Photo: [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The band Molly Hatchet has developed a very loyal following since their debut album in 1978. However, like many classic rock bands, Molly Hatchet has undergone numerous personal changes. Their debut album featured a lineup of Dave Hlubek, Steve Holland, Danny Joe Brown, Duane Roland, Bruce Crump, and Banner Thomas. In 1985, guitarist Bobby Ingram joined the band. Over the years, the band has sadly seen the passing of many of the group’s members. Danny Joe Brown, Duane Roland, Bruce Crump, Banner Thomas, Riff West, Dave Hlubek, and Phil McCormick have all passed away.
# 10 – Gator Country
There is nothing like a band singing about their roots. Molly Hatchet makes it quite clear in the great song “Gator Country” where they are from. This song is Southern Rock all the way. A lovely extended guitar solo at the song’s end defines that these guys were the real deal. This is great stuff and the perfect way to open our Top 10 Molly Hatchet Songs List.
# 9 – Son of the South
The name may be Molly Hatchet, but this is definitely a different band that performed on the previous song “Gator.” The Molly Hatchet song “Son of the South” was released on the Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge in 2005. It’s a heavy song that barely represents the band’s southern roots. However, the backing female vocals on the chorus is a reminder of the band’s origins. This one may be heavy, but it’s still great and represents the 21st-century Molly Hatchet.
# 8 – Silent Reign Of Heroes
Our second of two late-period Molly Hatchet songs. The tremendous epic track “Silent Reign of Heroes” was released in 1998 on their album entitled appropriately Silent Reign Of Heroes. Coming in at over eight minutes, the track “Silent Reign of Heroes” stands as one of the longest Molly Hatchet songs the band ever recorded. It’s heavy, it jams, and it’s a powerful testament to the spirit of the band that never stopped playing their hearts out. I love this one!
# 7 – Sweet Dixie
Oh, that Sweet, Sweet Dixie music makes you want to jump up and dance. This great Molly Hatchet song has a party band written all over it. Good Time Southern rock and roll never sounded so sweet. “Sweet Dixie” was released on the No Guts…No Glory album. The record was released in 1983. The song “Sweet Dixie” was the B side to the album’s only single, “Kinda Like Love.”
# 6 – Beatin’ The Odds
Now, this is what you call a riff. The title track to the Beatin’ The Odds album presented fans with a guitar lick a bit reminiscent of some of Jimmy Page’s signature Led Zeppelin licks. This great track was released in 1980. The band’s third album featured a new lead singer named Jimmy Farrar. The band Judas Priest released a song called “Breaking The Law,” in the same year, similar to Molly Hatchet’s “Beatin’ The Odds.”
# 5 – Whiskey Man
On this great Molly Hatchet track, one can hear Lynyrd Skynyrd’s influence on the band. It’s not just the similar titles between Molly Hatchet’s “Whiskey Man” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Whiskey Rock and Roller” it’s the vocal inflections by Molly Hatchet’s lead singer Danny Joe Brown that reflect the spirit of Ronnie Van Zandt. “Whiskey Man” was the opening track from the band’s 1979 Flirtin’ With Disaster album.
# 4 – Dreams I’ll Never See
On the band’s debut album, Molly Hatchet decided to record and release a cover of the Allman Brothers Band’s legendary song “Dreams.” Molly Hatchet’s version was released with an extended title labeled “Dreams I’ll Never See.” It’s not easy to cover a song from such a legendary band and make it work. Gregg Allman is simply one of the greatest rock voices in history. Many have regarded Duane Allman as the greatest slide guitar player in classic rock history. However, Molly Hatchet made it work for one simple reason….they made the song their own.
# 3 – Fall of the Peacemakers
Many Molly Hatchet fans name “Fall Of The Peacemakers” as their favorite Molly Hatchet song. And they have good reason to label it as one of the best. The band delivered a song full of substance on this one. The song “Fall Of The Peacemaker” was released on the band’s fifth studio album. The album also featured the return of original lead singer Danny Joe Brown after a two-album absence.
# 2 – The Rambler
The Molly Hatchet song “The Rambler” was released in 1980 on their third album entitled Beatin’ The Odds. The song “The Rambler” was released as the second single from the album after the initial release of the title track as the LP’s first single. The song starts out with a beautiful guitar riff embraced by a fantastic synth string line. The band’s new vocalist Jimmy Farrar delivered a scoring power ballad Southern rock vocal that easily endeared him to the world of Molly Hatchet, This one is easily Molly Hatchet’s greatest rock ballad.
# 1 – Flirtin’ With Disaster
Well, it’s pretty much impossible to pick any song besides “Flirtin’ With Disaster” as the choice for the Number one spot on our Top 10 Essential Molly Hatchet Songs list. Molly Hatchet’s signature song was released on their 1979 album Flirtin’ With Disaster. The Flirtin’ With Disaster album was the band’s sophomore record. It was by far the band’s most successful album of their career. Interestingly, “Flirtin’ With Disaster” was not released as the first single off the album. It was not even the second single released off the record. The record company originally released “Jukin City” and “It’s All Over Now” as the first two singles from the record. The song “Flirtin’ With Disaster” came close to breaking the Billboard Hot 100 singles, stalling at No. 42. However, the song did stay in the top 100 for close to three months.
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Updated February 16, 2024
10 Essential Molly Hatchet Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
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