Beatin' the Odds

"Beatin' The Odds" is the third studio album by American southern rock band Molly Hatchet, released in 1980. This album is Molly Hatchet's first with vocalist Jimmy Farrar, who replaced original vocalist Danny Joe Brown. Farrar's vocals were noticeably different than Brown's, which were a defining factor in Molly Hatchet's sound.

The album was produced by British producer Tom Werman, who at the time had already produced albums for Cheap Trick and Ted Nugent. Werman brought in synths and layered guitar harmonies that were not present in previous albums, pushing the sound towards more commercial hard rock rather than southern and country rock elements that were prevalent before.

Despite the changes in the band's sound, "Beatin' The Odds" proved to be a success; it peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold status. The title track became a rock radio hit, and "Penthouse Pauper" was another highlight of the album. Other notable tracks include "Few and Far Between" and "Double Talker".

The album artwork, like their previous album, was created by fantasy artist Frank Frazetta. The artwork for "Beatin' The Odds" is a painting called "Dark Kingdom", which continues the band's association with Frazetta's work.

Overall, while "Beatin' The Odds" saw the band shifting towards a more commercial sound, it maintained their hard rock essence and was received positively by their fans.