when we got this new release, "Quinella". ARS had learned from their errors and they were back on the road with the music they perfectly played. It was such a great joy th hear these great songs, "Homesick", "Quinella", "Higher", among others. And these cool atmospheres with songs such as "Southern Explosure", "Alien", or "Outlaw music". For sure, the real ARS were back on the track, fans were happy. Robert Nix left the band and was replaced by Roy Yeager.

TRUTH IN STRUCTURED FORM - 1989
It's been so many years since we heard about ARS, since we read about them in the magazines, when suddenly, without any promotion, came out "Truth in structured form". It could have been called "8 years of silence", as they needed 8 years to release this new album. So what was this album ? In fact, there had been many changes inside the band, and it's a kind of a new band with a new music, something a bit like the last releases from 38 SPecial. The southern boys add a lot of FM rock in their music. Songs such as "Listen to the Wind ou Awesone Love" are good songs but they're not really what we were used to get with the ARS. The only interesting thing with this lkind of FM music is the guitar work and riff, and as Barry Bailey is still there, we find some interests in this music. Paul Goddard and his Rickenbaker has left the band, as did Roy Yeager and JR.Cobb. The were replaced by Steve Stone on guitar, JE Garnett on bass and Sean Burke on drums. Even if this album is not considered as a major album by the southern rock fans, it still worth the listening, just think of it a new ARS.

GREATEST HITS - 1996
In the middle of the 90's, times had changed, so did music, the fans were getting older and were, may be, not as concerned as they've been in the past by the music they loved so much. Southern rock music doesn't get any support from the media, from the record labels and its fans base doesn't grow anymore. And it's certainly the album "Truth in structured form", released a few years ago, which will ket the fans think that they should keep on belienving in this music. So when this greatest hits is released by CMC International, there won't be so many people buying it and they are surely not right as this album is a really good representation of the band's work, unless these fans have all their albums. With these twelve songs, this album is certainly one of the best ways for the pepople who wants to discover this great band.

PARTLY PLUGGED - 1997
Despite all the difficulties the bands is fronting, they're still on the road. Of course, times had changed, they don't play sold-out arenas but mostly in the bar circuits. But that's life. So, after being a band for 25 years, they release a new album. In fact, this is not really a new album, as there are only four news songs on it. ARS made the choice for the album to be half of a "best of" and half of new stuff. After hearing the new songs, "Woodoo", "She knows all my tricks", "I don't want to grow old alone" and "Child of the Vid�o age", we would have really enjoyed much more new material as the fantastic team Buddy Buie and Ronnie Hammond was still there. But there is still an interest in the way the old songs have been reworked, as we have the accoustic version. What a great work ! Hats off Mr. Bailey ! And these new parts in "So into you", "Alien" or "Angel" are so beautiful. So, as was the repcedent album, this one is a must have for everyone.

EUFAULA - 1999
For the greatest joy of their fans, the ARS decided to keep working on its musical bases that made them so successfull. The ARS is a sound, a style, a sensibility with such an ability from each musician. And this new album, "Eufaula", is here to prove all this facts. There are some greats songs, such as "I'm not the only one" (recorded in '89 for the "Truth in structured form" album) or the great "Who you gonna run to". But the greatest moment of the album is for sure, the instrumental song, "What's up Wid Dat ?", where Barry Bailey and Steve Stone let their fingers do the talking. To this day, this album is the last studio release from ARS (let's note some backing vocals by Robert White Johnson, a well known figure in the southern rock world).

LIVE AT THE SAVOY 1981
It happens quite often these days, that record labels finds old forgotten tapes from live performances of great bands from the 70's or the 80's. So did Pheonix Gems and they released this live album. And a live performance from the ARS is always a nice album to get. This one was recorded i New York, on October 27th, 1981, and ARS plays with such an energy. After their first live album, "Are you ready", you know ARS was a great act on stage. ANd "Live at the Savoy" is just a conffirmation, if needed, of the great band ARS was.

"BEST OF" AND COMPILATIONS
ARS released, throughout their career, 16 wonderful albums between 1972 and 1999. But the is article wouldn't be complete with if we didn't mention all the "best of" released. That is, "The best Of ARS" from 1991, "Best Of ARS" from 1997 , "The 20th century Masters" and "ARS The Collection" from 2001. All these albums are good reasons to discover or re-discover the ARS. Ronnie Hammond left the band almost one year ago, and recently quit his career, but we hope the best to ARS and we wish them to release great music, as they did in the past.

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