Classic Rock N Recall: ARS; Southern Rock or Not

Today in Classic Rock History

In 1964
The Rolling Stones released the single "Little Red Rooster" backed with "Off The Hook."

In 1968
Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones bought the farm in which A. A. Milne wrote "Winnie the Pooh."  The property is in Sussex, England.

The Beatles film "Yellow Submarine" had its national premiere.

In 1974
A man impersonating Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore borrowed a Porche in Iowa City and smashed it.  At the time, the real Blackmore was performing in San Francisco.

In 1999
Southern Rock band, Atlanta Rhythm Section drummer R.J. Vealey collapsed ten-minutes into a show in Orlando.  He died of a massive heart attack.  Vealey was 37

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Which brings me to this. Whoever it is that keeps lumping the Atlanta Rhythm Section into the Southern Rock Genre', STOP IT! They are not a southern rock band!

It rankles the cockles of my southern rock spirit to know that this group, while very, very good, is being shoved into this category of Classic Rock, just because they have a Southern sounding name. Creedance Clearwater Revival sounds more like a southern rock band, even though they are from the California Bay Area, than the Atlanta Rhythm Section does.
It's like saying the band 'Mountain,' is southern rock because they have a song titled 'Mississippi Queen'.... COME ON?

The following is a quick google list, of the Best Southern Rock Bands of the 70's.
Primary Practitioners
38 Special (kind of)
AC/DC (NO)
Allman Brothers (YES)
Amazing Rhythm Aces (Not really)
Atlanta Rhythm Section (NO NO NO)
Barefoot Jerry (YES)
Black Oak Arkansas (YES)
Blackfoot (MOST DEFINITELY)
Charlie Daniels Band (OH YES)
Creedence Clearwater Revival (UM... NO)
Def Leppard (They're German! How can they be Southern Rock?)
Dixie Dregs (YES)
Doobie Brothers (No)
Elvin Bishop Band (YES)
Elvis Presley (LOL... Are you kidding me?)
Georgia Satellites (See Atlanta Rhythm Section, above)
Grinderswitch (YES)
Jerry Lee Lewis (NOPE)
Little Richard (NOPE)
Lynyrd Skynyrd (These guys are the KINGS of Southern Rock)
Marshall Tucker Band (Yes... but just barely)
Molly Hatchet (Oh Yes)
Sea Level (Yes)
The Band (The group was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1989...NO!)
The Outlaws (oh Yes)
Wet Willie (little know, but most definitely southern rock)
ZZ Top (oh yea... This 3 piece from Tejas rocks)

Being a Southern Rock Band is more about the music than it is about the location of where the band hails from. It's a certain sound. A type of music that makes you want to get into your car and drive it as fast as it will go. A fire-breathing, raw, unbridled rock that relies heavily on the blue collar work ethic of the families and neighborhoods where these musicians are from. All Good Stuff and All Southern Rock.

Country singer, Travis Tritt and a most awesome band named 'Blackberry Smoke," are two others I would put whole heatedly into what is my favorite type of music. What about 'Government Mule' or 'North Mississippi Allstars?' I say yes, where are these guys on this list that was, no doubt, y made up by some New York, City-Slicker. Anybody remember a local band named 'Blue Ridge Mountain Review?' I love them.

Bands who produced "Souths Gonna Do It Again,' 'Free Bird,'  'Green Grass and High Tides,' and 'Statesborough Blues' are all 100% southern rock bands, NOT THE ONE THAT PRODUCED 'Imaginary Lover.' At least that's my opinion and it's the only one that matters to me?
What do you think?  Southern Rock Yes____ Southern Rock No_______