The group, originally called "The Knowbody Else", was formed in 1965 in Black Oak, Arkansas, by Jim "Dandy" Mangrum (vocals), Rickie Reynolds (guitar), Stanley Knight (guitar), Harvey Jett (guitar), Pat Daugherty (bass), and Wayne Evans (drums). Their first PA system was stolen from a local high school. Members of the group were subsequently charged in absentia with grand larceny and sentenced to 26 years at the Tucker Prison Farm (this sentence was later suspended). This led to their retreat to the hills of rural northeast Arkansas where they lived off the land and refined their musical style. Some of their influences during this time were The Beatles and The Byrds.
The Knowbody Else moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1969 and signed a record deal with Stax Records. Their debut album (and only album with Stax), The Knowbody Else, was largely ignored by the populace. During this time the band became interested in psychedelia and Eastern spiritualism which, combined with their Southern Baptist upbringing, contributed to their sound.
After several trips to Los Angeles, California, in 1970, the band was signed by Atco Records and rechristened "Black Oak Arkansas". Their new debut album, Black Oak Arkansas, was released in 1971 while the band toured extensively, gaining a reputation as a live act. The twin album releases that followed in 1972, Keep The Faith and If An Angel Came To See You, Would You Make Her Feel At Home, expanded on the group’s eclectic musical style.
In 1973, Black Oak Arkansas released their fourth album, Raunch 'N' Roll Live and introduced a new drummer, Tommy Aldridge. It was their fifth album, High on the Hog, released later that year, that established solid commercial success by peaking at number 52 on the Billboard charts. Vocalist Ruby Starr also toured with the band during this period. Her raspy voice can be heard on the group's remake of LaVern Baker's 1957 hit "Jim Dandy," which reached number 25 on Billboard's Hot 100.
The 1974 release of Street Party may have failed to maintain the momentum. However, another 1974 release, entitled Early Times, an overlooked Stax recording, made up for lost time. In 1975, the original lineup of Black Oak Arkansas (minus Harvey Jett, who was replaced by Jimmy Henderson) released their last album, Ain't Life Grand. A new version of the band, called Black Oak, was formed in 1977 around Jim "Dandy" Mangrum and Jimmy Henderson. Greg Reding (guitar and keyboards), Jack Holder (guitar), Andy Tanas (bass), and Joel Williams (drums) participated on the two Capricorn albums which were recorded in 1977 (Race with the Devil) and 1978 (I'd Rather Be Sailing). In 1978, guitarist Shawn Lane joined the band at age 14 and toured with the band for four years.
Released in 1984, Ready as Hell debuted a heavier sound with pinch harmonics and keyboards featured throughout. The album also marked the return of Rickie Lee Reynolds on rhythm guitar. In 1986, The Black Attack Is Back continued the heavy style of the previous album and featured the particularly adventurous track "I Want A Woman With Big Titties". Despite that lack of subtlety, the album is widely regarded as the finest of the band's long career, with the greatest lineup to date. Still, it made no commercial headway.
James Mangrum has continued recording and touring with a series of different Black Oak lineups up to present day. Black Oak Arkansas currently enjoys a loyal fan following. However, the later lineups have yet to duplicate the level of album sales that the original lineup generated in the early-mid 1970s. Jim Dandy is credited with inspiring Van Halen front-man David Lee Roth's image and onstage persona as well.
In 2008, Boston newspaper 'The Phoenix' named them the All Time Best Band from Arkansas.
Band Members
* James L. "Jim Dandy" Mangrum - lead vocals, washboard (1965-present)
* Rickie Lee "Ricky" "Ricochet" Reynolds - twelve-string guitar, vocals (1965-1977, 1984-present)
* Hal McCormack - lead guitar (2003-present)
* Johnnie Bolin - drums ( -present)
* George Hughen - bass guitar ( -present)
* Stanley Knight - lead guitar, steel guitar, organ, vocals (1965-1976)
* Pat Daugherty - bass guitar, vocals (1965-1977, 2000-2002)
* Harvey Jett - lead guitar, banjo, piano, vocals (1965-1974)
* Wayne Evans - drums (1965-1973)
* Tommy Aldridge - drums (1973-1977)
* Paul Simmons - drums (1985-1986)
* James Henderson - guitar (1975-1979)
* Jack Holder - guitar (1977-1979)
* Greg Reding - guitar, keyboards (1977-1979)
* Andy Tanas - bass (1977-1980)
* Joel Williams - drums (1977-1978)
* Marius Penczner - keyboards (1975-1977)
* Shawn Lane - guitar (1977-1981)
* Chris Craig - drums (late 70's - early 80's)
* Jon "Thunder Paws" Wells - drums (Ready As Hell)
* Dave Wilson - Bass Guitar (1979-1981)
* William Lemuel - bass guitar (Ready As Hell)
* Steve "The Axe" Nuenmacher - lead guitar, rhythm guitar (Ready As Hell)
* Billy Batte - keyboards, violin (Ready As Hell)
* Michael "Narley Dude" Martin (R.I.P.) - Lead Guitar (The Black Attack Is Back)
* "Big" Mike Fowler - bass guitar (The Black Attack Is Back)
* Biff Bingham - 2nd lead guitarist (Ready as Hell, The Black Attack is Back)
* Jerry A. Williams - drums (Ready as Hell, The Black Attack is Back) (1985-1986)
* Darrell Miller - drums (1970's)
* Les John - drums (1979-1980)
* Cozy Johnson - drums (early 80's)
* James "Little Jim" Mangrum Jr. - drum technician
* Danny Leath - lead guitar
* Rocky Athas - lead guitar (1996-2001)
* John Roth - guitar (mid 80's)
Back Door Man
Black Oak Arkansas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am, a back door man
Well the, men don't know, but the little girls understand
When everybody's trying to sleep
I'm somewhere making my, midnight creep
Yes in the morning, when the rooster crow
Something tell me, I got to go
I am, a back door man
I am, a back door man
Well the, men don't know, but little girls understand
They, take me to the doctor, shot full o' holes
Nurse cried, please save the soul
Killed him for murder, first degree
Judge's wife cried, let the man go free
I am, a back door man
I am, a back door man
Well the, men don't know, but little girls understand
Stand out there, cop's wife cried
Don't take him down, rather be dead
Six feets in the ground
When you come home you can eat, pork and beans
I eats mo' chicken, any man seen
I am, a back door man
I am, a back door man
The lyrics to Black Oak Arkansas's song "Back Door Man" speak to a man who sneaks in and out of his lover's home through the back door. He is a "back door man", a man who is not afraid to hide his affairs, and he is confident that only the young girls he is seeing would understand. The song opens with a catchy chorus, with the man firmly identifying himself as this type of man. In the next verse, he speaks about the times when everybody is sleeping, but he is out making his "midnight creep". He feels an urgency to leave in the morning when the rooster crows, perhaps out of fear of being caught.
In the third verse, the man talks about how he has been shot full of holes by people who do not approve of his actions. However, he is set free by a judge's wife, who pleaded to let him go. The final verse speaks on the man standing outside, with the cop's wife crying and wanting him to live. He says that when he comes home, he will be eating pork and beans, but he usually eats more chicken than anyone else. The lyrics showcase a man who lives a double life of sneaking around and breaking the rules, but also feels like he is understood by those who are in the same situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I am, a back door man
I'm a guy who snuck in through the back door, usually to cheat on my woman.
Well the, men don't know, but the little girls understand
Other men don't understand my ways but women do.
When everybody's trying to sleep
When everyone's asleep.
I'm somewhere making my, midnight creep
I'm sneaking around in the middle of the night.
Yes in the morning, when the rooster crow
Early in the morning when the rooster crows.
Something tell me, I got to go
Something inside me is telling me to leave.
They, take me to the doctor, shot full o' holes
They took me to the doctor and shot me multiple times.
Nurse cried, please save the soul
The nurse begged to save my life.
Killed him for murder, first degree
They charged me with first degree murder.
Judge's wife cried, let the man go free
The judge's wife begged to set me free.
Stand out there, cop's wife cried
The cop's wife stood outside and cried.
Don't take him down, rather be dead
She'd rather die than see me taken away.
Six feets in the ground
Dead and buried six feet under.
When you come home you can eat, pork and beans
When you come home, you can eat pork and beans, a reminder of my poverty.
I eats mo' chicken, any man seen
I eat more chicken than any man has ever eaten.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lowellgoepfert6531
Those Boys were some pretty good pickers!
@rodinriddle4168
About Time:I LOVE ME SOME BLACK OAK!
@rodinriddle4168
About time! I LOVE ME :SOME BLACK OAK!
@rodinriddle4168
You all need to come to Indianspolis. Indiana. Seen you all years ago, still Love ya! Keep on Rockin♡♥♡
@jeffdeptula6946
a lot of people don't know is the drummer tommy aldrige is a retired mutlimillonare that played in whitesnake, ozzy, .this might be his first band . not sure!
@LDM662
David and the Giants was Tommy's 1st band.
@KnEpH131
But the addition of Tommy really really launched them. Tommy and "Dirty" Daugherty were one of the best rhythm sections in southern rock and roll.
@christopherbako
SLAPPIN HAM😅
@christopherbako
They were Ghetto Skynyrd. 😊
@toekid7179
Thats kind of a weird metaphor, personally I like both groups