Eric Quincy Tate-Drinking Man´s Friend (1972)

Another band unknown to the general European public is Eric Quincy Tate, a superb Southern rock group from Texas who had the privilege of sharing a record label and stages for much of the 1970s with the legendary Allman Brothers Band. Although formed in the mid-1960s, it wasn't until the end of that decade that, thanks to the efforts of Tony Joe White, they signed with Capricorn Records, a Georgia-based label specializing in Southern bands. In their original lineup, Eric Quincy Tate consisted of bassist David Cantonwine, guitarist Tommy Carlisle, drummer Donnie McCormick, and vocalist and second guitarist Wayne Sauls. In 1970, they released their self-titled debut album, showcasing an intelligent fusion of rock, funk, blues, and subtle jazz influences. This intriguing debut album opened doors for them to open for The Allman Brothers Band, in concerts where the band showcased undeniable talent for extended, brilliant rock jams with hints of soul, blues, and country rock, as demonstrated in tracks like "Stonehead Blues", "Try A Little Harder", and "Hooker House". Two years later came their second and arguably best work, "Drinking Man's Friend", featuring standout tracks like the rock and roll number "Brown Sugar", the blues rock anthem "Whiskey Woman Blues", and the brilliant "Another Sunshine Song", "Water To Time", and "Texas Sand", all imbued with the swampy, dusty sounds of the southern United States. Later, this band continued to release albums with some frequency, which were well received in the southern rock scene, such as "E.Q.T" (1975) and "Can't Keep A Good Band Down" (1977). The latter served as the band's epitaph until many years later when they returned with the album "Thirty-Seven" (2007), where they revived the attractive sound of southern blues rock with a commendable work that was very well received by their countless fans.