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Copperhead (album)

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Copperhead
Studio album by
Copperhead
ReleasedJuly 10, 1992 (1992-07-10)
RecordedApril 1992
StudioArdent Studios
Genre
Length53:13
Label
Producer
Copperhead chronology
Copperhead Demo
(1991) 		Copperhead
(1992) 		Live & Lost
(2002)
Singles from Copperhead
  1. "Long Way from Home"
    Released: September 3, 1991
  2. "Busted"
    Released: October 20, 1992
  3. "Whiskey"
    Released: February 16, 1993
  4. "The Scar"
    Released: May 14, 1993

Copperhead is the self-titled debut album by American Southern rock band, Copperhead. The album was released on July 10, 1992 via Mercury Records.[4] The album spawned four singles "Busted", "Whiskey", "The Scar", and Long Way from Home". It was produced and mixed by Tom Dowd and Rodney Mills, marking the first time the two had reunited and produced music together since Lynyrd Skynyrd's album Street Survivors in 1977. The album's most notably known for featuring the song "Long Way from Home" after it was used as the theme song for the 1991 movie Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.[5]

Background and history

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After graduating high school, all five members once worked together at their manager’s construction company, reinforcing their shared blue-collar background.

Copperhead built a regional following through live performances and showcases organized by Atlanta-based attorney Charlie Phillips. In 1991 the band recorded a four-song demo with producer Ely Bail in Memphis, Tennessee, which was submitted to music attorney Fred Davis, son of Clive Davis. The demo secured Copperhead an eight-album deal with Mercury Records.[6]

For the album, the band connected with veteran producer Tom Dowd, known for his work with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aretha Franklin, and The Allman Brothers Band. Recording began in early 1992 at Southern Tracks Studio in Atlanta. Engineering and co-production were handled by Rodney Mills, who had worked extensively with .38 Special and The Georgia Satellites. It marked the first time Dowd and Mills had collaborated since producing Lynyrd Skynyrd's album Street Survivors in 1977.[7]

The reunion between Dowd and Mills drew attention within the Southern rock community. Johnny Van Zant, lead singer of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, visited the studio during the recording sessions to witness the two producers working together again. In an interview with Xposure Magazine, Carswell stated the experience of recording with Dowd was creatively intense and challenging, but personally transformative.[8]

Songwriting for the album was led primarily by Neil Carswell and Jon Bryd, with Brad Durden, Eric Suttlemyre, and Tony Hawkins contributing on instrumentals. While most songs were written in advance, three—“Highway,” “Hard Livin’,” and “Lazy Days”—were completed during the album's recording sessions. “Highway” features a shared lead vocal between Carswell and Durden, inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “You Got That Right.” Slide guitar parts were divided between Carswell and Byrd, with Byrd handling most of the studio overdubs.

Release

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The album was completed by mid 1992 and released by Mercury Records and its subsidiary, PolyGram Records, on July 10, 1992. Though it would be Copperhead's only full length studio album on a major label, it captured a contemporary Southern rock sound rooted in personal reflection, spiritual identity, and regional pride.[9]

Singles

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"Long Way from Home" was released as a single on September 3, 1991 just after its usage in the film Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.[10]

The album's second single, “Busted” was released as a single on October 20, 1992 after being featured in the soundtrack for Dr. Giggles. The band's label, Mercury Records heavily pushed “Busted” to metal and hard rock radio stations, however the single failed to make the major music charts.[11]

On February 16, 1993, "Whiskey" was released as the third single and was sent to AOR radio and reached No. 17 on the AOR airplay charts, which resulted in its official music video earning significant airtime on MTV in early to mid 1993.[12]

Mercury Records and their partner label PolyGram Records released "The Scar" as the album's fourth and final single in May 1993, that peaked at No. 15 on the AOR charts the same month.[13]

Commercial success

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Though the did not achieve major mainstream and commercial success, the album charted modestly, reaching No. 27 on the AOR airplay charts.[14]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Busted"Neil Carswell, Jon Byrd4:44
2."Whiskey"Neil Carswell, Brad Durden3:55
3."The Scar"Neil Carswell4:16
4."Brown's Gold"Neil Carswell3:56
5."Where Will I Be"Neil Carswell, Jon Byrd4:37
6."Keepin' On"Neil Carswell4:37
7."Highway"Neil Carswell, Eric Suttlemyre, Jon Byrd, Tony Hawkins4:52
8."Hard Livin'"Neil Carswell, Jon Byrd3:21
9."Lazy Days"Neil Carswell, Jon Byrd3:31
10."Not My Tear"Neil Carswell3:11
11."Born Loser"Neil Carswell, Jon Byrd3:57
12."Long Way from Home"Neil Carswell8:15
Total length:53:18[15]

Personnel

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  • Neil Carswell – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, steel guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals[16]
  • Jon Byrd – lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals[17]
  • Brad Durden – organ, piano, lead vocals, backing vocals[18]
  • Tony Hawkins – bass guitar, backing vocals[19]
  • Eric Suttlemyre – drums, percussion, backing vocals[20]

Additional musicians

Technical credits

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  • Tom Dowd – producer, album director[23]
  • Rodney Mills – engineer, mixing, co-producer (track 2)[24]
  • John Hanlon – associate producer, recording engineer[25]
  • Jeff Powell – assistant recording engineer[25]
  • Danny Caccavo – additional engineering (track 2)[25]
  • Carl Heilbron – assistant engineer[25]
  • Tag George – assistant engineer[25]
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering[25]
  • Alec Peters – A&R[25]
  • Greg Morrow – drum technician[25]
  • Mike Lowdermilk – guitar technician[25]
  • Troy Venable – guitar technician[25]
  • Donald Klotz Jr – cover art[25]
  • Michael Klotz – art direction[25]
  • Frank Ockenfels III – photography[25]
  • Eli Ball – early arrangements (tracks 1, 10, 12)[25]
  • Dirk Peterson – management[25]
[edit]

Promotion and reception

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To promote the release of the album the band toured extensively throughout its initial release in 1992 up until 1995. Touring with national acts such as The Kentucky Headhunters, .38 Special, and Molly Hatchet, Jackyl, Poison, and Metallica. They also performed a string of headlining tour dates with bands like Brother Cane, LSD, and Dead Reckoning opening for them as tour support.[28][29]

Music critics praised the album for its musicianship and authenticity. Reviews highlighted the band's combination of classic Southern rock structures with modern hard rock energy, earning comparisons to Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, and The Black Crowes.[30]

Legacy

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While Copperhead did not manage to achieve mainstream and become a global commercial success during its release, in the years and decades after it has since developed a cult-like following among Southern rock fans who often award the band with the title "Last of a Dying Breed" meaning they were the last predominately southern rock band to release an authentic album that resonated with the blue-collar, working class, spiritual, and projecting an identity deeply rooted in Southern culture along with regional pride the genre represents that contributed a lasting impression on the music industry during a era that was dominated by grunge rock, pop and was witnessing the rise of hip-hop.[31]

Composition

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Copperhead draws heavily from traditional Southern rock influences, with a raw and gritty sound, bluesy solos, and organ-infused arrangements. Carswell's emotionally charged vocals, often compared to those of Ronnie Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke, anchor the record. Lyrical themes include freedom, loss, spiritual conflict, and blue-collar resilience.[32]

References

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  1. ^ "Copperhead - Band Bio". Spirit of Rock. Web Staff. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  2. ^ "Burke County Southern Rockers "Copperhead" Returns Home To Shoot New Music Video". News Herald Morganton. Mike Conley. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  3. ^ "Copperhead (Mercury Records) Southern rock, Hard rock, Blues rock, Metal". ArtistInfo Database. PolyGram Records. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  4. ^ "Copperhead (Southern rock band) - Copperhead (1992) - Mercury Records". Allmusic. Mercury Records. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  5. ^ "COPPERHEAD - Copperhead (1992) Release History and Single Details". Hard Rock 80 France. Trendkill. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Copperhead singer Neil Carswell interview with Bands f Dixie #53 (November - December 2006)". Sweet Home Music. Luc Brunot. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  7. ^ "Copperhead Front Man Neil Carswell talks about Tom Dowd, Molly Hatchet, VanZant, & Duane in Interview With Southern Rocker". Blues GR. Michael Limnios. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  8. ^ "Neil Carswell sits down for interview with Leslie Marini from Xposure Magazine, discusses recording process of "Copperhead" album". Xposure Magazine. Leslie R. Marini. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  9. ^ "Copperhead - Copperhead (1992) Mercury Records - Apple Music". Apple Music. Mercury Records. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "Copperhead - Copperhead (1992) Song Placements, Singles, Release History". israbox-music.com. IsraBox Music. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  11. ^ "COPPERHEAD (SOUTHERN ROCK BAND) ALBUM AND SINGLE REVIEW". Rough Edge. Snidermann. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  12. ^ "Band History: Copperhead (Southern rock band) - Mercury Records" (PDF). Copperhead. Copperhead. Retrieved February 25, 2006.
  13. ^ "COPPERHEAD/TheScar (Mercury) - Page 21" (PDF). World Radio History. R&R Magazine. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  14. ^ "Mercury's Copperhead lands at #27 on the national album chart in The Hard Report (Dec 11, 1992)" (PDF). Internet Archive. The Hard Report.
  15. ^ "Copperhead - Copperhead (1992) Mercury Records - Spotify". spotify.com. Spotify Music. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  16. ^ "Neil Carswell Release History". swampland.com. Jimmy Williams. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  17. ^ "Jon Bryd - Copperhead (1992) - Credits List". Allmusic. Mercury Records Staff. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "About the Artimus Pyle Band and its members Artimus Pyle, Brad Durden, Scott Raines, Jerry Lyda, Jeff Delk". apbmusic.com. Artimus Pyle Band. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  19. ^ "Ex-Copperhead bassist Tony Hawkins and lead guitarist Jon Bryd forms new band 'A Course of Action'". nclocalmusic.com. NCLM. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  20. ^ "Copperhead (1992) Personnel And Album Credits". Copperhead Band. Copperhead. Retrieved May 3, 2003.
  21. ^ "Hard Rock / Southern Rock Band Copperhead 1992 Album - Song Credits". Good Music Kiev. Web Staff. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  22. ^ "Mercury Records - Copperhead 1992 self-titled debut album - credits list". heavyharmonies.com. Staff. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  23. ^ "North Carolina's Copperhead has signed with Mercury Records and is recording its debut disc with Southern rock veteran Tom Dowd (May 5, 1992 Magazine Edition)" (PDF). Billboard. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  24. ^ "Rodney Mills Discography and Credit History on Allmusic". allmusic.com. Allmusic. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Copperhead - Copperhead (1992) Southern rock - Blues rock - Complete credits list". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  26. ^ "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (Soundtrack) - Release Information". imdb.com. IMdb. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  27. ^ "Dr. Giggles (1992 Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Copperhead - Busted - Mercury Records". imdb.com. IMdb Staff. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  28. ^ "Artist Profile: Copperhead (90s Southern rock band)". sonichits.com. SONICHITS. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  29. ^ "Short bio of Neil Carswell's band "Copperhead" tour history". www.neilcarswell.com/copperhead/. Neil Carswell Estate. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  30. ^ ""Copperhead's brand of Southern Rock follows the legendary trails of Lynyrd Skynyrd with the soulful wailings of the Black Crows" - Leslie R. Marini, X-posure Magazine" (PDF). Copperhead Archives. PolyGram Records, Inc. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  31. ^ "Exploring the history of one of the last 'Southern Rock' bands of the 90s, 'Copperhead'". thejewishnews.com. The Detroit Jewish News. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  32. ^ "Biography: Copperhead (Southern rock band)". Airplay Direct. Neil Carswell. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
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