Black Oak Arkansas 1971 Album

Black Oak Arkansas

Later BOA records got more notoriety but truthfully, it's all here (and more) on their all-too-brief self-titled debut record. For a supposed strong Southern Rock effort, it's closer in spirit at certain points to late-period Byrds or the Flying Burrito Bros ("Memories at the Window"). But much of their best material is found here - the thrilling backwoods religious-fantasy of "Uncle Liljiah", Jim Dandy's blustery-yet-endearing star turn "Hot and Nasty", and the haunting-to-celebratory extended suite which ends it ("Lord Have Mercy on My Soul"/"When Electricity Came to Arkansas"). There is a mountain load of entertainment value to be discovered, more than most would have you believe.