“The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life,” was a phrase coined by Frank Zappa to describe his 1988 touring band that broke up before most people got a chance to hear how great they were. While many hardcore rock have heard of the Dixie Dregs, there are so many who have not, and that is almost criminal because the Dregs were on a level of their own. The Dixie Dregs music has always been difficult to classify or label. Like many great classic Progressive Rock bands such as The Moody Blues, Rush, Jethro Tull, and even Queen and Led Zeppelin, the Dixie Dregs music crossed many genres.
Perhaps more than any other band, record stores had a difficult time finding the right section of music to place their albums. Were they Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, Jazz, Country, Southern Rock, Progressive Rock, Funk, Classical or Baroque? In short, they were all of those styles. Their music was so original; radio stayed away from them because they did not fit any specific format. Nonetheless, the band did form a large cult following who collected every album the band released and flocked to the band’s unforgettable live concerts.
The Dixie Dregs were formed in the early 1970s by guitarist Steve Morse and bassist Andy West at the University Of Miami’s School of Music. At the school, Morse and West met violinist Allen Sloan, keyboardist Steve Davidowski, and drummer Rod Morgenstein. Jazz keyboardist T. Lavitz who would later replace Davidowski on piano, was also attending the school at the same time. The University Of Miami’s school of Music served as the breeding ground for many jazz legends including Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, and Danny Gottlieb.
The band would go through several lineup changes over the next 40 years. Bassist Dave La Rue would replace Any West, bluegrass violinist Mark O’Connor and former Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jerry Goodman would also perform in the band. The band’s members would occasionally do side projects as well. Steve Morse would release a series of spectacular solo albums and form the three-piece Steve Morse Band. In 1985, Steve Morse joined the legendary progressive rock band Kansas as the groups new lead guitarist. Steve Morse recorded two powerhouse albums with the band entitled Power in 1985 and In The Spirit of Things in 1988.
Kansas was not the only legendary band that Steve Morse has performed in besides the Dixie Dregs. In 1994, the classic rock world announced the news that Steve Morse had joined forces with Deep Purple as the band’s new guitarist replacing the iconic Richie Blackmore. As a member of Deep Purple, Steve Morse has spent twenty-two years with the band and recorded seven studio albums with the group including the albums Purpendicular in 1996, Abandon in 1998, Bananas in 2003, Rapture of the Deep in 2005, Now What? in 2013 and Infinite in 2016.
Interestingly, Steve Morse has recorded almost as many studio albums with Deep Purple as he has with The Dixie Dregs. In the 21st Century, Steve Morse has also collaborated, formed, and played in the bands Living Loud, Anglefire, and Flying Colors.
Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein has also been busy outside of his career with the Dixie Dregs. In the 1990’s, Rod Morgenstien joined the metal band, Winger. Morgensteins’s virtuoso drumming skills were also a major force in the jazz fusion band Jazz Is Dead. The Jazz is Dead band had garnered a large cult following of fans who loved hearing Jazz is Dead’s jazz fusion interpretations of classic Grateful Dead material.
The Dixie Dregs have released seven studio albums and four live albums over the past 40 years. The group has recorded and performed sporadically over time, but when they entered the studio or set foot on the stage together, they were just as spectacular as ever.
The band released their debut album entitled debut album entitled Freefall in 1977. The following year in 1978 they released the album What If. The Dixie Dregs continued their yearly album release schedule in 1979 with the release of the album Night Of The Living Dregs. In 1980, the band released their fourth album, Dregs Of The Earth.
The band shortened their name from the Dixie Dregs to simply just The Dregs in 1981. With the name change the band released the album Unsung Heroes. The band would release one more album in the 1980s entitled Industry Standard in 1982. With the release of Industry Standard the band would end their six-year streak of releasing an album every year. The band would not release another album for twelve years. Their final studio album was released in 1994 entitled Full Circle.
Our Top 15 Essential Dixie Dregs songs list looks at some of the band’s most important material. Like we said before, the Dixie Dregs music crossed many genres. However, the Dixie Dregs were also revolutionary in the way they utilized the violin in their music. The violin was a distinctive part of their sound much in the way the flute defined the sound of Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson’s Jethro Tull and the Dixie Dregs were very comparable in how utilized a traditional classical instrument and turned it into a powerful rock and roll ax. The biggest difference between Jethro Tull and The Dixie Dregs was the Dregs music was ninety-nine percent instrumental.
If you have never heard of the Dixie Dregs well then this will be “The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life,” We think this is a great place to get started. If you’re a long time Dixie Dregs fan let us know how we did and add any comments you think would be helpful in promoting the music of the great Dixie Dregs.
15 Essential Dixie Dregs Songs
# 15 – FREE FALL
We begin our Essential Dixie Dregs songs list 15 with the opening track from the band’s debut album in 1977 entitled Free Fall. The song opens with Steve Morse’s guitar followed by the melody played on violin by Allan Sloan. Andy west comes in with a bass solo around the 36 sec. mark, followed by a synth solo by Steve Davidowski with Allan Sloan doubling on violin. More great fiddle work around 1:39. A keyboard solo at 2:00 is juxtaposed against Allan Sloan’s violin work.. Steve Morse comes in around the three-minute mark with Steve Davidowski doubling on keys to finish out the track.
# 14 – COUNTRY HOUSE SHUFFLE
This great Dixie Dregs song was released on the album Night of the Living Dregs in 1979. This one starts off with an African sounding drum solo by Rod Morgenstein which evolves quickly into a shuffle rhythm followed by the intro of bass doubling over the guitar, then the main melody of violin over the guitar, Rod’s shuffle rhythm keeping everything together. Extreme “Dregginess.”
# 13 – ICE CAKES
“Ice Cakes,” was released on the album What If in 1978. The song “Ice Cakes,” begins with Steve Morse doing the really tasty chicken finger picking’ thing on guitar on top of an amazing linear funk pattern played by Rod Morgenstein. Perhaps the coolest thing about this is that you can hear Rod grunting and groaning in the background as they play. After Steve Morse’s incredible solo the synth and violin battle back and forth before we come back to Rod’s Funky grunting drumbeat, the main theme, and the chicken picking from the beginning. Rod does something really cool with a single bass drum at 4:32 that you will have never heard before. Don’t miss it.
# 12 – WAGES OF WEIRDNESS
Continuing with our 15 Essential Dixie Dregs songs we turn to another song that uses the country-picking guitar style over a funky drum and bass pattern. It then goes into a crazy jazzy piano part and then back again. Amazing playing throughout at breakneck speed. The song ends on a riff on the theme from the famous western The Magnificent Seven (more tongue-in-cheek humor).
#11 – LEPRECHAUN PROMENADE
“Leprechaun Promenade,” was released on the Night Of The Living Dregs album in 1979. This dark and scary track is full of great violin work with a middle section that is reminiscent of the dreamy section in the middle of Led Zeppelin’s“Whole Lotta’ Love.” followed by a shuffle rhythm from a monster movie. A true Dixie Dregs classic.
#10 – ASSEMBLY LINE
“Assembly Line,” is the opening track on 1982’s Industry Standard. It opens with Andy and Rod playing a very industrial sounding bass and drum pattern, Mark O’Connor and Steve Morse come in on violin and guitar as the song unfolds. Amazing solos by everyone on this tune, especially T. Lavtz’s piano and Rod’s smoking drum solo.
# 9 – THE BASH
From Night Of The Living Dregs 1979, “The Bash” is a mash-up of two Country Western and Bluegrass tunes. Always a crowd pleaser at any Dregs show.
# 8 – NIGHT OF THE LIVING DREGS
The great title track from the album Night Of The Living Dregs released in 1979, The song features Andy West playing his tail off on bass with Rod’s thunderous double bass drumming throughout the whole tune. Great guitar and violin solos as usual.
# 7 – ODYSSEY
The great Dixie Dregs song “Odyssey,” was released on the What If album released in 1979. “Odyssey,” is sort of a musical journey. It takes the listener through various musical genres, tempos, and time signatures. Steve’s opening guitar line is reminiscent of Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite Of Spring.” The whole band comes in with a Kansas meets Jethro Tull style of playing. The recording of Odyssey is the ultimate jazz fusion meets progressive rock melting pot of originality and pure rock and roll joy.
# 6 – NIGHT MEETS LIGHT
Continuing with our Essential Dixie Dregs songs list we once again return to the great What If? album for the track “Night meets Light.” The track is one of three Dixie Dregs songs including “Hereafter,” and “Day 444,” that have an open airy feeling to them, with no apparent time signature or pulse, but rather just interweaving textures.
# 5 – GO FOR BAROQUE
The great Dixie Dregs song “Go For Baroque,” is the closing track on the Unsung Heroes album that was released in 1981. The song was an all acoustic number performed in a style (Dreggified of course), The music is as tongue in cheek as the title.
# 4 – WHAT IF?
The Dixie Dregs song“ What If” is the title track from their 1979 album What If? The song is a ballad that features one of Steve Morse’s most passionate solos. One of those great late night drive home songs. It is reminiscent of “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” From Jeff Beck’s Blow By Blow
# 3 – BLOODSUCKING LEECHES
The Dixie Dregs song “Bloodsucking Leeches,” was released on the band’s Industry Standard album which was released in 1982. The song showcases a medium tempo hard rock groove similar to Montrose’s Rock Candy. The song crosses the lines between country and jazz. It speeds up at the end to a “Hot For Teacher,” meets Billy Cobham’s “Quadrant” double bass drum shuffle with a jazzy ride cymbal over top to finish it off.
# 2 – CRUISE CONTROL
“Cruise Control,” is the only Dixie Dregs song to appear on two of their studio albums, Free Fall in 1977 and Unsung Heroes in 1981. “Cruise Control,” is a straight forward rocker with a heavy rolling bass and drum groove. Everyone gets a say in this one. The only differences between the two versions is an extended middle section on the Free Fall version and the fact that the Unsung Heroes version featured T. Lavitz on Keyboards.. One of the band’s great encore numbers.
# 1 – TAKE IT OFF THE TOP
We close our 15 Essential Dixie Dregs songs list with the phenomenal track “Take It Off The Top.” The song was released on the band’s masterpiece What If” in 1979. To put it simply
“Take It Off The Top” is pure IN YOUR FACE ROCK AND ROLL. We could argue all day over how one should classify the band the Dixie Dregs. As we said, they cross all musical genres. In the end, it just comes down to a handful of musicians who practiced their entire lives, became great musicians, and played their butts off when they got together creating a sound that defined the word substance.
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I’ve seen the Dregs play live more than any other band, especially if you could the Steve Morse Band and Steve Morse’s solo tour. No kidding, Steve Morse sat in with my own band at a party once. This list looks like it was compiled by a hard core fan. Congrats, excellent job.
![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
I’ve seen the Dregs play live more than any other band, especially if you could the Steve Morse Band and Steve Morse’s solo tour. No kidding, Steve Morse sat in with my own band at a party once. This list looks like it was compiled by a hard core fan. Congrats, excellent job.
loved the Dregs when they were the UM Rock Ensemble. Way ahead of ther time.