Nantucket (band)
Encyclopedia
Nantucket is a hard rock band that formed in Jacksonville, North Carolina
in 1969. Originally known as beach music band Stax of Gold and later Nantucket Sleighride (after the song by Mountain
), the six-member group—Tommy Redd, Larry Uzzell, Mike Uzzell, Eddie Blair, Kenny Soule, and Mark Downing—became a huge draw in their home state of North Carolina as a cover band. Nantucket eventually became a powerful and tenacious sensation, amassing numerous fans across the southeastern United States
well before its first release.
The band signed with Epic Records
in 1977 and released its self-titled album the following year, which featured the hit single "Heartbreaker." An aggressive cross-country tour followed, and Nantucket opened for top acts such as KISS
, Styx
, Boston
, Mother's Finest
, Journey
, and The Doobie Brothers
. Although its debut release was fairly dated, it sold around 200,000 copies and also made the Billboard charts
. In 1979, Nantucket followed up with Your Face or Mine?
which fared no better in sales despite higher-quality work.
Pee Wee Watson replaced Mike Uzzell on bass for the third album, while Uzzell took full management of the band in hopes of bringing long-awaited success. As a tribute to AC/DC
lead singer Bon Scott
, who died in 1980, Nantucket's Long Way to the Top
included a version of the 1975 classic "It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)"
. The move landed the band a spot with AC/DC on its Back in Black
tour for the entire summer.
Even though Nantucket found some success, Epic Records soon dropped the band. Drummer Kenny Soule and bassist Pee Wee Watson left in 1981, joining guitarist Michael Gardner to form rock trio PKM. They were replaced by Richard Gates and David "Thumbs" Johnson for Nantucket's fourth album. Unfortunately, the band's last two studio albums, produced in 1983 and 1985, were disappointments and the group had disbanded by 1990. A compilation album
came out in 1986.
The original members of Nantucket reunited in 1991 to record a live session and released an album called Still Live after All These Years
in 1995. It featured earlier songs and new material. The band occasionally plays night clubs throughout the Carolinas while continuing its side projects. A recent show featured both Nantucket and PKM, and a new release called The Unreleased "D.C. Tapes" was released with eight new Nantucket songs.
To satisfy demand by its fans, the first three studio albums were released on compact disc
by re-issue label Wounded Bird Records
in 2003 and 2004. Nantucket V
was made available on CD through re-issue label Retrospect Records
in 2007.
Coming soon! Nantucket plans to release a new hit CD featuring songs with the sound of rock/country. Hopefully to be in stores near you.
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina, is a city in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the population stood at 70,145, which makes Jacksonville the 14th largest city in North Carolina...
in 1969. Originally known as beach music band Stax of Gold and later Nantucket Sleighride (after the song by Mountain
Mountain (band)
Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...
), the six-member group—Tommy Redd, Larry Uzzell, Mike Uzzell, Eddie Blair, Kenny Soule, and Mark Downing—became a huge draw in their home state of North Carolina as a cover band. Nantucket eventually became a powerful and tenacious sensation, amassing numerous fans across the southeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
well before its first release.
The band signed with Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
in 1977 and released its self-titled album the following year, which featured the hit single "Heartbreaker." An aggressive cross-country tour followed, and Nantucket opened for top acts such as KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Styx
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
, Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
, Mother's Finest
Mother's Finest
Mother's Finest is a funk rock band founded in Atlanta, Georgia by Joyce Kennedy and Glenn Murdock in the early 1970s. The group charted with the singles "Fire" , "Baby Love" , "Don't Wanna Come Back" , "Love Changes" , and "Piece Of The Rock" in the mid to late 1970s.-History:Mother's Finest...
, Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
, and The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
. Although its debut release was fairly dated, it sold around 200,000 copies and also made the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
. In 1979, Nantucket followed up with Your Face or Mine?
Your Face or Mine? (album)
Your Face or Mine? is the second release by North Carolina music group, Nantucket. Although the overall quality of work is better, it didn't do as good in sales as their previous album Nantucket. Featured songs include "Gimme Your Love" and "California"...
which fared no better in sales despite higher-quality work.
Pee Wee Watson replaced Mike Uzzell on bass for the third album, while Uzzell took full management of the band in hopes of bringing long-awaited success. As a tribute to AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
lead singer Bon Scott
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980...
, who died in 1980, Nantucket's Long Way to the Top
Long Way to the Top (album)
Long Way to the Top is the third release by North Carolina music group, Nantucket. The album is a tribute to AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott, who died in 1980 and features a version of their 1975 classic "It's a Long Way to the Top ". This move landed Nantucket a spot with AC/DC on their Back in Black...
included a version of the 1975 classic "It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)"
It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)
"It's a Long Way to the Top " is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the first track of the group's album T.N.T., released in December 1975, and was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott...
. The move landed the band a spot with AC/DC on its Back in Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
tour for the entire summer.
Even though Nantucket found some success, Epic Records soon dropped the band. Drummer Kenny Soule and bassist Pee Wee Watson left in 1981, joining guitarist Michael Gardner to form rock trio PKM. They were replaced by Richard Gates and David "Thumbs" Johnson for Nantucket's fourth album. Unfortunately, the band's last two studio albums, produced in 1983 and 1985, were disappointments and the group had disbanded by 1990. A compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
came out in 1986.
The original members of Nantucket reunited in 1991 to record a live session and released an album called Still Live after All These Years
Still Live After All These Years
Still Live after All These Years is a live album from North Carolina music group, Nantucket, recorded November 29, 1991 with all six original band members at a night club called The Longbranch in Raleigh, North Carolina...
in 1995. It featured earlier songs and new material. The band occasionally plays night clubs throughout the Carolinas while continuing its side projects. A recent show featured both Nantucket and PKM, and a new release called The Unreleased "D.C. Tapes" was released with eight new Nantucket songs.
To satisfy demand by its fans, the first three studio albums were released on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
by re-issue label Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...
in 2003 and 2004. Nantucket V
Nantucket V
Nantucket V is the fifth release and last studio album by North Carolina music group, Nantucket. A less hard rock sounding work produced through Raleigh, North Carolina label Executive Records , it features the songs "Pretty Legs" and "Looking You Up". Nantucket V was made available on compact disc...
was made available on CD through re-issue label Retrospect Records
Retrospect Records
Retrospect Records is primarily a re-issue record label located in Las Vegas, Nevada, specializing in AOR , Melodic Metal and hard rock artists...
in 2007.
Coming soon! Nantucket plans to release a new hit CD featuring songs with the sound of rock/country. Hopefully to be in stores near you.
Band members
- Tommy Redd: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, Spoon, Lead & Background Vocals
- Larry Uzzell: Lead & Background Vocals, Bass Guitar, Trumpet, Harp, Congas, Percussion, Harmonica
- Mike Uzzell: Moog Bass, Various Keyboards & Synthesizers, B-3 Organ, Piano, Lead & Background Vocals
- Eddie Blair: Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Keyboards, Piano, Organ, Clavinet, Percussion, Background Vocals
- Kenny Soule: Drums & Percussion, Tympani, Background Vocals
- Mark Downing: Lead, Slide, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars, 12-String Guitar, Pedal Guitar
- Pee Wee Watson: Bass Guitar, Background Vocals
- Richard Gates: Drums, Oberheim DX Drum Machine
- David "Thumbs" Johnson: Bass Guitar, Oberheim DX Drum Machine, Background Vocals
- John "Chopper" Kovach: Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards (1987)
- Alan Thornton: Lead & Rhytham Guitars, Z-28
- Perry RichardsonPerry RichardsonPerry Richardson is the former bassist of rock band FireHouse until 1999.Richardson met C. J. Snare in North Carolina and started a band called Max Warrior. Eventually they met with Bill Leverty and Michael Foster...
: Bass Guitar and Background Vocals (1987–88) - Rob "Kid Blister" Green: Lead Guitar and Background Vocals (1986–88)
- Jason PattersonCry of Love (band)Cry Of Love was an American rock band, formed in 1989 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The group released their debut album in 1992 , produced by John Custer before playing the Monsters of Rock festival the following year. After this show, their frontman Kelly Holland left the group...
: Drums (1987–88) - Chris Cash: Lead Guitar and Background Vocals (1988–1990)
Albums
- NantucketNantucket (album)Nantucket is the debut release by North Carolina music group, Nantucket. It includes the hit single "Heartbreaker", which helped this album make the Billboard charts and sell around 200,000 copies. Other featured songs include "She's No Good", "Born in a Honky Tonk", "Girl, You Blew a Good...
(1978) - Your Face or Mine?Your Face or Mine? (album)Your Face or Mine? is the second release by North Carolina music group, Nantucket. Although the overall quality of work is better, it didn't do as good in sales as their previous album Nantucket. Featured songs include "Gimme Your Love" and "California"...
(1979) - Long Way to the TopLong Way to the Top (album)Long Way to the Top is the third release by North Carolina music group, Nantucket. The album is a tribute to AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott, who died in 1980 and features a version of their 1975 classic "It's a Long Way to the Top ". This move landed Nantucket a spot with AC/DC on their Back in Black...
(1980) - No Direction HomeNo Direction Home (album)No Direction Home is the fourth release by North Carolina music group, Nantucket. Richard Gates and David "Thumbs" Johnson replaced drummer Kenny Soule and bassist Pee Wee Watson for this album, who both left the band in 1981 and joined guitarist Michael Gardner to form rock trio PKM...
(1983) - Nantucket VNantucket VNantucket V is the fifth release and last studio album by North Carolina music group, Nantucket. A less hard rock sounding work produced through Raleigh, North Carolina label Executive Records , it features the songs "Pretty Legs" and "Looking You Up". Nantucket V was made available on compact disc...
(1985) - The Best of NantucketThe Best of NantucketThe Best Of Nantucket is a compilation of popular songs from North Carolina music group, Nantucket. It covers material from all studio albums by the band from 1978 through 1985.-Track listing:#Heartbreaker – 3:53...
(1986) - Still Live after All These YearsStill Live After All These YearsStill Live after All These Years is a live album from North Carolina music group, Nantucket, recorded November 29, 1991 with all six original band members at a night club called The Longbranch in Raleigh, North Carolina...
(1995) - The Unreleased "D.C. Tapes" (2006)
- Nantucket Original Archives" (2010)
Singles
- "Heartbreaker" (1977)
- "She's No Good" (1977)
- "Quite Like You" (1978)
- "Girl, You Blew a Good Thing" (1978)
- "Gimme Your Love" (1979)
- "Put Out or Get Out" (1979)
- "Hiding from Love" (1983)
External links
- [ Nantucket on Allmusic]
- Unofficial Nantucket Fansite
- Nantucket on MySpace