Album Review – John Schneider’s “Truck On”
Yes, John Schneider. The guy from that show. And no, I never thought I would be reviewing an album from Bo Duke either, and I’m kind of conflicted about it even as we speak—not because of what was painted on the top of a Dodge Charger in the early 80’s, or even that John Schneider is known as a bad musical performer. It’s because this guy has presented one of the weirdest musical careers of all time and in any genre. But being a sucker for country trucker songs and hearing he released an album of them, I got sucked in. And I’ve got to say ladies and gentlemen, it’s not bad at all.
If you think it’s tough to make it in the world right now because at some point in the past someone snapped a photo of you within shouting distance of the Confederate flag as prudish social media hall monitor types go scouring the internet looking for evidence to destroy anyone’s life and career, try being the dude who jumped creek beds in the General Lee for seven straight seasons on CBS while running from Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. Well, actually that was a stunt double, but don’t tell my 7-year-old self that.
But really the biggest burden on taking the music of John Schneider seriously is the strange way he’s released it. Back between 1984 and 1987 mind you, Schneider assembled four #1 hits and nine straight Top 10’s while signed with MCA. That was not a shabby run at all. John Schneider was a bonafide country star. But since then he’s taken large stints off, and then all of a sudden re-appeared to release huge volumes of albums in rapid succession in the most curious of manners.
For example, in 2009 Schneider released six album alone: John Schneider’s Favorite Hits Vol. 1-3, Lost Schneider Vol. 1 & 2, and a Christmas record. He pulled an even more curious move in 2018 when he released nine records total, six in a series called The Odyssey, one called Greatest Hits: Still, another different project called John Schneider’s Greatest Hits: Still, and of course, yet another Christmas record. Who’s got time to sift through all that to see if there’s something worth listening to?
But with Truck On, it’s just a basic, straight ahead country record full of cool new original songs and some covers, and it’s a lot of fun. Though it’s being sold to the public solely as a trucker record, it’s really only the first three songs that follow that theme exclusively. But what it also comprises is the soundtrack to a movie that John Schneider wrote and directed called Stand On It! that is basically a tribute to 1977’s Smoky and the Bandit, with Schneider and his collaborators reprising major parts of the original movie theme (running beer, a runaway bride) in a refreshed concept.
I can’t vouch for the movie (trailers look pretty low budget), but Truck On was quite enjoyable cover to cover. The first song and title track takes a bit of a contemporary approach to a country trucker tune. But from there, Truck On is full tilt traditional country, with quite a few really well-written songs, and even a trucker epic in the nearly six-minute “Roy” that is part “Convoy,” and part “Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
This is just a really fun record, from the song “Haulin’ Hell and Bayou Bound” that’s both about Smokey and the Bandit and The Dukes of Hazzard with a Jerry Reed approach, to Schneider’s cover of Jimmy Martin’s “Freeborn Man.” But it’s just great country songs like “Cowboys Don’t Get Old” written by Bryan Burns and Johnny Gates, “Drinking Buddy,” “Bottom of the 5th,” and “Comin’ To” by Andrew Pope that comprise the heart of the album with songs that in previous eras would be hits, but these days it’s left to John Schneider to showcase.
Sure, much of what comprises the appeal of Truck On is nostalgia and a dose of stylistic emulation by Schneider as opposed to more original and relevant material and expressions. But it’s fun, it’s cool, it’s country, and it’s worth listening to, unlike much of today’s “country” music. John Schneider brings a very authentic and palpable enthusiasm to this thematic record, and probably releases his best country record since his days of portraying a true modern-day Robin Hood down in Hazzard county.
1 3/4 Guns Up (7.5/10)
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Proceeds from ‘Truck On’ benefit St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps over-the-road/regional semi-truck drivers and their families.
Purchase John Schneider’s Truck On
April 7, 2021 @ 8:31 am
… Haulin’ everything from frozen chicken to toxic waste.
Laughing.
Sounds like they had a ball recording Roy.
April 7, 2021 @ 8:43 am
I’ve seen him in concert with Cody McCarver (formerly of Confederate Railroad), and it wasn’t bad. It was acoustic and in an intimate theater setting where they bs’d with one another and told stories and sang his hits and a few newer Odyssey songs.
If you take the 5 Odyssey albums there are some gems which would come out to about 2 albums of good material, with a lot of throw away.
The movies he’s been doing are very low budget and self shot but enjoyable for fans of the Dukes if you’re willing to go through the trouble of ordering them off his (overpriced)online store
April 7, 2021 @ 8:49 am
Wow “Roy” took me back to my youth in the 70’s driving to El Paso on hwy 10 for our annual summer vacation watching the truckers fly by. Great memories and very fun song.
April 7, 2021 @ 9:07 am
schneider had a couple of minutes at the first farm aid concert at U of I, sandwiched in between john conlee and bb king.
April 7, 2021 @ 9:25 am
“Cowboys Don’t Get Old” would be a great radio tune. I’m sold.
April 7, 2021 @ 9:38 am
There was a Confederate flag painted on the top of the General Lee (I’ll say it)…and every kid had one in their Matchbox collection. Nothing to be ashamed of, it was just the times then. And, it was just a freaking car.
Anyway, I think Schneider has been underrated as an artist. I have all of his albums from the 80s; nice voice, and those records still hold up. I’m glad to see he’s still singing.
April 12, 2021 @ 11:25 am
Completely agree. The paint job on the car does not change what the spirit of the show was, even today. Reality isn’t defined by the Woke.
April 7, 2021 @ 10:25 am
“Hot Rod Lincoln” comes to mind listening to “Roy”. I’m adding the album to my listening list.
April 7, 2021 @ 10:18 pm
Yes!
April 7, 2021 @ 10:28 am
I agree he’s a underrated singer a lot of good songs when you go back and start thinking about them.
April 7, 2021 @ 10:29 am
I recall his MCA albums from the 80s and still have them in my collection. Some good music on them that makes me wonder how successful could he have been had he chosen music ahead of acting. He was a good performer as well. He is a good country singer and this release on the tracks I have heard so far does sound fun and a good country listen.
April 7, 2021 @ 12:06 pm
I’m sure John is glad he didn’t have to find out.
I have no doubt that being the star of a bona fide prime time, major network hit TV program and cultural landmark in the 1970s was a lot more lucrative–and an easier lifestyle–than being a full-time touring, mid-level country music star.
April 7, 2021 @ 3:50 pm
Well, the music gig was good while it lasted, even though “The Dukes Of Hazzard” was indeed much more lucrative in the end.
And it’s instructive to remember that J.S. did have a big #14 pop crossover hit in 1981 with his version of the 1960 Elvis classic “It’s Now Or Never” (still the King’s biggest-selling single, at 25 million copies).
April 8, 2021 @ 1:26 pm
And it’s now or never being a cover of the claasic neapolitan song “o sole mio”
April 7, 2021 @ 12:26 pm
Many of us grew up loving The Dukes, Smokey and The Bandit, Cannonball Run, Jerry Reed, Burt, Convoy, and the like. Even today, i seek out the reruns and look for the other Burt Reynolds movies like Gator, White Lightning and so on. Great fun stuff. Schneider is still here like an old , reliable friend, and making silly stuff like this we relate to. Good on him.
Now, try and explain all this to your 15 year old nephew. ( or grandson) They will look at you like you are from another planet. Totally lost on this generation. Sadly.
April 7, 2021 @ 12:48 pm
My oldest son and I used to get home before his mom and we’d sit in my recliner and watch the Dukes and eat Oreo’s with milk- today he does the same thing with his son, but not everyday the way we did- his son turns 9 this month- the theme song being by Waylon didn’t hurt- I always liked Schneiders voice and he does come across as authentic- these 2 songs are good-uns. Were I still a music buying soul I’d definitely buy them.
April 7, 2021 @ 1:30 pm
I know to most, he is Bo Duke. But to me, he will always be Jonathan Kent.
.
I have heard some of his stuff sporadically over the years. I will give this album and maybe some of his older stuff a shot.
April 7, 2021 @ 1:41 pm
I like his music & he seems like a good guy. He lives in Louisiana and has built a film & music studio on his acreage. He occasionally hosts small festivals there called “Bo’s Extravaganza” complete with a showing by the Gen. Lee jumping police cars, etc. As a matter of fact there is one this weekend. And just to get the cancel culture adherents drooling and lickin’ their chops, Cody McCarver (formely of Confederate Railroad) is performing this time. It’s a nice event. The great grammy winning cajun legend Jo-El Sonnier is also on the bill.
April 7, 2021 @ 1:57 pm
One year ago today the great John Prine died.
April 7, 2021 @ 3:28 pm
during these dark times, it is great to see some one make some fun music that is much needed. really enjoy the roy song
April 7, 2021 @ 4:04 pm
I am not the least bit not surprised John Schneider could pull something like this off. He has a good voice and his hits were pretty solid. I’ll have to check this out.
April 7, 2021 @ 6:45 pm
Okay, somebody has to say it. Truck yeah!
April 7, 2021 @ 9:40 pm
Been a fan since 1979, music, tv and movies.
April 8, 2021 @ 4:34 am
Thanks for covering the truckers music sub-genre, Trig.
April 8, 2021 @ 6:59 am
I feel like a broken record, but the flag painted on the top of the General Lee was NOT the “stars and bars”. The “stars and bars” was the first CSA state flag that consisted of seven white stars (later 13) in a circular pattern on a blue field in the upper left corner with two red and one white horizontal stripers. It looked very similar to the US flag on the battlefield which is what prompted the design of the battle flag of northern Virginia which was depicted on the roof of the General Lee and later (May 1, 1863 “stainless banner” and March 4, 1865 “blood-stained banner”) incorporated into the CSA state flag.
Sorry for going off-topic, I just feel like quantifiable historical data should be presented accurately if it’s going to be presented at all.
April 9, 2021 @ 8:56 pm
Stop calling it the Stars and Bars, that’s a completely different flag. All the media gets it wrong. That is the Battle flag of the confederacy that was on top of the General Lee. Do some research and look up the Stars and Bars, please. The Stars and Bars was the National flag of the confederates. The Battle flag was just that, the Battle flag.
April 9, 2021 @ 8:59 pm
Thanks Tom, I spoke before I read all the remarks.
April 9, 2021 @ 9:08 pm
I remember in the late 80s John lost his recording contract because he was not selling enough albums. Although he was doing great on singles and radio play. He even had some #1 hits.
April 9, 2021 @ 9:24 pm
What was on the cover of Alabama’s albums, My Homes in Alabama, Feels So Right, and Roll On. Should we scrutinize that. No, I don’t think so, it was the times. We thought nothing about it then.
April 9, 2021 @ 9:59 pm
With all due respect Randy, you’re kind of completely missing the point of this article. This is not an article about the Confederate Flag, or whatever incarnation of it you wish to discuss. This is a music review. The brief mention of the Confederate flag was just a contextual wrinkle, but a relevant one with the way some have tried to cancel Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Luke Combs over it just in the last few months.
April 11, 2021 @ 12:06 pm
I’ll certainly give it a listen. I have an album of his from waaayyyyyy back. It wasn’t bad.