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Black Oak Arkansas is an American Southern rock band named after the band's hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas. The band reached the height of its fame in the 1970s with four charting albums released in that decade. Their style is punctuated by multiple guitar players and the raspy voice and on-stage antics of vocalist Jim "Dandy" Mangrum.

This article is about the band. For the town, see Black Oak, Arkansas.
Black Oak Arkansas
Jim "Dandy" Mangrum in 1973
Background information
Also known asThe Knowbody Else (1963–1970)
Black Oak (1977-c.1984)
OriginBlack Oak, Arkansas, United States
Genres
  • Southern rock
  • country rock
  • boogie rock
  • hard rock
Years active1963 (1963)–present
LabelsCleopatra Records
Websiteblackoakarkansas.net

History



The Knowbody Else


Black Oak Arkansas, originally named "The Knowbody Else," was formed in 1963 by some "high school pals" living in the area around Black Oak, Arkansas.[1] Original members included Ronnie "Chicky Hawk" Smith (vocals), Rickie Lee (alternately "Risky" or "Ricochet") Reynolds (guitar), Stanley "Goober Grin" Knight (guitar), Harvey "Burley" Jett (guitar), Pat "Dirty" Daugherty (bass), and Wayne "Squeezebox" Evans (drums).[2] At some point the band and Ronnie "Chicky Hawk" Smith agreed that a mutual friend named James "Jim Dandy" Mangrum would make a better front man, while Smith agreed that he himself would make a better stage production manager.

The band's first PA system was stolen from Monette High School. The group then cleaned out an old galvanized grain bin on the edge of town and began blasting out ear-piercing sounds that echoed their special blend of music that came from rock, gospel, country and blues influences. Members of the group were subsequently charged in absentia with grand larceny and sentenced to 26 years at the Tucker Prison Farm, a sentence that was later suspended. This led to their retreat to the hills of rural north-central Arkansas where they lived off the land and refined their musical style.[3] They also lived in Long Beach, Mississippi, and played at the local Lobe theater/dance hall and the short-lived venue, "The Black Rainbow." Some of their influences during this time were the Beatles and the Byrds.

The Knowbody Else moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1969 and signed a record deal with Stax Records. Their self-titled debut album (Hip Records #HIS-7003 [a subsidiary of Stax]) was largely ignored by the public.[2] During this time the band became interested in psychedelia and Eastern spiritualism which, combined with their Southern Baptist upbringing, contributed to their sound.


Black Oak Arkansas


After several trips to Los Angeles, California, in 1970, the band was signed by Atco Records (whose parent label, Atlantic Records, once had a partnership with Stax) and rechristened Black Oak Arkansas.[2] Their self-titled debut album Black Oak Arkansas was released in 1971.[2] The record featured enduring BOA classics such as "Hot and Nasty", "Lord Have Mercy On My Soul", "Uncle Lijiah" (written in pseudo-tribute to Harvey Jett's real-life great uncle) and "When Electricity Came To Arkansas", which was accused by fundamentalist religious groups of containing backward-masked "Satanic messages" (possibly from a live performance of the song in which Mangrum utters "dog si eh" and "natas" three times). The band toured extensively, gaining a reputation as a premier live act throughout the early 1970s all across America, and later even in Europe. Keep the Faith followed in 1972, featuring the manic concert staple "Fever in My Mind". Drummer Wayne Evans left the band and was replaced by journeyman drummer Tommy Aldridge on BOA's next release If an Angel Came to See You, Would You Make Her Feel at Home?,[2] which featured another enduring BOA concert favorite, "Mutants of the Monster" and expanded on the group's eclectic musical style.

In 1973, Black Oak Arkansas released their fourth LP, Raunch 'n' Roll Live, and took the rather unorthodox tack of including previously unreleased new songs on their first live concert album like "Gigolo", "Gettin' Kinda Cocky", as well as two more BOA classics: "Hot Rod", which features Dandy's sly double-entendre lyrics, and "Up", which spotlights Aldridge's marathon drum solo, a portion of which he played with his bare hands. The four new songs were originally recorded and intended to be included on the follow-up studio album to If an Angel Came to See You ..., but when Atco Records realized the band's true strong suit was their concert act, the live album resulted. Raunch 'n' Roll Live was re-issued in 2007 by Rhino Records as a 2-CD set containing both concerts that the original vinyl album was culled from. The band's fifth album, High on the Hog, also released in 1973, ended up being the high point of BOA's career, peaking at number 52 on the Billboard albums chart.[2] Ruby Starr also toured intermittently with Black Oak during this period, and her raspy voice can be heard on the group's remake of LaVern Baker's 1957 hit "Jim Dandy (To The Rescue)", which reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] Baker's song was recorded at the suggestion of Elvis Presley, when he invited BOA to Graceland.

The band was riding high on the concert trail as well by this time, headlining large venues like Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium and Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. Black Oak Arkansas also played at the California Jam festival in Ontario, California on April 6, 1974. The concert attracted over 200,000 fans, and BOA appeared alongside Black Sabbath; Eagles; Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Deep Purple; Earth, Wind & Fire; Seals and Crofts; and Rare Earth. Portions of the show were telecast on ABC Television in the US, exposing the band to a wider audience.

The follow-up to High on the Hog, 1974's Street Party (featuring "Son of a Gun", "Hey Ya'll" and "Dixie", as well as a cover of the Motown classic "Dancing in the Street"), may have failed to maintain the momentum, but another 1974 release entitled Early Times, a shelved Stax recording by The Knowbody Else (now released on the back of their success and under the BOA banner), made up for lost time. Guitarist Harvey Jett left the band after Street Party and was replaced by Jimmy "Soybean" Henderson in 1975 and he debuted on the band's final studio album for Atco Records, Ain't Life Grand. This album included a snarly remake of George Harrison's Beatles classic "Taxman", as well as new originals like "Fancy Nancy", "Rebel", "Good Stuff", "Cryin' Shame", and "Let Life Be Good to You". The band signed a contract with MCA and promptly released X-Rated later in 1975, which marked the beginning of Black Oak Arkansas's decline. In 1976, they released two fairly nondescript and unsuccessful albums for MCA, Balls of Fire and 10 Yr Overnight Success, the latter as a five-piece band with the departure of Rickie Reynolds, who was more or less replaced on tour by keyboardist Marius Penczner during this period. Also in 1976, Atco released a final BOA contractual-obligation album, the poorly-recorded but high-spirited Live! Mutha, recorded on Mother's Day, 1975, in Long Beach, California. This recording saw a reappearance of Ruby Starr.[2]


Black Oak


Following continued diminishing returns of the band's record sales (yet while still remaining a consistent concert draw), Mangrum dropped "Arkansas" from the group's name (in an attempt to downplay their Southern-ness) and replaced everyone except Henderson and even altering his own vocal style in an attempt to sound more mainstream (and ostensibly impress music critics in the process). The other members of the "Black Oak" lineup were Greg Reding (guitar and keyboards), Jack Holder (guitar), Andy Tanas (bass), and Joel Williams (drums). Black Oak released two albums on the struggling Capricorn Records, Race with the Devil in 1977 and I'd Rather Be Sailing the following year. Neither album sold well. In 1978, guitarist Shawn Lane joined the band at age 14 and toured with the band for four years.


Post-Capricorn Records


In the early 1980s, Dandy temporarily left the band for health reasons, but Reynolds kept the band going with former Zorro bassist Jack Brumby, AW Zeugner, and Les John. Bob Simpson took on lead vocals at first, but was later replaced by Randy Ruff for almost three years, until Mangrum's return. In 1984, the band released Ready as Hell. Though the name "Black Oak Arkansas" was on the album cover, "Jim Dandy" appeared above it in larger type, almost as if it were a solo effort. Ready as Hell featured a heavier sound with pinch harmonics and keyboards featured throughout. The album was also Rickie Lee Reynolds's first recording with Mangrum since the MCA years. In 1986, The Black Attack Is Back continued the heavy style of the previous album and featured the particularly adventurous track "I Want A Woman With Big Titties". Again, "Jim Dandy" received top billing on the album cover (though "BOA"—the band's initials—did appear above the frontman's name). Like its predecessor, The Black Attack Is Back made no commercial headway. In 1992, the band released Rebound, this time under the band's aegis, with similar results. Things changed little with 1999's The Wild Bunch, which was released under the name "Jim Dandy's Black Oak Arkansas". However, an original member would rejoin Black Oak and appear on this album. Patrick "Dirty" Daugherty rejoined in 1995, rekindling the once-forgotten Black Oak Arkansas. This momentum brought on a surge of performances with other 70's greats such as Foghat, Iron Butterfly, Edgar Winter Group, and many more. During the early 2000s, original lead guitarist Stanley Knight would join them on the road, not playing guitar, but as their soundman. Pat left the band a second time in the mid-2000s.

James Mangrum has continued recording and touring with a series of different Black Oak lineups, up to the present day. Black Oak Arkansas currently enjoys a loyal fan following. However, the later lineups have yet to duplicate the level of album sales that the original lineup generated in the early-mid 1970s. Jim Dandy is credited with inspiring Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth's image and onstage persona. In addition, in the 1980s former Maine State Representative Chris Greeley once 'opened' for them as a member of the rock band Toyz.

Singer Ruby Starr died of cancer on January 14, 1995.

Original Black Oak Arkansas guitarist Stanley Knight (born on February 12, 1949 in Little Rock, Arkansas) died on February 16, 2013, four days after his 64th birthday following a brief battle with cancer.[4]

Black Oak-era guitarist Jack Holder (born Richard Jackson Holder Jr. on August 26, 1952) died from cancer on January 13, 2015 at the age of 62.[5]

Former guitarist Jimmy Henderson (born James David Henderson on May 20, 1954)[2] died on March 5, 2016, at age 61.[6]

Original and long-time guitarist Rickie Lee Reynolds died September 5, 2021, after being hospitalized with COVID-19 and then suffering from kidney and heart failure.[7]


The return to Atlantic Records


The band released an album for Atlantic Records/Atco Records on October 15, 2013, titled Back Thar N' Over Yonder. The album contained five newly recorded songs and 10 previously unreleased 1970s tracks which were produced by Tom Dowd. The new songs featured a line-up of original and current members. Reunited originals Jim "Dandy" Mangrum, Rickie Lee "Risky" Reynolds, Pat "Dirty" Daugherty, and Jimmy "Soybean" Henderson, were joined by current drummer Johnnie Bolin, bassist George Hughen, guitarist Buddy Church and lead guitarist Hal McCormack. The first single off the record "Plugged In And Wired" was released August 26, 2013. The band toured to support the album.


Underdog Heroes


On May 24, 2019, Black Oak Arkansas released Underdog Heroes, their first album consisting of all new recordings in 30 years. The album featured founding members Mangrum and Reynolds.[8]


List of classic band members



Current touring band members



Past members



Session members



Timeline



Discography



Albums



The Knowbody Else


Black Oak Arkansas

Note: all of BOA's original Atco albums have been reissued on CD by Wounded Bird Records in 2000/2001, except High On The Hog, which has been reissued by Rhino Records; also note that in 2013, the first five Atco studio albums (BOA, Keep the Faith, If an Angel Came to See You, High on the Hog, and Street Party) were collected/reissued in a slipcase box set, titled Black Oak Arkansas: Original Album Series [UPC: 081227968373] by Rhino Entertainment; and in 2021, seven albums (X-Rated, Live! Reading '76 [=KBFH Presents: BOA], Race with the Devil, I'd Rather Be Sailing, Ready as Hell, The Black Attack is Back, and Rebound) were collected/reissued in another slipcase box set, titled Jim Dandy to the Rescue [UPC: 889466206726] by Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records.


Jim Dandy (without BOA)


Black Oak


Jim Dandy's Black Oak Arkansas


Compilations



Charted Singles



Books



References


  1. "www.blackoakarkansas.net". Archived from the original on 2013-07-27. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 138. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  3. "Jim Dandy in Oakland, Akansas: BLACK OAK". Youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  4. "Stanley Glen Knight". heathfuneralhome.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  5. "Musician Jack Holder, 62, contributed talents to Memphis acts, national stars". The Commercial Appeal. January 16, 2015.
  6. "James "Jimi" David Henderson Obituary - Pearl, MS". Dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  7. Shafer, Ellise (September 5, 2021). "Rickie Lee Reynolds, Black Oak Arkansas Guitarist, Dies at 72". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  8. "Southern Rock Legends BLACK OAK ARKANSAS Return With New Album 'Underdog Heroes'". Blabbermouth.net. 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  9. "Search Results for Black Oak Arkansas". Riaa.com. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  10. "RPM Magazine - March 16, 1974 - page 18" (PDF).
  11. "RPM Top 100 Albums - September 21, 1974" (PDF).
  12. "RPM Top 100 Albums - March 13, 1976" (PDF).
  13. "RPM Top 100 Albums - August 14, 1976" (PDF).
  14. "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 23, 1974" (PDF).



На других языках

[de] Black Oak Arkansas

Black Oak Arkansas ist eine Southern-Rock-Band aus den USA, die sich nach ihrem Heimatort Black Oak im Bundesstaat Arkansas benannt hat. Die Band feierte ihre größten Erfolge in den 1970er Jahren, als sie insgesamt zehn Alben in den US-Charts platzieren konnte.[1] Ihr Stil ist geprägt vom Spiel mehrerer Gitarren und der kratzigen Stimme des Sängers Jim ‘Dandy’ Mangrum.
- [en] Black Oak Arkansas

[es] Black Oak Arkansas

Black Oak Arkansas es un grupo estadounidense de rock sureño y country rock que tomó prestado el nombre de la ciudad donde fue creada, Black Oak, en Arkansas. La formación logró el reconocimiento de los críticos en los años setenta con diez discos clasificados en los más vendidos. Su estilo se caracteriza por la presencia de múltiples guitarras y por la voz particular y la actitud en concierto de su cantante, Jim "Dandy" Mangrum.


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