Blackfoot-Strikes (1979)

Blackfoot are one of those bands that have had a long and winding road to success and the recognition they deserve. After two commendable works, their debut album "No Reservations" (1975) and the subsequent "Flyin' High" (1976), they failed to achieve the desired notoriety due to poor marketing by the record labels Island and Epic. After another change of record company, this time with ATCO, they released their third full-length album, "Strikes", which brought them the sweet taste of success thanks in part to the album's effective promotion by the new label and an irresistible collection of great Southern rock tracks like "Highway Song" and "Train Train", which propelled it into the US Top 40, selling a million copies in the following two years. However, this album didn't just rely on the success of those two excellent tracks; it also featured addictive covers like Free's "Whising Well", Blues Image's "Pay My Dudes", and Spirit's "I Got A Line On You". With these, the band employed their tried-and-true strategy of revisiting well-known hits, but imbuing them with their own unique and unmistakable style. The album's warm reception paved the way for commercial success and widespread popularity, and for the next two years, the band toured triumphantly across the United States alongside established acts like Foreigner, Journey, AC/DC, and Blue Öyster Cult.