Strikes is the third studio album by the American Southern rock band Blackfoot, released in April 1979. The album has received a platinum certification from the RIAA in April 1986. The album features two minor pop hits: “Highway Song” (#26) and “Train, Train” (#38). “Train, Train” was covered by country music legend Dolly Parton on her 1999 album The Grass Is Blue which won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. Warrant covered the song on their 1990 album Cherry Pie. The song has appeared in the 2011 film Straw Dogs. (More from Wikipedia)
Through their connections with the Michigan rock band Brownsville Station – best known for their 1973 hit “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” – Blackfoot recorded their most successful album Strikes in 1979. The album was engineered by the drummer for Brownsville Station, Henry Weck and was produced by their manager, Al Nalli.
Blackfoot front man Rickey Medlocke’s grandfather, bluegrass musician Shorty Medlocke (Blackfoot) wrote the band’s biggest hit single from Strikes, “Train, Train” and played harmonica on the song. Another track from this album, “Highway Song” was a hit later in 1979. Shorty Medlocke wrote and also performed on several other songs for the band – “Railroad Man” (on No Reservations), “Fox Chase” (on Tomcattin’) and “Rattlesnake Rock ’n’ Roller” (on Marauder).
(August 2013)
