Dixie Peach-Dixie Peach (1975)

Dixie Peach were another of the forgotten bands of the 70s, who, despite showcasing great southern rock and blues rock, disappeared due to indifference and a lack of promotion from their record label. Formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1972, their core members were singer and guitarist Ira Stanley and bassist Mike Rousculp "Roscoe", who, along with keyboardist Steve Williams, drummer Jerry Barnhart, and rhythm guitarist Tony Paulus, honed their skills in various parts of the Eastern United States for three years, building a large and devoted fanbase. This success encouraged them to sign a contract with Raintree Records, and under the production of Tom Weisser, they recorded their self-titled debut album in 1975. On this first album, the band doesn't hide their Southern influences from bands like The Allman Brothers, showcasing a brilliant collection of songs that navigate between the dusty rock of Southern bands, seasoned with jazz, blues, and hard rock sounds. Exciting covers are interspersed with original tracks, such as their cover of Tal Mahal's "Paint My Mailbox Blue", a track where the duality of the powerful guitars stands out, or the brilliant blues-rock song "Going Down", a Don Nix cover, while Ennio Morricone's classic "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" is interpreted in a blues-rock jam style, where they venture into jazz territory. Among their original tracks, the melodic "Out Of Money…Out Of Gas" stands out, a song that clearly demonstrates their musical roots; the funky, groove-laden "Keep on Waitin' ", the rhythmic "(So) Take A Look Around", and the dynamic, jazzy "I'll Be Gone". This album overflows with catchy, brilliant melodies and addictive guitar textures, with ever-present keyboards in short, another rare gem from the 70s that unfortunately went completely unnoticed. After the album's limited impact, the band disappeared until almost 40 years later when they reunited to record their second full-length album, "Blues With Friends" (2013).