Strikes

Performer: Blackfoot
Engineer: Henry Weck
Producer: Henry Weck; Al Nalli
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Rick Medlocke (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar); Greg T. Walker (vocals, bass guitar); Jakson "Thunderfoot" Spires (vocals, drums); Pamela Vincent, Cynthia Douglas, Donna Davis (vocals, background vocals); Charlie Hargrett (guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar); Cub Koda, Shorty Medlocke (harmonica); Pat McCaffrey (keyboards); Henry Weck (percussion). Recording information: Bee Jay Recording Studio, Orlando, FL; Sound Suite Recording Studios, Detroit, MI; Subterrenean Studios, Ann Arbor, MI. After missing the boat with Lynyrd Skynyrd (for whom he played drums early on), guitarist/singer Rick Medlocke formed Blackfoot, arguably the first all-Native American rock group. The band struggled for almost a decade, playing run-of-the-mill Southern rock that they eventually injected with extra volume and attitude before signing with Atco, for whom they recorded their 1979 breakthrough Strikes. Known as a ferocious live unit and probably the heaviest of Southern rock bands (see opener "Road Fever"), Strikes also proved that Blackfoot could write great melodies for the gloomy "Left Turn on a Red Light" and the inspired cover version of Free's "Wishing Well." But the band's biggest hit would come in the form of the seven-minute "Highway Song," a tune that was admittedly very reminiscent of Skynyrd's "Freebird" and that helped drive the album to gold status. Also of note is the harmonica performance of Shorty Medlocke (Rick's dad) on his own blues, "Train Train." ~ Eduardo Rivadavia With the tragic death of several Lynyrd Skynyrd members in 1977 and the band's prompt breakup, there was a huge hole left in the Southern rock genre. Though several bands were hailed as inheritors to the throne, Blackfoot was one of the first Southern rock bands to score a big hit after the tragedy, with 1979's STRIKES. Although Blackfoot's music is slightly harder than Skynyrd's, bordering on heavy metal at times, both groups were clearly unashamed of their Southern roots. After two releases, 1975's NO RESERVATIONS and 1976's FLYIN' HIGH, had come and gone with little success, Blackfoot scored with American rock fans with STRIKES. Highlights include such tough rockers as "Road Fever," "I Got a Line on You," and "Pay My Dues," making STRIKES Blackfoot's best and most popular album of their career.

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