Nantucket was a hard rock outfit that had a handful of albums in the late 70s & early 80s. They have maintained a cult fan base that has been screaming for their albums to be issued on CD ever since. This release is... more » their self-titled first album from 1978, making its worldwide CD debut. Wounded Bird. 2003.« less
Nantucket was a hard rock outfit that had a handful of albums in the late 70s & early 80s. They have maintained a cult fan base that has been screaming for their albums to be issued on CD ever since. This release is their self-titled first album from 1978, making its worldwide CD debut. Wounded Bird. 2003.
CD Reviews
Nantucket's Debut Stands the Test of Time
square | 08/10/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You've heard the story countless times. Local band works hard for record deal with major label. Tours endlessly and has great following. Scores major label deal and continues to tour. Band gets "lost" in the schuffle at the record company. It has happened to many a talented band. Here is a band who's name should be on the tip of your tongue, but probably isn't.The six member band Nantucket were (are) extremely talented. The lyrics of Tommy Redd, combined with the pounding drums of Kenny Soule make the building blocks of a great CD. Kenny Soule, by the way, would later go on to some sucess as a member of PKM and Dag. From the opening vocals on "Heartbreaker" to the closing notes on "What's the Matter with Loving You?", there is not a dud on this now, CD. Larry Uzzell's unique voice pulls it all together.
Want more? Check out Tommy doing lead vocals on "Girl, You Blew a Good Thing" with Eddie Blair playing a killer sax. The guys from North Carolina seemed to be on their way with the arrival of this album in 1978. Opening for the likes of AC/DC and Molly Hatchet, everyone agreed that they rocked. I am not sure why Epic never stood firmly behind the band. The music was certainly good enough and did earn some radio airplay in the southeast.The band went on to make 2 additional albums for Epic, one for RCA and a few indies. One is available on CD and would be worth the search is "Still Live After All These Years".If you grew up rockin' in the South in the late 70's through the early 90's, you probably saw Nantucket. Don't dismiss them as just another "Southern Rock" band. There is more to the music than that! Hopefully in the near future, the rest of their albums will be released on CD. If you live in North Carolina, every now and then, they get together and play. You may still be lucky enough to see the guys rock, but if not, buy the CD! Maybe a few more folks will come to know and rock to Nantucket music."
Heartbreaker! Enough said.
Hugh G. Rection | St. Louis | 10/24/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The guy who rated this CD 2-Stars is an idiot. This album is a classic. "Heartbreaker" is an ALL-TIME classic. I paid good money for a knock-off version and now I finally found the real deal. If you like Classic Rock this one has to be in your collection!"
Hangin Tough
Richard Cole Harrington | Chapel Hill, NC United States | 10/31/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This band was one of the true Rocky stories of the 70's music scene. Losing a drummer to a car wreck in a very formidable time in their lives, the core of the band went on to both regional and national acclaim. Noting the humble beginnings of this band arising from the small-town backdrop of the eastern NC coast, they barely had the money to afford a decent amp (or beer at a local surfer hangout known as Paradise Pier). Through the years however, they forged a sound that would change rock n' roll music forever meshing a then "heavy-metal" sound with a funk-fusion energy and vocals very few musicians of the day could rival. God bless bands like this...they are the backbone of American rock and roll."
The great "lost" rock band?
Scott Hedegard | Fayetteville, AR USA | 08/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Rock fans in the late '70's and early '80's in the Carolinas knew very well of this six man hard rock outfit that made seven albums, one live, and made it to opening band status for several bands that were big at the time. Nantucket, however, never quite broke onto radio and make it big in AOR land, which is a mystery because they were a dynamite band.
"Nantucket", the debut, opens with "Heartbreaker", which should have been a classic tune instead of a cult obscurity. The band featured stinging heavy guitars, synthesizers, hooks galore and vocals from Larry Uzzel that should be worthy of any rock vocalist of the time, and in fact, better than most.
Although a North Carolina band, they did not cater to the Skynrd or Molly Hatchet crowd, although chief songwriter Tommy Redd certainly looked the part. Nantucket was much more in the vein of Boston, the "Mirrors" era Blue Oyster Cult and other bands of that ilk. Indeed, it would have been great to hear Nantucket over the likes of irritating outfits like Journey or the overblown histronics of Lou Gramm in Foreigner or the putrid preachy voice of Dennis DeYoung in Styx (gag).
Like so many other outfits that the record companies couldn't figure out how to market, Nantucket slipped through the cracks into obscurity until Wounded Bird Records picked up their first three albums and re-released them on CD due to popular demand from those who remember them. This should be a tip-off - when demand for a band whose star almost but didn't quite shine 20 + years ago is strong enough to resurrect their music, there must be something to it.
Great harmonies, heavy guitar, sense of humor - a band that should have been a household name but is lucky enough to get a second shot. It's worth the wait to hear these guys again."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1