Dixie Dregs Songs Ranked
The Dixie Dregs is an American jazz-rock band from Augusta, Georgia, formed in 1970 and one of the top jazz-rock bands in the United States. The band’s instrumental music fuses elements of rock, jazz, country, and classical music. In the UK, they are best known for their recording “Take It Off the Top”, which was used for many years as the signature theme tune by disc jockey Tommy Vance for his BBC Radio 1 Friday Night Rock Show. Here are all of Dixie Dregs’s songs ranked.
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12. Take It Off The Top (What If, 1978)
“The chain of unpredictability starts with the brisk number “Take It Off The Top”, where any of the five has a chance to be noted by riffs, syncopations, rhythmic maneuvers and solo chips. A very elegant, no-nonsense hit start based on general game pyrotechnics.”
11. Cruise Control (Free Fall, 1977)
“Cruise Control” looks really interesting and innovative: non-standard sizes, unexpected pro-classical reprises and mysterious melodic touches are embodied here with mind-blowing technique and amazing speed; no, it’s not for nothing that the masterful Dream Theater borrowed the main riff for the tribute-collage “The Big Medley” (disc “A Change of Seasons”) from it.”
10. The Bash (Night of the Living Dregs, 1979)
“The Bash is a countrified chops throwdown that has become a set favorite in the decades that have followed. It’s definitely fun and impressive. Good record, but not high on my list of their discography.”
9. Punk Sandwich (Night of the Living Dregs, 1979)
“Punk Sandwich is an excellent follow-up to What If‘s opener, Take It Off the Top. Steve Morse evidently likes to start each Dregs’ album with the fastest and hardest rock track, and Punk Sandwich is no exception – loads of tempo changes, flurries of notes tucked in every corner of the song.”
See more: Dixie Dregs Albums Ranked
8. Night Meets Light (What If, 1978)
”Night Meets Light” closes the show; complex, ideas filled, lyrical violin and synths and some good guitar work but too beautifully arranged and never really surprising or igniting;”
7. Night Of The Living Dreg (Night of the Living Dregs, 1979)
“On Night of the Living Dregs, there’s some playing that’s simply beautiful, and very satisfying. Also excellent is the guitar work of Steve Morse. As far as the songs go, the album is divided into a studio side and live side.”
6. Travel Tunes (What If, 1978)
“The mosaic opus “Travel Tunes”, composed by bassist Andy West, jumps gutta-percha from jazz-rock to folk, frivolous Caribbean motifs and other freakish affairs.”
See more: Traffic Albums Ranked
5. Ice Cakes (The Great Spectacular, 1976)
“Moody, and progressively influenced jazz with an undertone of southern rock. It just works man! I enjoy listening to the comparisons of then and now.”
4. Moe Down (Free Fall, 1977)
“Sketch “Moe Down” is the perfect illustration of a cowboy rodeo theme; natural folk western with banjo, fiddle and saloon piano exercises.”
3. Country House Shuffle (The Great Spectacular, 1976)
“How can’t you like this record? It’s simply a masterpiece! Each track has its own groove and catchy motifs and every member has great technical skills but also great fantasy, creativity, and good musical taste, especially Steve Morse.”
2. Free Fall (Free Fall, 1977)
“So far this is my favorite album by the Dregs. Nearly pure fusion on this album. If you want to see what the Dixie Dregs sound like and start your collection by this wonderful group from down south in Florida then start with this one.”
1. Intro (Greatest Hits Live, 1997)
“This is the way this band should be heard, on stage and “live”. The Dixie Dregs played a mean mix of country rock/jazz fusion that is a little infectious. Mr. Morse, of course, is the main draw and his guitar work is masterful. If you don’t have any Dregs material and are looking, this is a good place to start.”
