James Rutledge-Hooray For Good Times (1976)

James Rutledge is known for having been a member of one of the most successful Southern rock bands, Bloodrock, with whom he recorded the superb albums "Bloodrock" (1970), "Bloodrock II" (1971), and "Bloodrock III" (1971). After completing the recording of the latter, James decided to launch his own solo career with guitarist John Nitzinger, one of Bloodrock's songwriters, who had already released his first solo album in 1972. However, the Rutledge-Nitzinger project failed to gain the approval of Capitol Records, the label to which both musicians belonged, leaving the completed album shelved and never officially released. Several years later, Rutledge tried again, this time recording a solo album. He collaborated with guitarists Michael Rabon, Lee Pickins, and Tommy Sabona, bassists Thom Caccetta and Jim Grant, drummer Dahrell Norris, and keyboardist Kenneth Whitfield. This time he had better luck, and Capitol Records produced the album, titled "Hooray For Good Times", which was released in 1976. In this, his only solo album, Rutledge delivers an interesting fusion of different styles, ranging from country rock to the dusty sounds of Southern rock and even some funk, as demonstrated in tracks like "Brown Paper Bag", "Laughin' and Cryin' ", "Sole Survivor", "Drivin' You Insane", and "Star Trackin' ".