Prog Friday
Dixie Dregs
Dixie Dregs form in Georgia in 1970 and is still touring today. Known for their intricateinstrumental interplay they cover a wide range of styles but are generally thought of a progressive southern or southern jazz fusion. It took 5 years for their band to get signed and another 2 before their first album was released - Freefall in 1980 they changed their name to The Dregs and released The Dregs of the Earth which caught my attention. Dispited a 299+ show touring schedule the band never really broke out and disbanded in 1983.
Unknown to them, across the pond an English DJ started using one of their songs as his intro music. It took a while but the band reformed 4 years later to tour th UK and release 2 more albums.Over the last 30 years members have come and gone and come back again creating a pool of about 20 people who will be in the band.
The one interesting thing is there were no vocals on their first 5 albums and when they did record some songs with vocals it was 2 members of the Doobie Brothers singing.
I'd tell you to start with their record Night Of The Living Dregs - full album below and the song that saved them