Ozark Mountain Daredevils - "Jackie Blue" (1975) HD

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils are a country rock band formed in 1972 in Springfield, Missouri, USA. They are most widely known for their singles "If You Wanna Get To Heaven" in 1974 and "Jackie Blue" in 1975. Some[who?] have described the band's sound as a "countrified Steely Dan".

The Daredevils are also mentioned in the "Don's Story" chapter of American humorist David Sedaris' book, Barrel Fever. Bassist Michael "Supe" Granda has also written a book about the band, It Shined.

The "Daredevils" name has much to do with the long hair and beards sported by the band in the 1970s, a rejection of the more conservative style of their native Ozarks during that decade. It is mentioned in the book about the band, "It Shined", by bassist Michael 'Supe' Granda, that the band name was derived from "Cosmic Corn Cob & His Amazing Ozark Mountain Daredevils", a name which John Dillon came up with at a Kansas City "naming party" after the band was told that the name they had previously been using, "Family Tree" was already taken. The band shortened the name because none of the band members at the time wanted to be called "Cosmic Corn Cob", and they did not want the name to sound similar to The Amazing Rhythm Aces.

The first record, Ozark Mountain Daredevils (also referred to as "The Quilt Album"), was released in December 1973 and spawned the Top 30 hit "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" in the summer of '74. The album introduced the band's unique mixture of rock, country, bluegrass and pop to the world and is still the favorite of many of the group's fans.

For the second album, It'll Shine When It Shines (Fall 1974), Johns and Anderle came to Missouri to record, utilizing a mobile recording truck set up outside of the band's rehearsal home. During the sessions, Johns overheard Larry Lee sitting at a piano playing and singing a song about a mysterious friend of his who sometimes dealt drugs on the side. Johns loved the melody and thought it could be a smash hit if the lyrics were altered to be about a girl and the drug references downplayed. Lee and Cash did as Johns asked and the song, "Jackie Blue", became the Daredevil's signature song and a huge hit (#3) in early 1975.

The Ozark's third release, The Car Over the Lake Album (Fall 1975), produced by Anderle alone, featured their old compatriot, Bill Jones, joining them to play and arrange their songs. He also toured with them in 1975-1976. Another face from the past, Steve Canaday, also came back into the group's life at this same time as road manager and opening act before joining the band in 1976. The album sold fairly well but produced no hits. One reason why the band's fortunes began to falter might have been their reluctance to relocate to Southern California after being asked to do so by A&M co-head Jerry Moss. As a result, A&M might also have begun to lose a bit of their enthusiasm for the act at this point.

Personnel shifts within the group also began to change the chemistry. Randle Chowning left in May 1976 (following a European tour), due to the bad work ethic of other band members and their unwillingness to do a major tour, to form his own Randle Chowning Band. Norwegian musician Rune Walle, whom the band had met while on tour in Europe with his band The Flying Norwegians, then joined to replace him.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ozark
• Mountain
• Daredevils
• Jackie
• Blue
• 1975
• country
• rock
• band
• TheBacmaster
• Music
• Videos

[canway66]

Now its really buggin me...who IS that a photo of? They look so familiar but I cant quite put my finger on it....can you clear this up for me so I can move on with my life...:)

[TheBacmaster]

@canway66 Honestly, I have no clue! I'd have to go through many pictures to find it..Let me see what I could do....

[TheBacmaster]

@canway66 Does the band,"Brewer" ring a bell?

[canway66]

Just so you know...the still photo at 20 seconds in NOT the Ozark Mountain Daredevils...not sure if you meant to do that or not but its not them..sorry. Still a good video though. thanks

[TheBacmaster]

@canway66 Thank you for that observation. This does and has happened on occasion. No excuse, just a mistake.

Respect from Joe

[SpaceAceTX]

Notice how well this song stands the test of time?

Does anyone think people will be listening to Lady Ga Ga (hurts just to type that name) in 35 yrs with this kind of enthusiasm?

If you do, you deserve a lashing with an E string, cheers

[moneytreeForU]

@zincfreud still have hundreds of vinyl old 45 records,have them all on and old jukebox...love all these old songs....fixed the jukebox where u dont have to put in any coins...

[AnnaAnnaYes]

Why has'nt there been a movie made from this song??.And they wonder why

people stay home instead of going to the Movies.

[StrengthMuscle2]

Great song! Nicely done video too!!

Thanks for the trip back in time.  :))

[1955porsche]

everytime i hear this i want to go ride my motorbikes...........

[kakurot69]

@ canway66. I believe that is a photo of the band in 1980. On their 1 and only Columbia record release. It has only 4 members of the band. Steve, Supe, John, and Larry. Yes, they look dorky, which didn't help sales.

[kakurot69]

Ahh yes, me again. A&M did the right thing by the band, unlike so many other labels. What really saddens me is that You Know Like I Know was not a hit song. I too, would have done the same thing as A&M. Thinking like they did that the song would be a hit. Not sounding country and also being a well produced and a well crafted song. The 4th album is my fav. Love the songs on it. This should have made the Daredevils stars, but only the hardcore fans bought it, not the general public. For shame!

[kakurot69]

Now, don't get me wrong. I love the Daredevils and I always have. Been a fan since 74. And I thought about it. Long and hard. What I would have done to prolong their career. And yes. Larry Lee sang the huge hit Jackie Blue. And Larry had catchy sounding songs. I listened to the 3rs album over and over. And now, looking back, even I could not have saved them. The songs sounded too country. None could have been top 40 pop songs. I wished I could have saved them, but you had to have a hit, or else

[kakurot69]

The 4th album, in my opinion, was even a stronger effort, and You Know Like I Know, was a stronger hit single, but it too, did not make the 40, which was a shame, because that song should have put them in A&M's good graces again. But I have to say, A&M was a good label. They allowed the Daredevils to record 2 more albums. So yes, the Daredevils were fortunate. At least, they got to record alot of music that can still be heard to this day!

[kakurot69]

Yes, the 3rd album produced no hits, but was a strong album. If I Only Knew was the song released, but it lacked the muscle of their 2 former top 25 hits, which is the real reason why the band lost momentum. Simply put, the song sounded too weak, unfortunately.

[MrXJesseXJames]

GREATPHUKINSONG & the Ozarks are the most beautiful place on earth. There's nothin like sittin on a big rock smokin some Razorbuds watchin the sun rise over a mountian valley waitin on ole mossey horns . . . . A country boy can survive. Brilliant work, Daredevils.

[smotnick]

Wonderful metaphors.