This 29-track compilation of recordings Charlie McCoy made in the 1960s with members of his band the Escorts, the majority of which have never been released on CD, is essential listening for anyone interested in Nashville’s rock history. McCoy and the Escorts were not only Nashville’s top rock band during that decade, but they were among the first-call musicians for the growing number of rock and R&B recording sessions in the city. In addition to McCoy, a number of celebrated Nashville cats honed their skills in the band, including drummer Kenneth Buttrey, guitarists Wayne Moss and Mac Gayden, keyboardists Bill Akins and Bergen White, and saxophonists Quitman Dennis and Jerry Tuttle. Amid everything else it does, this collection also provides a window into Gayden’s evolution as a hit songwriter.
