Kingcrimsonprog
Strikes was the third studio album by the Southern Rock band Blackfoot, it was released on the Atco label in 1979 and was something of a breakthrough release for the band.
Blackfoot were named after the Native American Blackfoot Confederacy due to several of the band member’s Native American heritage. The band was based in Florida and featured Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Rick Medlocke on Lead Vocals and Guitar.
Strikes was the first of an unbeatable three-album streak of classic gems, followed in 1980 by Tomcattin’ and then 1981’s Marauder. The three albums, along with the incendiary live album Highway Song Live are all considered by fans to be utterly essential. If you are interested in the band for any reason, any of these three records, including Strikes, should really please you.
While Marauder is a bit more commercial and Tomcattin’ is a bit heavier, Strikes is the album that most truly follows the specific Southern Rock formula laid down by Lynyrd Skynyrd and followed by the likes of Molly Hatchet and Outlaws. If you enjoy any of those bands then Strikes is definitely worth checking out. That being said however, the album isn’t exactly dripping in Southern Rock conventions; it is more of a solid Hard Rock album with a Southern tinge.
One thing that separates Strikes from the rest of the band’s catalogue is that it contains three cover songs by Spirit, Blues Image and Free respectively.
Strikes also distinguishes itself by featuring the anthemic ‘Train, Train’ and ‘Highway Song’ which are two of the bands most popular and recognizable tracks, and the avenue through which many fans discover Blackfoot.
Overall; if you like the band it would really be advisable to get a copy of Strikes, Tomcattin’ and Marauder at a minimum. The other two records have the heaviness and heavy metal charm and they are perfectly complimented by Strikes, which has the hits and the variety.