Southern Rock Opera
Encyclopedia
Southern Rock Opera is the third studio (fourth total) album by the alt country band Drive-By Truckers
. It was a double album
and released in 2001. Covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 70s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the context of legendary Southern band, Lynyrd Skynyrd
. The record was originally self-released on Soul Dump Records. It was re-released on July 16, 2002 by Lost Highway Records. The album was financed by issuing promissory notes in exchange for loans from fans, family and friends of the band.
The album's artwork was done by Virginia
artist Wes Freed
.
and producer
, Earl Hicks, during a road trip. The pair discussed writing a semi-autobiographical
screenplay
about growing up in the South
and about the plane crash that almost ended the career of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd
, taking singer Ronnie Van Zant
, guitarist Steve Gaines
, and Gaines' back-up singer sister, Cassie Gaines
, to their graves.
Soon after this discussion, Patterson Hood formed Drive-By Truckers. The Truckers recorded two studio album
s and one live album
during the four years between their formation and the actual recording of Southern Rock Opera. During these years, Drive-By's principal songwriters Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, and Rob Malone continued to contribute songs to "The Rock Opera", as they'd come to calling it.
After the release of their live album, Alabama Ass Whuppin'
, Drive-By Truckers began recording what they hoped to be their magnum opus
: Southern Rock Opera. According to Patterson Hood, "(the album) was recorded in Birmingham, upstairs in a uniform shop during an early September heat wave, with no air-conditioning. We had to turn the fans off when we were recording, and we worked from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. So Southern Rock Opera was fun to write, but we had a miserable time making it."
After the album was finished, however, the troubles continued for The Truckers when they ran out of funding for the immense project. To resolve the problem, and to avoid "any fine print crap", as Hood put it, the band took a very non-traditional approach. The Truckers made a prospectus
, and solicited investors, with a promise of 15% interest, to pay for the manufacturing and distribution of Southern Rock Opera. The approach worked. Through their fan-based online news group and by sheer word of mouth, The Truckers were able to raise approximately $15,000. This allowed them to print about 5,000 copies of the album, and buy a new, used, van for touring. Most notably included in the group, dubbed "The DBT Investors", was Widespread Panic
bassist, and fellow Athenian
, Dave Schools
.
Southern Rock Opera was finally released on September 12, 2001 on Soul Dump Records.
Rhapsody (online music service)
ranked the album #6 on its "Rock’s Best Albums of the Decade" list.
In order to meet demand, Drive-By Truckers signed a large-scale distribution deal with Lost Highway Records. Southern Rock Opera was re-released, this time worldwide, on July 16, 2002.
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...
. It was a double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
and released in 2001. Covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 70s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the context of legendary Southern band, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
. The record was originally self-released on Soul Dump Records. It was re-released on July 16, 2002 by Lost Highway Records. The album was financed by issuing promissory notes in exchange for loans from fans, family and friends of the band.
The album's artwork was done by Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
artist Wes Freed
Wes Freed
Wes Freed is a Richmond, Virginia-based musician, "outsider" artist, illustrator, and actor whose works have appeared on the album covers of numerous American rock bands, including Cracker and Lauren Hoffman...
.
Origin and making of the album
The idea for Southern Rock Opera actually pre-dates the band's formation in 1996. Southern Rock Opera began in a long discussion between, Drive-By Truckers' frontman, Patterson Hood, and, former Truckers' bassistBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, Earl Hicks, during a road trip. The pair discussed writing a semi-autobiographical
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
about growing up in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and about the plane crash that almost ended the career of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
, taking singer Ronnie Van Zant
Ronnie Van Zant
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
, guitarist Steve Gaines
Steve Gaines
Steven Earl Gaines was an American musician. He is most well known as a guitarist and songwriter for southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and is the younger brother of Cassie Gaines, who was also a member of the band...
, and Gaines' back-up singer sister, Cassie Gaines
Cassie Gaines
Cassie LaRue Gaines was an American singer. She was a member of the female gospel vocal trio The Honkettes, who in 1975 became the backup singers for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
, to their graves.
Soon after this discussion, Patterson Hood formed Drive-By Truckers. The Truckers recorded two studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s and one live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
during the four years between their formation and the actual recording of Southern Rock Opera. During these years, Drive-By's principal songwriters Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, and Rob Malone continued to contribute songs to "The Rock Opera", as they'd come to calling it.
After the release of their live album, Alabama Ass Whuppin'
Alabama Ass Whuppin'
Alabama Ass Whuppin' is the title of the first Drive-By Truckers live album. It is was recorded live in Athens and Atlanta in Fall of 1999.-Track listing:#"Why Henry Drinks"#"Lookout Mountain"#"The Living Bubba"#"Too Much Sex "...
, Drive-By Truckers began recording what they hoped to be their magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
: Southern Rock Opera. According to Patterson Hood, "(the album) was recorded in Birmingham, upstairs in a uniform shop during an early September heat wave, with no air-conditioning. We had to turn the fans off when we were recording, and we worked from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. So Southern Rock Opera was fun to write, but we had a miserable time making it."
After the album was finished, however, the troubles continued for The Truckers when they ran out of funding for the immense project. To resolve the problem, and to avoid "any fine print crap", as Hood put it, the band took a very non-traditional approach. The Truckers made a prospectus
Prospectus (finance)
In finance, a prospectus is a document that describes a financial security for potential buyers. A prospectus commonly provides investors with material information about mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other investments, such as a description of the company's business, financial statements,...
, and solicited investors, with a promise of 15% interest, to pay for the manufacturing and distribution of Southern Rock Opera. The approach worked. Through their fan-based online news group and by sheer word of mouth, The Truckers were able to raise approximately $15,000. This allowed them to print about 5,000 copies of the album, and buy a new, used, van for touring. Most notably included in the group, dubbed "The DBT Investors", was Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
bassist, and fellow Athenian
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, Dave Schools
Dave Schools
Dave Schools aka "Dave Smalls", is the bassist for the band Widespread Panic , and hails from Richmond, Virginia. In addition to playing with Panic, he has had numerous side projects with Jerry Joseph, The Stockholm Syndrome, J Mascis and the Fog, Slang, and Acetate...
.
Southern Rock Opera was finally released on September 12, 2001 on Soul Dump Records.
Critical reception
The album received a four star rating from Rolling Stone Magazine.Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody is an online music store subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version...
ranked the album #6 on its "Rock’s Best Albums of the Decade" list.
Re-release
The critical praise for Southern Rock Opera created no shortage of buzz around the album and the band. Unfortunately, The Truckers didn't have the means to press the necessary amount of copies of the album on their own.In order to meet demand, Drive-By Truckers signed a large-scale distribution deal with Lost Highway Records. Southern Rock Opera was re-released, this time worldwide, on July 16, 2002.
Disc one: Act one: Betamax Guillotine
- "Days of Graduation" (Hood)
- "Ronnie and Neil" (Hood)
- "72U.S. Route 72U.S. Route 72 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 337 miles from southeast Tennessee through northern Alabama and northern Mississippi to southwest Tennessee. The highway's eastern terminus is Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its western terminus is Memphis, Tennessee...
(This Highway's Mean)" (Cooley) - "Dead, Drunk, and Naked" (Hood)
- "Guitar Man Upstairs" (Cooley)
- "Birmingham" (Hood)
- "The Southern Thing" (Hood)
- "The Three Great Alabama Icons" (Hood)
- "Wallace" (Hood)
- "Zip CityZip City, AlabamaZip City is a small unincorporated community in Lauderdale County in the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, at the interchange of Alabama Highways 8 and 17. Zip City falls within the U.S. Central Time Zone...
" (Cooley) - "Moved" (Malone)
Disc two: Act two
- "Let There Be Rock" (Hood)
- "Road Cases" (Hood)
- "Women Without Whiskey" (Cooley)
- "Plastic Flowers on the Highway" (Hood)
- "Cassie's BrotherCassie's Brother"Cassie's Brother" is a song written and performed by alt-country band Drive-By Truckers. It appeared on the band's 2001 album Southern Rock Opera, the song is about Steve Gaines. His sister, Cassie Gaines, was a back-up singer in Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1975. Both died in the plane crash on October 20,...
" (Malone) - "Life in the Factory" (Hood)
- "Shut Up and Get on the Plane" (Cooley)
- "Greenville to Baton Rouge" (Hood)
- "Angels and Fuselage" (Hood)
Band
- Mike Cooley – lyrics, vocals, guitar
- Earl Hicks – bass
- Patterson Hood – lyrics, vocals, guitar
- Rob Malone – lyrics, vocals, guitar
- Brad Morgan – drums
Guest performers
- Kelly Hogan – vocals
- Anne Richmond Boston – vocals
- Jyl Freed – vocals
- Amy Pike – vocals
Crew
- David Barbe, Dick Cooper, Drive-By Truckers – production
- Rodney Mills – mastering
- Dick Cooper, Earl Hicks – engineering
- Wes Freed, Patrick Hood – artwork, photography, cover art
- Patterson, Lilla Hood – art direction, design, adaptation, liner notes
Further reading
- Dechert, S R. "Drive-by Truckers: Southern Rock Opera (Review)", PopMatters.Com. Sept. 2001.
- Hood, Patterson. "Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame", MSN Music. Feb.-Mar. 2006.
- Sarig, Roni. "DBT Investors Get Their Paypack", Creative Loafing Atlanta. 21 Nov. 2001.
- Kemp, Mark. Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New SouthDixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New SouthDixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New South is a book by U.S. music journalist Mark Kemp that traces the evolution of southern rock between the years 1968 and 1992, and examines the music's social and psychological impact on young Southerners in the years following the...
. New York, New York: Free Press/Simon & Schuster, 2004.