Underdog (Atlanta Rhythm Section album)
Encyclopedia
Underdog is an album by the Atlanta Rhythm Section
, released in 1979 by Polydor Records
. It is their first album to feature drummer
Roy Yeager
since former drummer Robert Nix left the band near the end of 1978. The album reached number 26 on the U.S. Billboard 200
albums chart, and was certified gold by the RIAA
in June 1979.
The album contained two songs which reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart, "Do it or Die" and "Spooky
".
The latter was a re-recording of the 1968 number three hit for Classics IV
, a pop rock
group whose lineup included members who would later join Atlanta Rhythm Section.
Atlanta Rhythm Section
The Atlanta Rhythm Section, sometimes abbreviated ARS, is an American southern rock band. In 1970 former members of the Candymen and the Classics IV joined together and became the session band for the newly opened Studio One in Doraville, Georgia....
, released in 1979 by Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
. It is their first album to feature drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Roy Yeager
Roy Yeager
Roy Yeager is an American musician.His musical career started off when he moved to Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 14. Roy met Bobby Sowell in high school in 1964 and soon they were playing gigs, as a duo and with bands...
since former drummer Robert Nix left the band near the end of 1978. The album reached number 26 on the U.S. Billboard 200
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...
albums chart, and was certified gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
in June 1979.
The album contained two songs which reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart, "Do it or Die" and "Spooky
Spooky (classic song)
"Spooky" was originally an instrumental song performed by saxophonist Mike Sharpe , written by Shapiro and Harry Middlebrooks, Jr., which first charted in 1967 hitting #57 on the US pop charts. Its best known version was created by The Classics IV when guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie...
".
The latter was a re-recording of the 1968 number three hit for Classics IV
Classics IV
The Classics IV were a band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965, given credit for beginning the "soft southern rock" sound...
, a pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
group whose lineup included members who would later join Atlanta Rhythm Section.
Chart performance
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 26 |
Track listing
- "Do It or Die" - 3:28
- "Born Ready" - 3:53
- "I Hate the Blues/Let's Get Stoned" - 7:10
- "Indigo Passion - 3:55
- "While Time is Left" - 5:20
- "It's Only Music" - 5:32
- "SpookySpooky (classic song)"Spooky" was originally an instrumental song performed by saxophonist Mike Sharpe , written by Shapiro and Harry Middlebrooks, Jr., which first charted in 1967 hitting #57 on the US pop charts. Its best known version was created by The Classics IV when guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie...
" - 4:58 - "My Song" - 3:15
Personnel
- Buddy BuieBuddy BuieBuddy Buie is a songwriter, producer, and publisher. He is most commonly associated with Roy Orbison, The Classics IV and The Atlanta Rhythm Section.-Biography:...
- vocals (background), vocals - Ronnie Hammond - vocals
- Barry Bailey - acousticAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - James B. Cobb, Jr. - guitar, percussion, vocals (background)
- Paul Goddard - bass, double bass
- Roy YeagerRoy YeagerRoy Yeager is an American musician.His musical career started off when he moved to Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 14. Roy met Bobby Sowell in high school in 1964 and soon they were playing gigs, as a duo and with bands...
- drums, percussion - Robert Nix - background vocals, drums
- Dean DaughtryDean DaughtryDean Daughtry is an American musician. He was the keyboard player with the Classics IV after Joe Wilson departed. They had a 1968 #3 US/#46 UK hit with 'Spooky'. He joined the Atlanta Rhythm Section as keyboardist in 1971. They had a #5 US hit in 1977 with "So in to You".-References:...
- keyboards