Sunday, June 16, 2013

Sea Level - Sea Level (1977 us, classy southern rock jammed with funky jazz tones)



 Keyboardist Chuck Leavell formed the Sea Level quartet in 1976 in the aftermath of the Allman Brothers' first breakup of their post-Duane Allman years, and since two other Sea Level members had also been in the Allmans -- bassist Lamar Williams and original Allmans drummer Jaimoe -- it was tempting to regard the band as an Allman Brothers spinoff, but that wasn't exactly the full story.

Jaimoe and Williams had played together before the Allmans formed, and Sea Level guitarist Jimmy Nalls had been part of Alex Taylor's band -- which also included Leavell -- before both Leavell and Williams had joined the Allmans in the wake of the deaths of Duane and original Allmans bassist Berry Oakley, so the four musicians of Sea Level might be seen as simpatico even outside the Allman Brothers narrative. Of course, the Allmans sound was a major touchstone for Sea Level; certainly, Leavell's pianism had reached its largest audience ever with his solo break on "Jessica," and he would bring similar stylings to his quartet's 1977 eponymous debut album. But Sea Level didn't need to stand in the shadow of any other group, as the debut made clear.

The opening track, the Leavell-penned "Rain in Spain," is as driving and melodic as any Allman Brothers instrumental but also possesses a jazzy harmonic sophistication beyond what the Allmans might have attempted in the lead-in to their first breakup, and the same goes for other instrumental tracks like Leavell's "Tidal Wave," the Neil Larsen composition "Grand Larceny," and certainly the moody, sensitive read of Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair." Leavell also wrote the swampy, funky "Nothing Matters But the Fever," with wah-wah slide guitar from Nalls, woozy, disorienting effects on the piano, and a fine vocal turn from Leavell as well, a bluesy cry from the soul that never crosses the line into histrionics.

Another pleasure of this album derives from Jaimoe's role as sole drummer/percussionist; for those who had only heard him as half of the Allman Brothers' powerful drum tandem with Butch Trucks, his inventiveness, drawing from jazz, blues, rock, soul, and funk idioms, stood out on Sea Level in a way that was revelatory for many listeners. Sea Level was a fine debut from a killer quartet, and with the addition of singer/songwriter and saxophonist Randall Bramblett, guitarist Davis Causey, and drummer George Weaver to the lineup for the recording of the sophomore album Cats on the Coast, it did not seem unreasonable to surmise that this band's future possibilities were nearly without limits.
by Dave Lynch
Tracks
1. The Rain In Spain 6:47
2. Shake A Leg (Edward Hoerner) 3:53
3. Tidal Wave 5:40
4. Country Fool 3:39
5. Nothing Matters But The Fever 7:20
6. Grand Larceny (Neil Larsen) 5:22
7. Scarborough Fair (P. Simon, A.  Garfunkel) 5:32
8. Just A Good Feeling 3:01
All Songs written by Chuck Leavell except where noted.

Sea Level
*Chuck Leavell - Keyboards, Lead Vocals
*Jimmy Nalls - Guitars, Vocals
*Lamar Williams - Bass, Vocals
*Jai Johanny Johanson - Drums, Percussion
with
*Rudolf Carter, Charles Fairley, Earl Ford - Horns
*Leo LaBranche, Donald McClure - Horns

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Matt Taylor - Straight As A Die (1973 aussie, debut solo album, excellent blues rock)



 Matt had been writing songs with an environmental theme so when he heard of Fred Robinson, he became interested in alternative lifestyles. Fairly soon Matt was living on a commune near Beechworth Victoria growing his own food and baking his own bread. After 9 months Matt decided to fast. He lasted 2 weeks on just water. A few days later with a clear mind he thought “I'll tell you, when I was young the world had just begun”, he tuned up his one remaining guitar, sung a melody and wrote down a few words with his gardening pen. The next day he wrote ‘I Remember When I Was Young’.

Matt and his then girlfriend Gillian sold up again and moved to a farm near Frankston. Michael Gudinski visited the farm and asked Matt if he wanted to record for his new label ‘Mushroom Records’. Not ready to record in the city Matt asked if the recording studio could be bought to him. So a few days before the Sunbury Music Festival, Matt and his old Chain mates plus ‘Carson’ guitarist Sleepy Greg Lawrie recorded ‘ I Remember when I was Young’ in a paddock .

'I Remember when I was Young' fought with ‘Sweets’ ‘Ballroom Blitz’ for the No1 spot each in turn. Matt ended up recording three albums for Mushroom and toured with Muddy Waters, Willy Dixon, Jethro Tull and did shows with BB King, Sonny and Brownie, Freddy King, John Mayall and many more before some old friends told Matt and Gillian about Fred Robinsons commune in Western Australia, so they sold up once again and ventured west.
Tracks
1. Mother Nature - 4:48
2. Brisbane to Beechworth - 6:12
3. Simple Decision - 4:45
4. Well Never Be the Same Again - 4:51
5. Chickens - 5:59
6. Hall of Fame - 4:14
7. Krishna Love You Too - 7:12
8. Dance - 3:45
9. I Remember When I Was Young - 3:58
All songs by Matt Taylor

Musicians
*Matt Taylor - Vocals, Harmonica
*Phil Manning - Lead Guitar
*Greg 'Sleepy' Lawrie - Guitar
*Barry Harvey - Drums
*Barry Sullivan - Bass
*Ian Winter - Guitar
*Jibon D.Mandall - Tabla

1975  Old New Intuitive
with Chain
1971  Toward The Blues
more Chain
1969-70  Live
1973  Two Of A Kind

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