Ozark Mountain Daredevils Men From Earth A&M Records 1976

Ozark Mountain Daredevils Men From Earth A&M Records 1976 CAT #SP-4601

Although they continued several more years past this release, this LP marks the end of a pretty good run for the Springfield, MO band that made a huge impression on Kansas City in their early days. This effort wasn't as consistent as their prior releases, but it's the same odd blend of old-time bluegrass, smooth pop, and country rock that sometimes goes song to song and other times within a single track.

There's a crazy story about founding member, Randle Chowning getting into a fight with his bandmates in Europe and quitting the band around the time of this LPs release. Apparently, a band sound mix pissed Chowning off, so he turned it to 11. After the show, he argued with band members and held a grudge all the way back home and ended up leaving the band. Despite that, he's listed as a sideman in the credits for 'Sideman From Earth', obviously appearing on some of the album tracks. Also interesting, the album was recorded EVERYWHERE. In Nashville, as well at the legendary Caribou Ranch in Colorado, and surprisingly at American Artist Studio in Springfield, Missouri, the same studio that drummed up business releasing a bunch of local custom and private press records in the area.

Again, 'Men from Earth' is a bit more uneven than the prior LPs, maybe due to the all the different recording locations. But, it's not a miss by any means, it has its share of enjoyable tracks, just lacking an obvious hit.

Fly Away Home

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils It'll Shine When It Shines A&M 1974

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils It'll Shine When It Shines A&M 1974 CAT# SP-36

This album contains the Daredevils standout, yacht-rock hit, "Jackie Blue." It still sounds strange in the context of the band's music. They try so hard to be down-home and roots driven rock n' roll. They step heavily into country and bluegrass and keep a live sound. Then, out of nowhere, "Jackie Blue" with its smoothness and cocaine perfection. You'd guess the band was from Los Angeles and not in between Springfield, Missouri and Kansas City.

From there, the Daredevils do what they do. Play around with rock n' roll and traditional roots music. There's a  track entitled, "Kansas You Fooler," which seems to recall the bitter Kansas-Missouri rivalry, However, this appears to be a coming to terms with Kansas after leaving Colorado, seeing all the flatness of Western, Kansas is kind of peaceful. Another highlight is the track, "E.E. Lawson," which is this driving bass rhythm with truck stop vocals telling the story, it's a bit novelty, but clever. Overall, the LP is a strong effort worth repeated listens.

Jackie Blue

Randle Chowning Band Hearts On Fire A&M Records 1978

Randle Chowning Band Hearts On Fire A&M Records 1978 CAT #SP-4715

Upon the first break up of the mighty Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Randle Chowning, the band's singer and likely leader branched out on his own to record this LP. Chowning stayed with his management team (or maybe his management team stayed with him), Good Karma Productions and actually appears to have relocated to Kansas City for this part of his career. The band lists their contact address as 4218 Main Street, KCMO.

He's joined by some other dudes, who I can't find much on. Assume they were friends from the Springfield area, maybe KC guys, but for all we know, could have just been L.A. session guys. He put them all together to make under-the-radar yacht rock LP. Under the radar because no one cared about it, yacht rock because to this day, no one cares about it.

It's not awful, it has moves and has pleasant moments. Unfortunately, it's not very good, either. Middle of the road pomp from 1978, it's what'd you expect from an obscure major label release no one knows exists.

Within A Dream

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils Self-Titled A&M 1973

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils Self-Titled A&M 1973 CAT# 0598

There's like a kajillion guys in this band, enough to keep them going long after this debut in some form or another. Pretty sure you can still see them play around town every month.

The group was formed in Springfield, MO, thus the band name, Ozark Mountain Dare Devil. Their Kansas City connection lies in their management, Good Karma Productions, the same that managed Brewer & Shipley, Danny Cox, and a few other locals. Further, they were discovered by Brewer & Shipely while playing the Cowtown Ballroom in KC. So there KC roots are legit.

The music is pretty Springfield, though. It's not bluegrass or hillbilly, but it uses the mountain influences. You'd probably be better off buying a Dillards LP if you want the real stuff. But, the Daredevils blended some old-time sounds into a modern pop format. Their sound played to everyone, they could open for anyone with their brand of stoner-country. Also, worth pointing out, this LP did have the minor-hit, "If You Wanna Get to Heaven," which is a pretty solid good-ol' boy tune.

Black Sky
Daredevils-LIVE. Look at these fuckin' hipsters

The Mad-Hatters Self Titled Unknown Year

The Mad-Hatters Self Titled Unknown Year CAT# LP-01

The Mad-Hatters are a female folk duo that somehow managed to get the green light from the Greene County Tuberculosis Society to do an album spreading respiratory disease awareness, specifically, tuberculosis.

Based on the cover and the musicianship, these gals appear to be actual nurses that did music as a hobby. The two rework a number of traditional folk tunes and children's songs to spread awareness on respiratory disease and it's prevention.  To fund research for the diseases, the gals recommend you purchase "Christmas Seals" as the best way to help the cause.

What's tough to figure out is if these girls were performing from venue to venue with a heap of Christmas wrap and a pile of albums to obtain funds for medical research. The Christmas stuff, that makes sense, people buy that. The performances, yeah, that's reasonable. The songs are pleasant enough, the Mad-Hatters knock down each well-known melody down to a minute or two and it's just the two girls signing with one playing guitar, the songs are humorous and it wouldn't appear these girls were taking this too seriously, so yeah, playing a goofy, make-shift performance to get people over to you, that makes sense. But, selling an album? That's where things get strange.

Who threw down money, even for a good cause, two hobbyists singing about emphysema and TB sounds awful. And while the tracks won't offend anybody for being awful (again, kind of pleasant) they aren't good or something you'd want to play again and again. It's obvious some folks watched the performances and said, "You gals should put out an album," but that shit was out of politeness. The Mad-Hatters ran with it and requested the funds apparently. There is 19 songs on this album with titles like, "Chronic Bronchitis", "Pneumonoultramicrospicsilicovolcanokoniosis", "I Had Tuberculosis", and "TB Girls".  Who would buy that?

Needless to say, out of politeness, a few people did. And who knows, maybe the album made some money for research.  It's just strange that stuff like this exists.

Clawhammer I Think I Heard a Sound b/w Hell Wee Rock Records 2012

Clawhammer I Think I Heard a Sound b/w Hell Wee Rock Records 2012 CAT# WRR 86

Well, this isn't really local, but I purchased it by error.  I'm not really that mad about it, it's decent. The band is from Springfield, MO which is closer to St. Louis than it is Kansas City.  The town has always had a substantial music scene centered around roots, country and bluegrass.  Much of the bluegrass coming out of Springfield is damaged by the tourist driven, Branson, Missouri.  Hillbilly garbage in which the band leaders are named "Uncle" and they sing about fishing and make cheesy family orientated jokes in between sets.  Like Hee-Haw, but even dumber.  That's a lot of what comes out of Springfield, MO.  Not all of it, there are some solid band and artists, but there is a ton of crap to sift through.

Anyway, I had traded in some stuff at a local record store and had about $3 or $5 left in credit.  I went to the local 45s to even out my order.  This struck me for a couple of reason, first, it was in my budget.  Second, a clawhammer is a type of banjo, I love bluegrass so I figured why not?  Well, I got it home and realized this wasn't as local as I thought it was when I discovered it was from Springfield.

However, I put it on and was cool with it; it's a keeper.  It's not bluegrass.  It's got elements and does feature a banjo and traditional bluegrass instruments, but they're borrowing from the genre.  If you research Clawhammer they've dubbed themselves something moronic like alternative, dub, influenced, bluegrass.  That's absurd.  But, they have a unique sound, the banjo plucks away and these young hipsters drop fuzz and experimentation all around it.  The female vocals fit perfectly, she's kind of gruff, certainly not too sweet.  It's a clever post-modern mixture, no one is pushing bluegrass but they should be...I mean, hipsters would totally be into artists like John Hartford if they'd get off the fucking Hall & Oates kick.

Facebook link to some Clawhammer jams