Seatrain (band)
| Seatrain | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Marin County, California, United States |
| Years active | 1968–1973 |
| Labels | Edsel, Capitol Records, One Way, Wounded Bird |
| Past members | |
| Andy Kulberg Richard Greene Lloyd Baskin Peter Walsh Bill Elliot Peter Rowan Julio Coronado Larry Atamanuik Jim Roberts Don Kretmar Elliot Randall Red Shepherd Teddy Irwin Bobby Moses |
|
Seatrain was an American roots fusion band based initially in Marin County, California, and later in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Seatrain was formed in 1969, subsequently drawing some members from the Blues Project upon its break-up. The group, which recorded four albums, disbanded in 1973.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Band history
Flutist/bassist Andy Kulberg and drummer Roy Blumenfeld of Blues Project formed the band with Jim Roberts, ex-Mystery Trend guitarist John Gregory, former Jim Kweskin Jug Band violinist/fiddler Richard Greene, and saxophonist Don Kretmar. Seatrain recorded their first album, Planned Obsolescence, in 1968, but had to release it as a Blues Project album for contractual reasons. In 1969, they released a self-titled LP (Sea Train), but faced a major change in membership a few months later.[2]
The group's second self-titled album was released in 1970 under the single-word name Seatrain. By then, Blumenfeld, Gregory, and Kretmar had been replaced by drummer Larry Atamanuik, keyboardist Lloyd Baskin, and Earth Opera guitarist Peter Rowan. The album's "13 Questions" was released as a single and became a minor hit in the US, reaching #49 on Billboard's national chart. Other outstanding cuts include a cover of Lowell George's "Willin'", the vocally splendid "Out Where The Hills", the biblically-based "Song of Job", and a raucous electric version of the fiddle classic "Orange Blossom Special".[3]
George Martin produced the album, marking the first time he had acted in that capacity with a rock act since his work with the Beatles. He also produced Seatrain's much-anticipated follow-up album, Marblehead Messenger.[4] However, Rowan and Greene left the band soon after to form Muleskinner, while Roberts and Atamanuik joined the backing band of Emmylou Harris. Kulberg and Baskin replaced these members with guitarist Peter Walsh, keyboardist Bill Elliot, and drummer Julio Coronado, but only released one more album, 1973's Watch.
[edit] Line-ups
[edit] 1968 - 1969
- Don Kretmar - sax/bass
- John Gregory - guitar/vocals
- Roy Blumenfeld - drums
- Andy Kulberg - bass/flute
- Richard Greene - violin
- Jim Roberts - vocals
[edit] 1969
- Andy Kulberg - bass/flute
- Richard Greene - violin
- Don Kretmar - sax/bass
- Jim Roberts - vocals
- Teddy Irwin - guitar
- Red Shepherd - vocals
- Bobby Moses - drums
[edit] 1969
- Andy Kulberg - bass/flute
- Richard Greene - violin
- Don Kretmar - sax/bass
- Red Shepherd - vocals
- Elliot Randall - guitar
- Billy Williams - drums
[edit] 1969 - 1972
- Andy Kulberg - bass/flute
- Richard Greene - violin
- Peter Rowan - guitar/vocals
- Lloyd Baskin - keyboards/vocals
- Larry Atamanuik - drums
[edit] 1972 - 1973
- Andy Kulberg - bass/flute
- Lloyd Baskin - keyboards/vocals
- Peter Walsh - guitar
- Bill Elliot - keyboards
- Julio Coronado - drums
[edit] Discography
- Sea Train (1969)
- Seatrain (1970)
- The Marblehead Messenger (1971)
- Watch (1973)
- Seatrain/Marblehead Messenger (2CD; 1999)
[edit] References
- ^ Info on www.billboard.com
- ^ "Biography: Seatrain". Billboard website. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=5633. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ Seatrain and Bluesproject bio on http://jhendrix110.tripod.com
- ^ Crouse, Tim (November 25, 1971). "Album Review: Marblehead Messenger". Rolling Stone website. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/seatrain/albums/album/213954/review/5942072/the_marblehead_messenger. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ Seatrain line-ups on www.classicwebs.com
[edit] External links
- Seatrain Discography
- Album Reviews (The Blues Project and Seatrain)
- Fan site detailing the band at various stages of its existence.
