Highway South: Southern Rock CD

One can hardly go wrong in choosing the music to appear on a Southern rock compilation. After all, there are literally a hundred hits that could appear on such a collection. As with its predecessor, Highway South: Overdrive, Highway South: Southern Rock revels in radio hits of arena and hard rock groups recorded primarily in the '70s. There's no arguing that every song on Highway South: Southern Rock seems to fit, with styles ranging from outlaw country to blues-rock. And although it can't be denied that many of the songs chosen, much like those on Highway South: Overdrive, are precisely what you might hear at the same time on two different radio stations (i.e., "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Bad to the Bone"), there certainly are better songs in the Southern rock vein than either of those. In fact, a good number of the songs aren't Southern rock at all, but instead contemporary country and country-rock featuring artists like Clint Black, the Tractors, and Pure Prairie League. However, Highway South: Southern Rock does provide some pleasant surprises that wouldn't necessarily jump out as your average done-before Time Life mix album material -- namely, Jerry Reed's "East Bound and Down" from Smokey & the Bandit fame and "Amie" from the aforementioned Pure Prairie League. The compilation also includes such favorite '70s popular hits (that tend to appear on every compilation from Southern rock to arena rock or the affectionately titled Mullets Rock!) as "Black Betty" and "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." For Southern rock, arena rock, hard rock, and country-rock fans (yes, all of you will be appeased by this album) who have a fear of turning on classic rock radio, Highway South: Southern Rock is for you. However, if you're into saving money, all of these songs can be heard for free on the playlists of your local classic rock frequencies. ~ Megan Frye