This wraps up my southern week…I hope you enjoyed it. Toy Caldwell was their guitar player and he could match up with any guitarist from other bands.
This song was on their self-titled debut album released in 1973. Even though Take the Highway might not be as famous as some of the band’s other hits, it’s still a total winner that deserves a spot on playlists.
There is no Marshall Tucker in The Marshall Tucker Band. The name refers to a blind piano tuner from Columbia, South Carolina. They saw the name on a door key where they used to rehearse and decided it would make a good name for their band.
The mix between the flute (Not a southern rock standard) at the beginning with Caldwell’s great guitar licks along with his powerful singing sets this song off.
This album contained the classic Can’t You See. Their 1973 album peaked at #29 on the Billboard 100 in 1973.
Many say that Toy Caldwell was the soul of that band. He was a Marine in the 60s and served in Vietnam. After getting injured he was able to go home and started to play music with his high school friends. Toy and his brother helped start Marshall Tucker.
Toy left Marshall Tucker in 1984. Contributing to his leaving was the fact that his brother… co-founder of the band and bass guitarist Tommy Caldwell, was killed at age 30 in an automobile accident on April 28, 1980. Toy’s other brother Tim Caldwell, on March 28, 1980, one month before Tommy’s death, was killed at age 25 in a collision in South Carolina.
Gregg Allman: When we wanted to get away from our old ladies, we’d head on down to Grant’s Lounge, which was a great place to hang out. We saw a lot of bands, including Marshall Tucker, or Mother Tucker, as we called them. Toy Caldwell was a good friend of mine…was Marshall Tucker—he made that band what it was.
Take The Highway
Take the highway
Lord knows I’ve been gone too long Lot of sad days One day you’ll turn around and I’ll be goneAnd the time has finally come
For me to pack my bags and walk away Hear me sayI’ll be back someday
But darling, please don’t wait for me too long There’s just one place I can’t stay Memories of your love still lingers onAnd the time has finally come
For me to pack my bags and walk away Hear me sayI’ll be back someday
But darling, please don’t wait for me too long There’s just one place I can’t stay Memories of your love still lingers onAnd the time has finally come
For me to pack my bags and walk away Make me stayTake the highway
Take the highway Take the highway Take the highwayAnd the time has finally come
For me to pack my bags and walk away Here me say…