Seatrain (band)
Encyclopedia
Seatrain was an American
roots fusion
band based initially in Marin County
, California
, and later in Marblehead
, Massachusetts
. Seatrain was formed after the breakup of the Blues Project
in 1969. The group, which recorded four albums, disbanded in 1973.
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.
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 By then, Blumenfeld, Gregory, and Kretmar had been replaced by drummer Larry Atamanuik, keyboardist Lloyd Baskin, and Earth Opera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
".
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. 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
roots fusion
Roots rock
Roots rock is a term now used to describe rock music that looks back to rock's origins in folk, blues and country music. It is particularly associated with the creation of hybrid sub-genres from the later 1960s including country rock and Southern rock, which have been seen as responses to the...
band based initially in Marin County
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and later in Marblehead
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Seatrain was formed after the breakup of the Blues Project
Blues Project
The Blues Project is a band from the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City that was formed in 1965 and originally split up in 1967. While their songs drew from a wide array of musical styles, they are most remembered as one of the earliest practitioners of psychedelic rock, as well as one...
in 1969. The group, which recorded four albums, disbanded in 1973.
Band history
Flutist/bassistBassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Andy Kulberg
Andy Kulberg
Andy Kulberg was an American musician notable for his bass playing with the groups Blues Project and Seatrain....
and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Roy Blumenfeld of Blues Project
Blues Project
The Blues Project is a band from the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City that was formed in 1965 and originally split up in 1967. While their songs drew from a wide array of musical styles, they are most remembered as one of the earliest practitioners of psychedelic rock, as well as one...
formed the band with Jim Roberts, ex-Mystery Trend guitarist John Gregory, former Jim Kweskin Jug Band
Jim Kweskin
Jim Kweskin is the founder of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, with Fritz Richmond, Mel Lyman, and Geoff and Maria Muldaur...
violinist/fiddler Richard Greene
Richard Greene (fiddle player)
Richard Greene is a violinist and "one of the most innovative and influential fiddle players of all time".-Biography:...
, 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.
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
Earth Opera
Earth Opera was an American psychedelic rock group, active during 1967-1969 and featuring Peter Rowan and David Grisman.-History:Both Rowan and Grisman were virtuoso folk and bluegrass performers in Boston clubs, who became caught up in the changes in the music scene in the mid 1960s...
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
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
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
Orange Blossom Special (song)
The fiddle tune "Orange Blossom Special", about the passenger train of the same name, was written by Ervin T. Rouse in 1938. The original recording was created by Ervin and Gordon Rouse in 1939. It is considered the best known fiddle tune of the twentieth century and is often called simply The...
".
George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
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. However, Rowan and Greene left the band soon after to form Muleskinner, while Roberts and Atamanuik joined the backing band of Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
. 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.
1968 - 1969
- Don Kretmar - sax/bass
- John Gregory - guitar/vocals
- Roy Blumenfeld - drums
- Andy KulbergAndy KulbergAndy Kulberg was an American musician notable for his bass playing with the groups Blues Project and Seatrain....
- bass/flute - Richard Greene - violin
- Jim Roberts - vocals
1969
- Andy KulbergAndy KulbergAndy Kulberg was an American musician notable for his bass playing with the groups Blues Project and Seatrain....
- bass/flute - Richard Greene - violin
- Don Kretmar - sax/bass
- Jim Roberts - vocals
- Teddy Irwin - guitar
- Red Shepherd - vocals
- Bobby Moses - drums
1969
- Andy KulbergAndy KulbergAndy Kulberg was an American musician notable for his bass playing with the groups Blues Project and Seatrain....
- bass/flute - Richard Greene - violin
- Don Kretmar - sax/bass
- Red Shepherd - vocals
- Elliot Randall - guitar
- Billy Williams - drums
1969 - 1972
- Andy KulbergAndy KulbergAndy Kulberg was an American musician notable for his bass playing with the groups Blues Project and Seatrain....
- bass/flute - Richard Greene - violin
- Peter Rowan - guitar/vocals
- Lloyd Baskin - keyboards/vocals
- Larry Atamanuik - drums
1972 - 1973
- Andy KulbergAndy KulbergAndy Kulberg was an American musician notable for his bass playing with the groups Blues Project and Seatrain....
- bass/flute - Lloyd Baskin - keyboards/vocals
- Peter Walsh - guitar
- Bill Elliot - keyboards
- Julio Coronado - drums
Discography
- Sea TrainSea Train (1969 album)Sea Train is a debut album by the band Seatrain, recorded in 1969. The band was created from the former members of Blues Project.- Track listing :# Sea Train 4:12# Let the Duchess No 3:42...
(1969) - SeatrainSeatrain (album)Seatrain is a second album by the band Seatrain, recorded in 1970 and adding Peter Rowan on guitar and lead vocals. Produced by George Martin, this was his first-ever record he produced after The Beatles...
(1970) - The Marblehead MessengerThe Marblehead MessengerThe Marblehead Messenger is a third album the band Seatrain, recorded in 1971. As with Seatrain's previous album, it was produced by George Martin.- Track listing :# Gramercy 2:59...
(1971) - WatchWatch (Seatrain album)Watch is the fourth and final album of the band Seatrain, recorded in 1973. It is marked with departure of Peter Rowan and Richard Greene and using of more session musicians on instruments like vibraphone, cello, accordion, tuba and oboe.- Track listing :# Pack of Fools 4:35# Freedom Is the...
(1973)
- Seatrain/Marblehead Messenger (2CD; 1999)
External links
- Seatrain Discography
- Album Reviews (The Blues Project and Seatrain)
- Fan site detailing the band at various stages of its existence.