About the Artist: 

Polar Blair's Thoughts on the Artist: 

Personnel:

Jimmy Hart- vocals. (ORIGINAL MEMBER)
Jimmy Tarbutton- lead guitar.

Discography: Album:

Keep on Dancin' (1965)

Gentrys (1970)-  Jimmy Hart leads the band with fantastic results.  This album, released on the legendary Sun Records label, is about as far removed from earlier Gentrys music as possible...and ROCKS SOLID!  They've got songs that are definitely hard rock, and others that are light 1960s-era pop.  I love all the songs on this album.

    "Southbound Train" is a fast, intense, hard-rocker.  It's even faster than Mountain's earlier recording (which is by no means light fare).  "Stroll On" is another head-banging special that sounds much like a popular blues favorite called "The Train Kept a Movin'".  "Rollin' and Tumblin'" is definitely a blues favorite that just about everyone in the late 1960s-early 1970s covered.  The Gentrys do a wonderful version of it as well.  "Cinnamon Girl" is definitely hard, 1960s psychedelia as is "I Need Love".  "Help Me" sounds a lot like something the Rolling Stones might have done.  It's reminiscent of "Sympathy for the Devil", but the tempo is a little higher.

    On the other hand, this album is filled with sensational sunshine music.  Like "Why Should I Cry?", for instance.  It has an interesting horn section and years later, as countless disco groups set into the music scene, this type of sound was imitated, but never duplicated.  "He'll Never Love You" is another pre-disco, but undeniably cool and catchy pop tune.  "Can't You See When Somebody Loves You" follows the pattern of the last two mentioned songs, and also has an inviting horn section.  "I Hate To See You Go" is a short little ditty, but sounds uplifting.  "Tears" is another shorter song, this one with a country feel.  In the early 1970s a lot of groups were getting more into the country sound (i.e. The Byrds, The Eagles, etc.).  Since this group comes from the South anyway, it's only natural that they would.  One of my favorite lighter songs of theirs is "I Just Got the News".  Jimmy Hart is a wonderful singer who can do interesting things with his voice.  One thing he does early in the verses is sing it like "I...just...got the noo-ooo-ooo-oos...".  Great!

    But since every rock group strongly relies on its guitarist for the driving sound, special mention must go out to lead guitarist Jimmy Tarbutton.  He's definitely one of the masters, as you will hear when you put the needle to the vinyl of this 12-inch disc of pleasure.  Jimmy Hart has great direction on this album.  In the 1980s he became known to millions of fans as professional wrestling manager Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart.  In that persona, he's recognized for his loud, cackling Southern screeching.  You might find it interesting to know that he is a very eloquent singer.  He can sing "nice" AND "nasty"...and he does both on this album.  Buy it!  You'll like it!

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