Our Top 10 Nantucket Songs list looks back at the music of a southern rock band first formed in the late 1960s. The group was founded in the East Coast State of North Carolina. Originally. the group was named Stax of Gold but later changed their name to be called Nantucket Sleighride in tribute to the legendary Leslie West and Mountain song titled “Nantucket Sleighride.” Eventually, the band would shorten the name to just Nantucket. While the group never achieved worldwide fame they did released a series of albums on a major label that helped them captivate a loyal following which also earned them a spot on national rock and roll tours as the opening band for groups like The Doobie Brothers, Journey, Kiss, Boston and Styx.
During their early days, the group consisted of Tommy Redd on lead and rhythm guitars, and lead and background vocals, Larry Uzzell on lead and background vocals and bass, Mike Uzzell on keyboards, lead and background vocals, Eddie Blair on saxophones and keyboards, Mark Downing on guitars and Kenny Soule on drums.
The band released their first album in 1978 entitled Nantucket. The album featured the hit single “Heartbreaker.” The group followed up their album with the release of the record Your Face or Mine? in 1979. The band continued their steady release of albums one year later with the album entitled Long Way To The Top. It would be another three years before the band released another album. However in 1983, Nantucket returned with the album called No Direction Home. As the years passed by, the band continued to go through lineup changes.
Nantucket released their last album of the 1980s in 1984 entitled Nantucket V. A greatest hits package was released in 1986 called The Best of Nantucket. Almost ten years later, another greatest hits package was relesed entitled Still Live after All These Years. Ten years after that, another Nantucket album was released called The Unreleased “D.C. Tapes.” In 2011 Nantucket fans saw the release of the album, You Need a Ride to Raleigh.
Our Top 10 Nantuckett songs list defines ten of the best songs from a southern rock band that sounded at times more like Pablo Cruise than Lynyrd Skynyrd which we think is pretty cool and creative.
Top 10 Nantucket Songs
# 10 – Never Gonna Take Your Lies
We open up our top 10 Nantucket Songs list with the grooving blues song entitled “Never Gonna Take Your Lies.” We thought this would be a great song to open with because once you hear this one you will know how great this band was. The song was released on the album entitled Nantucket.The chord changes on this one run outside of the traditional blues chords with some cool seventh chords on the chorus. It was the closing song on the album. “Never Gonna Take Your Lies.” also featured Norton Buffalo on harmonica who was known for his work with the Steve Miller Band.
# 9 – Pretty Legs
Continuing with our top 10 Nantucket Songs list we take a listen to the rhythmic 80s sounding song entitled “Pretty Legs.” The sound of the band is very different on this record from their first album as the group had also gone through many personal changes. It’s interesting to place the first two songs on this list back to back so one can hear the difference between their first album and there final record of the 80s. On their last record, the band consisted of Larry Uzzell: Lead & Background Vocals, Tommy Reddon and Alan Thornton on guitar, Eddie Blair on Saxophones and Keyboards, David “Thumbs” Johnson on bass and Richard Gates on drums.
# 8 -You Need a Ride to Raleigh
In the number eight spot on our top 10 Nantucket Songs list we present the song entitled “You Need a Ride to Raleigh.” This great grooving song was the title track to the band’s superb 2011 album also entitled You Need a Ride to Raleigh.
# 7 – Hey Hey Blondie
In the number seven position on our top 10 Nantucket Songs list is the smoking song entitled “Hey Hey Blondie. This one will get you up and dancing. This is a pure party song that was definitely a crowd pleaser. The song was released on the album entitled Your Face or Mine? The album was released in 1979.
# 6 – Southern Gals
Landing in the number six spot on our top 10 Nantucket Songs list we present the killer song “Southern Gals.” Since the band was such a big live draw, especially in North Carolina we wanted to present a live track on this list. This one is so hot. The live version of “Southern Gals,” was released on the album entitled Still Live after All These Years. The album was released in 1995. The live show featured all of the band’s original members. Yeah baby!
# 5 -Girl You Blew a Good Thing
At the halfway point on our top 10 Nantucket Songs list is the song entitled “Girl You Blew a Good Thing.” It almost sounds like Nile Rodgers produced this one as the band lays down a heavy funk almost disco groove on the song’s introduction. The chorus is defined by a slick 70s soul guitar groove, This band was just so interesting how they blended musical styles and made it all sound so good. The song was issued on the album entitled Nantucket.
# 4 – She’s No Good
At the number four spot on our top 10 Nantucket Songs list we present the electrifying song entitled “She’s No Good.” The song defined how Nantucket rode the line between southern rock and sort of a pop new wave band. They were very much a product of the time period that they were releasing these albums in when so much music was crossing over into multiple genres. Bands just could not help but be inspired by the onslaught of great music that was being released all the time in the 70s. The song was released on the album entitled Nantucket.
# 3 – Tennessee Whiskey
Moving along on our top 10 Nantucket Songs list we present the rip-roaring song entitled “Tennessee Whiskey.” The song’s opening guitar riff always reminded us of Queen’s “It’s Late,” from the News Of The World album. Nonetheless, this was a great dark rock and roll tune from Nantucket. “Tennessee Whiskey,” was composed by Tommy Redd. The song “Tennessee Whiskey,” was released on the album entitled No Direction Home. The album was released in 1983.
# 2 – Gimme Your Love
Just of the top spot on our top 10 Nantucket Songs list we celebrate the raging song entitled “Gimme Your Love.” We just love this track. It opens with a blazing guitar solo surrounded by some great minor chords. The band changes to a major key on the chorus before switching back to to the splendid minor key verse. The song was released on the album entitled Your Face or Mine? The album was released in 1979.
# 1 -Heartbreaker
We close out our top 10 Nantucket Songs list with the classic Nantucket song entitled “Heartbreaker.” This is by far the band’s most famous song. The song “Heartbreaker,” was released on the album entitled Nantucket. The album was released in 1978. It was the first single released from the album. It was also the album’s opening track. The song was composed by Tommy Redd. The guitar solo on this one is outstanding. The backing vocals and harmonies are perfect. One of the great classic rock songs of the late 1970s that blended southern rock with a late 1970s modern sound.
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