Pirates of the Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Pirates of the Mississippi was an American country music
group. It was founded in 1987 by Rich Alves (guitar
, Hammond organ
, background vocals
), Bill McCorvey (guitar, lead vocals) Jimmy Lowe (drums
), Pat Severs (steel guitar
, Dobro
), and Dean Townson (bass guitar
). Under this lineup, Pirates of the Mississippi made its national debut in 1990 with a cover of Hank Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues
". This cover was the first single from their self-titled debut album. "Honky Tonk Blues" was followed by ten more singles, all of which charted between 1990 and 1995. in that same time span, the band would release four more studio albums and a compilation album. Severs was replaced by Greg Trostle in 1994, and two years later, the five members parted ways. In 2000, Alves and McCorvey reunited and began recording again as a duo, once again using the name Pirates of the Mississippi. The re-established lineup recorded another album, entitled Heaven and a Dixie Night, in 2006 on CBuJ Entertainment.
session musicians Bill McCorvey (lead vocals), Rich Alves (guitar), Dean Townson (bass guitar), Jimmy Lowe (drums) and Pat Severs (steel guitar) started performing together. Originally, they identified themselves as the We Don't Want a Freaking Record Deal Band, but upon witnessing a group of fans wearing clogs
, the group changed its name to The Cloggers.
The Cloggers began playing various clubs around Nashville. Eventually, they attracted the attention of an A&R
representative at Capitol Records
, who signed them to a recording contract in 1990. Executives at Capitol Records disliked the band's name, and suggested that they change it. The band then chose the name name Pirates of the Mississippi because they thought Lowe resembled a pirate.
. This album produced four chart singles for the band. First was a cover of Hank Williams's "Honky Tonk Blues
", which the band took to number 26 on the country charts. Although "Rollin' Home" peaked outside the top 40, the album's third single, "Feed Jake
", became the band's biggest hit at number 15. The song, about a man who reminisces about a childhood friend while discussing societal stereotypes towards homeless people and homosexuals, was interpreted by some fans as as having a pro-gay theme. "Speak of the Devil", the last single from Pirates of the Mississippi, also made the country top 40. In 1991, the band received the Top New Vocal Group award from the Academy of Country Music
.
1991's Walk the Plank
, their second album for Capitol. produced the band's second highest-charting hit, the number 22 "'Til I'm Holding You Again". After a restructuring of Capitol Nashville, the band was transferred to Liberty Records
, where they would release their third and fourth albums: A Street Man Named Desire
(1992) and Dream You
(1993). Each album's title track was the only charting single from it: "A Street Man Named Desire" peaked at number 56 and "Dream You" at number 63.
By 1994, a compilation album entitled The Best of Pirates of the Mississippi
was issued. This compilation included several tracks from their first four albums, and newly recorded remixes. The same year, Severs was replaced with Greg Trostle on steel guitar, and the band parted ways with Liberty. In 1995, the band signed to Giant Records, releasing the non-charting singles "You Could Do Better" and "Sure Sign" for an album which would also have been titled Sure Sign.
Later on, the band released Paradise
, its only physical album for Giant. Despite producing no singles, this album's title track would later be a Top 40 hit for John Anderson
that year. Pirates of the Mississippi disbanded in 1996, with Alves and McCorvey choosing to focus on their songwriting careers. Among McCorvey's cuts were "Lonely and Gone
", a Top 5 hit for Montgomery Gentry
, and "I'm Not Gonna Do Anything Without You", a number 31 duet by Mark Wills
with Jamie O'Neal
in 2001.
, a talent show
which originally aired on the USA Networks before transferring to NBC
in 2008. The program has since been cancelled. Alves and McCorvey were signed to CBuJ Entertainment in 2006, releasing the album Heaven and a Dixie Night
that year. McCorvey has also founded a side project named Buffalo Rome. Original bass guitarist Dean Townson died of unknown causes on March 25, 2010, at the age of 50.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
group. It was founded in 1987 by Rich Alves (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, background vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
), Bill McCorvey (guitar, lead vocals) Jimmy Lowe (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), Pat Severs (steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
, Dobro
Dobro
Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
), and Dean Townson (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
). Under this lineup, Pirates of the Mississippi made its national debut in 1990 with a cover of Hank Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues
Honky Tonk Blues
"Honky Tonk Blues" was a hit country and western song written and performed by Hank Williams. The original 1952 recording was a major hit, and it later became a hit for later-day superstar Charley Pride.-Song history:...
". This cover was the first single from their self-titled debut album. "Honky Tonk Blues" was followed by ten more singles, all of which charted between 1990 and 1995. in that same time span, the band would release four more studio albums and a compilation album. Severs was replaced by Greg Trostle in 1994, and two years later, the five members parted ways. In 2000, Alves and McCorvey reunited and began recording again as a duo, once again using the name Pirates of the Mississippi. The re-established lineup recorded another album, entitled Heaven and a Dixie Night, in 2006 on CBuJ Entertainment.
History
Pirates of the Mississippi was formed in 1987, when NashvilleNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
session musicians Bill McCorvey (lead vocals), Rich Alves (guitar), Dean Townson (bass guitar), Jimmy Lowe (drums) and Pat Severs (steel guitar) started performing together. Originally, they identified themselves as the We Don't Want a Freaking Record Deal Band, but upon witnessing a group of fans wearing clogs
Clog (shoe)
A clog is a type of footwear made in part or completely from wood.The Oxford English Dictionary defines a clog as a "thick piece of wood", and later as a "wooden soled overshoe" and a "shoe with a thick wooden sole"....
, the group changed its name to The Cloggers.
The Cloggers began playing various clubs around Nashville. Eventually, they attracted the attention of an A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
representative at Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, who signed them to a recording contract in 1990. Executives at Capitol Records disliked the band's name, and suggested that they change it. The band then chose the name name Pirates of the Mississippi because they thought Lowe resembled a pirate.
Debut album
In 1990, the band released its self-titled debut albumPirates of the Mississippi (album)
Pirates of the Mississippi is the self-titled debut album of the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. It was released in 1990 on Capitol Records Nashville and contains four singles: "Honky Tonk Blues" , "Rollin' Home", "Feed Jake", and "Speak of the Devil"...
. This album produced four chart singles for the band. First was a cover of Hank Williams's "Honky Tonk Blues
Honky Tonk Blues
"Honky Tonk Blues" was a hit country and western song written and performed by Hank Williams. The original 1952 recording was a major hit, and it later became a hit for later-day superstar Charley Pride.-Song history:...
", which the band took to number 26 on the country charts. Although "Rollin' Home" peaked outside the top 40, the album's third single, "Feed Jake
Feed Jake
"Feed Jake" is the title of a song written by Danny "Bear" Mayo and recorded by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. It was released in February 1991 as the third single from the band's 1990 self-titled debut album...
", became the band's biggest hit at number 15. The song, about a man who reminisces about a childhood friend while discussing societal stereotypes towards homeless people and homosexuals, was interpreted by some fans as as having a pro-gay theme. "Speak of the Devil", the last single from Pirates of the Mississippi, also made the country top 40. In 1991, the band received the Top New Vocal Group award from the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
.
1991's Walk the Plank
Walk the Plank (Pirates of the Mississippi album)
Walk the Plank is the second studio album from the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. Released in 1991 on Capitol Records Nashville, it features the singles "Fighting for You", "Till I'm Holding You Again", and "Too Much", which was co-written by Lee Roy Parnell and Guy Clark...
, their second album for Capitol. produced the band's second highest-charting hit, the number 22 "'Til I'm Holding You Again". After a restructuring of Capitol Nashville, the band was transferred to Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
, where they would release their third and fourth albums: A Street Man Named Desire
A Street Man Named Desire
A Street Man Named Desire is the third studio album by American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. Released in 1992 as their first album for Liberty Records, it produced a minor chart single in its title track, which was also the only chart single from it.-Track listing:#"Don't Quit...
(1992) and Dream You
Dream You
Dream You is the fourth studio album by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. Released in 1993 as their final studio album for Liberty Records, it features the single "Dream You", which peaked at #68 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
(1993). Each album's title track was the only charting single from it: "A Street Man Named Desire" peaked at number 56 and "Dream You" at number 63.
By 1994, a compilation album entitled The Best of Pirates of the Mississippi
The Best of Pirates of the Mississippi
The Best of Pirates of the Mississippi is a compilation album of songs recorded by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi...
was issued. This compilation included several tracks from their first four albums, and newly recorded remixes. The same year, Severs was replaced with Greg Trostle on steel guitar, and the band parted ways with Liberty. In 1995, the band signed to Giant Records, releasing the non-charting singles "You Could Do Better" and "Sure Sign" for an album which would also have been titled Sure Sign.
Later on, the band released Paradise
Paradise (Pirates of the Mississippi album)
Paradise is the fifth studio album, and the sixth album overall, by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. It was released in 1995 as their only album for the Giant label, and it did not produce any chart singles...
, its only physical album for Giant. Despite producing no singles, this album's title track would later be a Top 40 hit for John Anderson
John Anderson (musician)
John David Anderson is an American country music artist with a successful career that has lasted more than 30 years...
that year. Pirates of the Mississippi disbanded in 1996, with Alves and McCorvey choosing to focus on their songwriting careers. Among McCorvey's cuts were "Lonely and Gone
Lonely and Gone
"Lonely and Gone" is the title of a song recorded by country music duo Montgomery Gentry. It is the second single released from their debut album Tattoos & Scars. It peaked at #5, thus becoming their first top 5 hit. The song was co-written by Bill McCorvey of Pirates of the Mississippi, Dave...
", a Top 5 hit for Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry. The two began performing in the 1990s as part of a band which also included Eddie Montgomery's brother John Michael Montgomery, and founded the existing duo in 1999.Signed to Columbia Records,...
, and "I'm Not Gonna Do Anything Without You", a number 31 duet by Mark Wills
Mark Wills
Daryl Mark Williams is an American country music artist, best known professionally as Mark Wills. Signed to Mercury Records between 1996 and 2003, he released five studio albums for the label — Mark Wills, Wish You Were Here, Permanently, Loving Every Minute and And the Crowd Goes Wild — as well...
with Jamie O'Neal
Jamie O'Neal
Jamie O'Neal is a contemporary country singer and songwriter who has had success in the United States. She was born Jamie Murphy in Sydney, Australia, to parents Jimmy and Julie Murphy, who were also professional musicians...
in 2001.
Reunion and statuses of former members
In 2000, Rich Alves and Bill McCorvey decided to reunite as a duo, again assuming the name Pirates of the Mississippi. Three years later, original steel guitarist Pat Severs joined the house band on Nashville StarNashville Star
Nashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
, a talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
which originally aired on the USA Networks before transferring to NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 2008. The program has since been cancelled. Alves and McCorvey were signed to CBuJ Entertainment in 2006, releasing the album Heaven and a Dixie Night
Heaven and a Dixie Night
Heaven and a Dixie Night is an album recorded by the American country music group Pirates of the Mississippi. Released in 2006, it was their first album since the original group disbanded in 1996. Here, Pirates of the Mississippi has been reunited as a duo composed of lead singer Bill McCorvey and...
that year. McCorvey has also founded a side project named Buffalo Rome. Original bass guitarist Dean Townson died of unknown causes on March 25, 2010, at the age of 50.
Members
- Rich Alves – background vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, organ (1987–1996, 2000–2007) - Jimmy Lowe – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1987–1996) - Bill McCorvey – lead vocals, guitars (1987–1996, 2000–2007)
- Pat Severs – steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
, DobroDobroDobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
(1987–1994) - Dean Townson – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1987–1996) - Greg Trostle – steel guitar, Dobro (1994–1996)
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
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| Pirates of the Mississippi Pirates of the Mississippi (album) Pirates of the Mississippi is the self-titled debut album of the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. It was released in 1990 on Capitol Records Nashville and contains four singles: "Honky Tonk Blues" , "Rollin' Home", "Feed Jake", and "Speak of the Devil"... |
|
12 | 80 | — |
Music Canada Music Canada was a Canadian music television miniseries which aired approximately monthly on CBC Television from 1966 to 1967.-Premise:This series featured various special productions of music and dance, from classical to modern styles.-Scheduling:... : Gold |
| Walk the Plank Walk the Plank (Pirates of the Mississippi album) Walk the Plank is the second studio album from the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. Released in 1991 on Capitol Records Nashville, it features the singles "Fighting for You", "Till I'm Holding You Again", and "Too Much", which was co-written by Lee Roy Parnell and Guy Clark... |
|
39 | — | 26 | |
| A Street Man Named Desire A Street Man Named Desire A Street Man Named Desire is the third studio album by American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. Released in 1992 as their first album for Liberty Records, it produced a minor chart single in its title track, which was also the only chart single from it.-Track listing:#"Don't Quit... |
Liberty Records Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:... |
75 | — | — | |
| Dream You Dream You Dream You is the fourth studio album by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. Released in 1993 as their final studio album for Liberty Records, it features the single "Dream You", which peaked at #68 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts... |
|
— | — | — | |
| The Best of Pirates of the Mississippi The Best of Pirates of the Mississippi The Best of Pirates of the Mississippi is a compilation album of songs recorded by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi... |
|
— | — | — | |
| Paradise Paradise (Pirates of the Mississippi album) Paradise is the fifth studio album, and the sixth album overall, by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. It was released in 1995 as their only album for the Giant label, and it did not produce any chart singles... |
|
— | — | — | |
| Heaven and a Dixie Night Heaven and a Dixie Night Heaven and a Dixie Night is an album recorded by the American country music group Pirates of the Mississippi. Released in 2006, it was their first album since the original group disbanded in 1996. Here, Pirates of the Mississippi has been reunited as a duo composed of lead singer Bill McCorvey and... |
|
— | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 1990 | "Honky Tonk Blues Honky Tonk Blues "Honky Tonk Blues" was a hit country and western song written and performed by Hank Williams. The original 1952 recording was a major hit, and it later became a hit for later-day superstar Charley Pride.-Song history:... " |
26 | 12 | Pirates of the Mississippi |
| "Rollin' Home" | 49 | 40 | ||
| 1991 | "Feed Jake Feed Jake "Feed Jake" is the title of a song written by Danny "Bear" Mayo and recorded by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. It was released in February 1991 as the third single from the band's 1990 self-titled debut album... " |
15 | 12 | |
| "Speak of the Devil" | 29 | 20 | ||
| "Fighting for You" | 41 | 51 | Walk the Plank | |
| 1992 | "Til I'm Holding You Again" | 22 | 28 | |
| "Too Much" | 36 | 54 | ||
| "A Street Man Named Desire" | 56 | 53 | A Street Man Named Desire | |
| 1993 | "Dream You" | 63 | 66 | Dream You |
| 1995 | "You Could Do Better" | — | — | Sure Sign |
| "Sure Sign" | — | — | ||
| 1996 | "Let the Joneses Win" | — | — | Paradise |
| 2006 | "Drinkin' Money (T.G.I. Party Time)" | — | — | Heaven and a Dixie Night |
| "Kickin' Up Dust" | — | — | ||
| 2007 | "Fish Bait" | — | — | |
| "Heaven and a Dixie Night" | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Honky Tonk Blues" | |
| 1991 | "Rollin' Home" | Michael Salomon Michael Salomon Michael Salomon is a music video/film director, who has directed many music videos, including many of Toby Keith's music videos... |
| "Feed Jake" | Deaton Flanigen Deaton-Flanigen Productions Deaton-Flanigen Productions is a music video directing duo composed of Robert Deaton III and George Flanigen IV. The two have directed multiple music videos, primarily in the field of country music... |
|
| "Fighting for You" | Marius Penczner | |
| 1992 | "Too Much" | Sherman Halsey Sherman Halsey Sherman Halsey is an American music video and television director, producer, and artist manager. Sherman Halsey has produced and directed hundreds of television shows and music videos for artists such as Tim McGraw, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, BB King, Michael Bolton, Dwight Yoakam, and many... |
| "A Street Man Named Desire" | Joanne Gardner | |
| 1993 | "Dream You" | Roger Pistole |
| 1995 | "You Could Do Better" | |
| 2006 | "Kickin' Up Dust" | |
| 2007 | "Fish Bait" |