VA - Rebel Rousers: Southern Rock Classics (1992)

Rebel Rousers: Southern Rock Classics isn't the definitive collection suggested by its title, but it still manages to offer a pretty decent overview of this oft-neglected genre. This compilation primarily consists of the Southern rock tunes that managed to cross over to pop radio. That might sound limiting, but the tunes chosen here represent a pretty diverse cross section of material, including everything from the Southern-fried soul of tunes like Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" to the slicker, more radio-friendly stylings of .38 Special's "Caught Up in You" and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils' "Jackie Blue." There are also a few epic-length rockers thrown in with the Allman Brothers' "Statesboro Blues" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," both represented with sweaty, intense live versions that show off the no-frills appeal of Southern rock. Veteran fans of the genre will be pleased by a few lesser-known choices that round out the album, the best being Travis Wammack's Dixie-flavored take on the James Gang classic "Funk #49." The problem with Rebel Rousers: Southern Rock Classics lies in the songs that are omitted due to licensing issues: Important Southern rock outfits like the Charlie Daniels Band, Blackfoot, and Molly Hatchet get ignored completely on this disc. Despite these unfortunate omissions, Rebel Rousers: Southern Rock Classics offers a consistent selection of favorites from this genre, making this album a decent primer for the uninitiated.