The Capricorn Years
The first 3 dregs albums were on Capricorn Records
1977 Free Fall - Our first album, really horrible recording but a lot of heart in the songs. Generally, a happy time was had by all.
1978 What If - A chance to work with a REAL PRODUCER, Ken Scott. He is amazing and I really like the album a lot. This album is much more mature sounding than Free Fall.
1979 Night of the Living Dregs - Ken Scott again, this time recorded live at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, Switzerland. It was great. Unfortunately (for me, but lucky for everyone else), a lot of the bass tracks ended up being overdubbed because they either sounded bad or there were mistakes that could be easily fixed. Still, in general it captured the sound of the band live
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The Arista Years
The next three Dregs albums were all on Arista Records, (Clive was actually OK in my book...anyone who would sign The Dregs and Happy the man had to bit a little out there! of course, then again....he did sign O-Town...):
1980 Dregs of the Earth - our first of three with Steve Morse producing.
1981 Unsung Heroes - overall, my favorite Dregs album.
1982 Industry Standard - Our attempt to sell out with 2 vocal songs. "Assembly Line" is a really neat tune however.
Other Releases
Later releases by the Dregs that were recorded while I was in the band:
• 1988 Ensoniq Promo - Dregs/Off the Record - re-recordings of "Leprechaun Promenade" and "Take it off the top" done at Steve's studio when we all got together for 2 or 3 days.
• 1989 The Best of the Dregs - Divided We Stand - a sampler of the Arista recordings plus a live version of "Take it off the top". If you are only buying one album, this one represents us well. I think all really worth having though :)
• 1997 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents the Dixie Dregs - a very good live recording.
• 1998 The Show That Never Ends - King Biscuit Best of Progressive Rock - 2 cuts from the previously mentioned King Biscuit Flower Hour along with ELP, Renaissance, Gentle Giant, Rick Wakeman, and Greg Lake. It's cool to be included with Gentle Giant...
• Date ? - Alive Down South - Polygram Records - A bunch of southern rock bands recorded live at "Rebel Jam" in 1978. Two tracks, "Take it off the top"(will it never end?) and "Macon Bacon" which is not recorded anywhere else. The largest crowd we ever played to...