Highway Song (Live 1981)

The song Highway Song (Live 1981) by Blackfoot, featured on the album The Source Concert, is a high-energy Southern rock anthem that captures the band’s raw live performance prowess. According to a Songfacts interview with frontman Rickey Medlocke, the song was inspired during a tour van ride along Route 81 near Winchester, Virginia. Medlocke began crafting the opening lyrics, “Another day another dollar, after I’ve sang and hollered,” and the song took shape from there. Its extended guitar solo, often compared to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird, became a hallmark of Blackfoot’s live shows, showcasing their dual guitar attack led by Medlocke and Charlie Hargrett. Fans on Reddit have noted the song’s “borderline metal” energy in live recordings, with some calling it Blackfoot’s attempt to craft their own epic in the vein of Southern rock classics.

Another piece of trivia comes from fan reviews on Amazon, where a listener who attended Blackfoot’s 1981 Donnington performance described the band’s live rendition of Highway Song as “blowing the place apart.” The reviewer praised drummer Jakson Spires’ thunderous performance, claiming he was “probably the best live drummer” they had ever seen. The song’s lyrics also weave in references to earlier Blackfoot tracks, such as “Big Wheels” from their 1975 debut No Reservations and “Flyin’ High” from their 1976 album, a nod to their discography that longtime fans, or “Zoo Freaks” in this context, might catch during a spin at THE ZOO radio station. Medlocke dedicated live performances of the song to Spires after his passing in 2005, as noted in a Ticketmaster review from a 2015 concert, adding an emotional layer to its legacy.

Blackfoot began in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969, initially under the name Fresh Garbage, inspired by a song from the psychedelic rock band Spirit. The core lineup—Rickey Medlocke (vocals, guitar), Charlie Hargrett (guitar), Greg T. Walker (bass), and Jakson Spires (drums)—came together after Medlocke and Walker met Hargrett and keyboardist Ron Sciabarasi in Jacksonville. According to Wikipedia, the band played local gigs at The Comic Book Club before adopting the name Blackfoot to honor the Native American heritage of its members, including Medlocke’s Lakota Sioux and Blackfoot ancestry and Spires’ Cheyenne and Cherokee roots. Medlocke, who learned to play a miniature banjo from his bluegrass musician grandfather Shorty Medlocke at age three, brought a versatile musical background, mastering guitar, drums, and vocals. After a brief stint with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1971, Medlocke reformed Blackfoot in 1972, leading to Juno, focusing on their growing success with albums like Strikes (1979), which featured Highway Song and Train, Train.

Blackfoot’s official website is www.blackfoot.rocks, where fans can find tour dates, merchandise, and band updates. Their Facebook page shares live performance clips and fan interactions, while their Instagram features behind-the-scenes photos and concert announcements. On X, the band posts about upcoming shows and engages with fans. For fan communities, the Blackfoot Fans Facebook Group is a vibrant space where Zoo Freaks can discuss the band’s music, share rare live recordings, and organize meetups at concerts. Additionally, Blackfoot’s Fan Zone on their official website offers a forum for fans to connect and share stories about songs like Highway Song.