Southern Comfort (no relation with any other band by that name), was a late sixties Memphis band led by Bob Jones an American guitarist, singer, drummer and arranger, born in O'ahu, Hawaii. In between 1968 and 1979 Bob recorded five albums with Michael Bloomfield on which he played drums, guitar and sang. During those years he also recorded with Mississippi Fred McDowell, Nick Gravenites, Sam Lay, Harvey Mandel, Otis Rush and Taj Mahal. Between 1970 and 1973 Bob played drums, percussion and sang in the band Alice Stuart & Snake with bassist Karl Sevareid. They toured Europe twice and made two albums for Fantasy Records. He also played drums on two Brewer and Shipley albums.
With Southern Comfort he recorded and released one and only -self-titled- album in 1970, produced by Nick Gravenites and with Mike Bloomfiled contributing co-writing a song. They sound like soul freaks with blues and jazz elements. Other members were Ron Stallings (saxes and vocals) who was born in December 02, 1946 in Houston, Texas, USA Died April 13, 2009 in Berkley, California, USA. Mainly tenor saxophonist who was known as melodic rock and jazz musician, but he also played flute and clarinet. He was member of Huey Lewis & The News from 1994. Also he was a session musician who played with Elvin Bishop, Jerry Garcia, Jesse Colin Young, Merl Saunders, Boz Scaggs, Mike Bloomfield, McCoy Tyner and Gladys Knight, among many others. He joined the Machete Ensemble and co-led the Latin jazz band Que Calor with pianist Mark Levine.
Fred Olson (Fred Burton) guitarist and co-leader, who also played in Bloomfield's several recordings, Steve Funk the keyboard player, John Wilmeth as the trumpeter, and several bass players came in and out like, Bob Huberman, Art Stavro (played with Barry Goldberg, Albert Collins, Harvey Mandel and Elvin Bishop among others) and Karl Sevareid (later joined the Robert Cray band). Although they were very popular with the players at the time (like Tower of Power) and in the bay area, but couldn't get help from CBS to break out nationally. 
Tracks
1. Wild Western Cheetah (Ron Stallings) - 2:48
2. Talkin ‘Bout My Baby (John Kahn) - 3:03
3. Mountain Girl (Ron Stallings, John Kahn, John Wilmeth) - 2:52
4. Ride On Mary (Bob Jones) - 3:23
5. All Day Long (Ron Stallings, John Kahn, Mike Bloomfield, Fred Olson) - 3:28
6. Love Got Me (Arthur Conlay) - 2:48
7. Come and Sit Down Beside Me (John Kahn, Bob Jones, Ron Stallings) - 3:52
8. Get Back (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 3:26
9. Who Knows (John Kahn, Bob Jones, Ron Stallings, Fred Olson, Steve Funk, John Wilmeth, Bob Huberman) - 3:52
10.Just Like A Friend (Bob Jones) - 3:40
Southern Comfort
*Bob Jones - Drums, Vocals
*John Wilmeth - Trumpet, Flügelhorn
*Steve Funk - Organ, Piano
*Art Stavro - Bass
*Ron Stallings - Tenor Sax, Vocals
*Fred Olson - Guitars
*Bob Huberman - Bass
With
*John Kahn - Piano
*Gerald Oshita - Baritone Saxophone, Flute
*Charley Schoning - Piano
What a thrill ! I only wish I had Nick Gravenites Autograph it before [9-18-24 RIP NICK GRAVENITES🌹85🥀 🎼] His Friends & Family Members in SF/Nor-Cal Lost Him recently. It's One of the few Classic &/or Hard to Find LPs that Nick Released, Played or Sang on &/or had Produced or Composed for before his passing & after he'd just released one last EP 'Rogue Blues' (at 85 w/a bad Voice not helping). It was as always w/ KNOWN People: Produced by & Played on w/ Peter Sears (🎹 player for: {UK's Known} Steamhammer; Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, Zero, etc), Jimmy Vivino- Guitar (Canned Heat, eg) et al. Nick is Missed & it's also benefitting from Mike Bloomfield & John Kahn (only Bassist Garcia ever seemed to use/work with) & I think it's all done in California. I'd have to look at the Creds. I don't even own a turntable now but I don't pass on great 🎼 at good prices or if Gravenites was involved! 2 TEST PRESSINGS of The Sndtk to 'Steelyard Blues' says that. Find this Southern Comfort LP; if for no other reason - because of the Gravenites/Bloomfield, John Kahn, other personnel involved reasons. It all comes down to Great Music by people who didn't put their Names on 🐂💨
ReplyDelete"Marios" or Mario's - You've great taste but this is more a Nick Gravenites Production than Kahn's. Nick Produced & then wrote for, joined: Butterfield Blues Band, QMS, Janis Joplin & then joined BB+HCo, ELECTRIC FLAG, Sam Lay, so many others- 'Steelyard Blues' & 'Medium Cool' (Sndtks, more of them w/Bloomfield, -?), Mother Earth, Kathy Nelson, Kathi McDonald, Thunder & Lightning (aka Gravenites -John Cipollina Band or Cipollina -Nick Gravenites Band - depending on what Country they were Touring in!), Barry Goldberg, Mandel in 'Chicago Blues' Reunion', on & on.. Thank You for the Posting; most people think of 'The Matthews... Band'. Let's communicate. Cipollina, Jorma, Mistress, Problem Child, Greg Douglass -?🤔
ReplyDeleteHi Dave Dillon, for more Gravenites chceck here: https://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2017/02/nick-gravenites-and-mike-bloomfield.html
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