Artist: MOLLY HATCHET
Album: FLIRTIN’ WITH DESASTER RE-RELEASE (DIGI)

Release date: 1979/ 2008
Media type: CD

We all recognize that Lynyrd Skynyrd are the masters of southern rock. But their demise in a tragic plane crash in 1997 left the genre rudderless and leaderless – which is where Molly Hatchet rode into the picture.

For a time at the end of the 1970s, this tobacco-chewing, bourbon swilling gang of redneck hombres were the unquestioned new emperors of the southern states, in the process developing a sound and style that was perhaps a little more metallic than fans of the genre would hitherto have expected. But they also had the vibrant elements of the classic swamp rock warlords: a three-guitar attack (provided here by Dave Hlubek, Steve Holland and Duane Roland), a thumping rhythm section (drummer Bruce Crump and bassist Banner Thomas) and a larger-than-life outlaw out front in Danny Joe Brown, whose vocals told of a man who’d indulged in every vice possible, and lived to tell the tall tales.

Hatchet had their team-leading track, the song that would catapult them to major status. But, in fact, this was ‘merely’ the best song on album that really saw them make the step up to the challenge of being world-class. As with their debut, this record had a Frank Frazetta painting on the cover (this one titled ‘Dark Kingdom’). And as the 1970s ended, and we all looked forward to the new decade, Molly Hatchet had more reason than most to believe their time had arrived. They were set to dominate the world of rock. Surely nothing could go wrong? Typically, Fate threw a banana skin under them when, for a multitude of reasons (officially it was a health problem, but there were other factors involved) Danny Joe Brown quit after the ‘Flirtin’…’ tour, and it’s fair to say Hatchet never again scaled such heights.

However, listen to this album. It not only proves why the band are still much loved by southern rock fans, but retains a cachet, energy, power and class that has defied the years. It defines a truly great band in their pomp. You can feel the inspiration coursing through the music. A monumental achievement by a mammoth band – of their time, and beyond it.

TRACKLIST:

01. Whiskey Man
02. It`s All Over Now
03. One Man`s Pleasure
04. Jukin`City
05. Boogie No More
06. Flirtin`With Disaster
07. Good Rockin`
08. Gunsmoke
09. Long Time
10. Let The Good Times Roll

Bonus Tracks:

11. Silver & Sorrow (demo)
12. Flirtin`With Disaster (live)
13. One Man`s Pleasure (live)
14. Cross Road Blues (live)