When you look at the pantheon of Southern rock bands operating in the last millennium, Blackfoot was not only one of the most exciting but also one of the most consistent. Led by front man extraordinaire Rickey Medlocke, who was inextricably linked to Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band raised the Southern rock stakes considerably, recording albums and touring virtually 365 days a year. It was a work ethic that, in the long run, paid huge dividends, positioning the band as a Southern rock institution. After two moderately successful albums, ‘Strikes’ was recorded under new and exciting circumstances. The band had signed to the newly reactivated Atco label, an Atlantic Records subsidiary and changed management, setting in motion a chain of events that would ultimately lead them to secure a platinum album and reach a new and vibrant audience both in the USA and abroad. Originally released in 1979, and produced by Al Nalli and Brownsville Station’s Henry ‘H-Bomb’ Weck, ‘Strikes’ found its own audience by way of constant live work and a brace of top rate songs, including ‘Train Train’, ‘Road Fever’ , ‘Wishing Well’ and the anthemic Southern rock anthem ‘Highway Song’, a track that would later define their sound and ambition. Special mention must go to band leader Rickey Medlocke whose vocals and bravado make for compelling listening, making this one of their best and most revered albums.