Potliquor

Potliquor - Louisiana Rock and Roll - 1972 - Janus Records

"As for "Louisiana Rock and Roll", it rocks! From the opening of "You Can't get there form Here", to the closing track, "Guitar Boogie", this is one of the finest rock and roll records I have ever heard. Favorite songs include the two mentioned, along with "Waitin' for me at the River", "St. Jude's Blues" and the title track. 5 Stars for "Louisian Rock and Roll". Pot Liquor rocked my generation". By & © A. Blossman "Trey Blossman/Music Freak" (Mandeville, La. United States). © 1996-2011, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates http://www.amazon.com/Louisiana-Rock-and-Roll/dp/B001AQUIYG

Potliquor hailed from Louisiana and straddled the line between country, blues, southern rock and hard rock...all the while throwing in horns just to keep things fresh. With a powerful singer in George Ratzlaff, Potliquor were able to muster some pretty inspired moments on vinyl. "Pot Liquor was a top regional touring act. Like many great acts, they never sold records like they should have. But they did tour, and expose many young southerners to what amounts to some of the first "southern rock" bands. Some of the best music, ever! And, the best name ever for a southern rock band! - http://www.jcrmusicnews.com/en/catalogs/details/11420/sixties-&-seventies/potliquor-louisiana-rock-and-roll

Potliquor originally formed in 1969 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They recorded three albums for the Janus record label; "Levee Blues" 1970, "First Taste" 1971, and "Louisiana Rock & Roll" 1972 (posted here). In early 1972, the band had a single called “Cheer" (from the "Levee Blues" album), which received regular airplay on many L.A radio stations. Their last album "Potliquor" was released in 1979 on Capitol. None of these albums sold in any great numbers even though the band was a successful touring act, and played some great live concerts. The band regularly played Baton Rouge's Independence Hall, and The Kingfish venues. They opened for bands like Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown, Santana, Charlie Daniels, and The Eagles, but never attained a fraction of the success of any of these acts. Their music combined elements of country, blues, southern rock, hard rock, and even Gospel, often backed by a great horn section and some great female vocalists. Sometimes Potliquor's sound is reminiscent of the Atlanta Rhythm Section, but bluesier. Bassist, Leon Medica has had a very successful career. Check him out @ http://www.laleroux.com/HTMLPages/leon.html In the early 80's Jerry Amoroso worked in the New Generation record store in Baton Rouge. He also owned/owns The Italian Thunderbolt restaurant in Baton Rouge. Jerry may still be on Facebook. Check him out. George Ratzlaff, now a committed Christian made a name in the advertising business while still writing songs earning recognition as a Grammy nominated songwriter under the name George Brantley. He is still recording Christian music. If anybody has any info on guitarist, Les Wallace, please contact this blog. "Louisiana Rock and Roll" is an obscure album, but a good one, and deserves a hearing from anybody interested in good music, especially good early'70's Southern rock. The album is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Listen to the band's great 1970 "Levee Blues" album

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1. You Can't Get There from Here - Casey Kelly
2. Waitin' for Me at the River - George Ratzlaff
3. Taj and Johnny's Blues - Taj Mahal / Jimmy Reed
4. Rip It Up - Les Wallace / Loretta Wallace *
5. "H" - Les Wallace / Loretta Wallace *
6. Louisiana Rock 'n' Roll - George Ratzlaff
7. St. Jude's Blues - Jerry Amoroso
8. Born Under a Bad Sign - William Bell / Booker T. Jones
9. Guitar Boogie - George Ratzlaff
10. For You - Les Wallace

N.B: Some issues of this album include * as one track, making a nine track album. There are CD issues of the album with a bonus track, "Ridin' On The Rolls"

BAND

Les Wallace - guitar, vocals
George Ratzlaff - rhythm guitar, keyboards, harp, percussion, vocals
Leon Medica, Guy Schaeffer - bass, vocals
Jerry Amoroso - piano, drums, tambourine, congos, vocals
Cy Frost - Moog synth
Bud Brasher, Art De Cesare, Charlie Depuy, Lee Fortier, Bill Ludwig, Nick Rousee, Pete Verbois - horns
New Orleans Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony - strings