Swampwater
Encyclopedia
Swampwater was an American
country rock
band, that formed and started out initially as Linda Ronstadt
’s backing group in the late 1960s, soon after she went solo. They are famous for incorporating cajun
and swamp-rock elements into their music. Its members included cajun fiddler
Gib Guilbeau
, John Beland, before either of them joined The Flying Burrito Brothers
, with Stan Pratt, Thad Maxwell, and Eric White (Clarence White
of The Byrds
' brother). Swampwater would go on to back Ronstadt in 1971 on TV's The Johnny Cash Show
, and their appearance on the show would help Swampwater secure a recording contract
with RCA
.
They combined California
country rock with influences from bands such as The Byrds
, The Dillards, Hearts & Flowers, the Beach Boys
and the Everly Brothers. Their stylized guitar riffs would coincidentally be influential in the early records of the Eagles.
Guilbeau and Gene Parsons had released a few early country-rock singles
in the late 1960s, as well as an album
which was released in 1970, although recorded in 1968. The two recruited Clarence White in 1968 to record the Nashville West album. Eric White was also in the band and, prior to forming Swampwater, had been in the Kentucky Colonels. Swampwater made two albums in the early 1970s without Linda Ronstadt’s involvement.
Swampwater's first album, titled Swampwater, was released on Starday King Records in 1970. The album was recorded in four days in New Mexico
, at a four track studio
owned and operated by the record producer
, John Wagner
. The band was in between touring with Ronstadt. The band's second album was also titled Swampwater, but this time was released by RCA. The album was recorded in Hollywood, California as well as in Nashville, Tennessee
. In Nashville, Swampwater utilized steel guitar
ists, Curly Chalker
and Jimmy Day.
Swampwater can be heard on Larry Murray
's Verve
debut album, Sweet Country Suite. After leaving Ronstadt, the band went to work with the singer-songwriter
, Arlo Guthrie
, touring the country and appearing with him at the Hollywood Bowl
.
Beland left the group to embark on a solo career, and was signed to Apple Records
while on tour in the UK
in 1972. The band continued on for a few months with Guthrie, but soon disbanded. Guilbeau went on to join the Flying Burrito Brothers, as well as a brief stint with the New Riders of the Purple Sage
. In 1980, Beland rejoined Guilbeau in the Flying Burrito Brothers. This re-union led to nine hit country singles in the 1980s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
band, that formed and started out initially as Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
’s backing group in the late 1960s, soon after she went solo. They are famous for incorporating cajun
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...
and swamp-rock elements into their music. Its members included cajun fiddler
Fiddler
A fiddler is a person who plays a fiddle or violin.Fiddler may also refer to:*Fabrangen Fiddlers, an American musical group founded in 1971*Tupolev Tu-28 "Fiddler", a fighter aircraft*Fiddler , a DC Comics villain...
Gib Guilbeau
Gib Guilbeau
Floyd August "Gib" Guilbeau is an American country-rock musician and songwriter. As a member of Nashville West, Swampwater, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Guilbeau helped pioneer the fusion of rock and country music in the 1960s....
, John Beland, before either of them joined The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers was an early country rock band, best known for its influential debut album,The Gilded Palace of Sin . Although the group is most often mentioned in connection with country rock legends Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, the group underwent many personnel changes.-Original...
, with Stan Pratt, Thad Maxwell, and Eric White (Clarence White
Clarence White
Clarence White was a guitar player for Nashville West, The Byrds, Muleskinner, and the Kentucky Colonels. His parents were Acadians from New Brunswick, Canada...
of The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
' brother). Swampwater would go on to back Ronstadt in 1971 on TV's The Johnny Cash Show
The Johnny Cash Show (TV series)
The Johnny Cash Show was an American television music variety show hosted by Johnny Cash. The Screen Gems 58-episode series ran from June 7, 1969 to March 31, 1971 on ABC; it was taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The show reached No...
, and their appearance on the show would help Swampwater secure a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
.
They combined 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...
country rock with influences from bands such as The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, The Dillards, Hearts & Flowers, the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
and the Everly Brothers. Their stylized guitar riffs would coincidentally be influential in the early records of the Eagles.
Guilbeau and Gene Parsons had released a few early country-rock singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in the late 1960s, as well as an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
which was released in 1970, although recorded in 1968. The two recruited Clarence White in 1968 to record the Nashville West album. Eric White was also in the band and, prior to forming Swampwater, had been in the Kentucky Colonels. Swampwater made two albums in the early 1970s without Linda Ronstadt’s involvement.
Swampwater's first album, titled Swampwater, was released on Starday King Records in 1970. The album was recorded in four days in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, at a four track studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
owned and operated by the record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, John Wagner
John Wagner
John Wagner is a comics writer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1949 and moved to Scotland as a boy. Alongside Pat Mills, Wagner was responsible for revitalising British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has continued to be a leading light in British comics ever since.He is best known for his work on...
. The band was in between touring with Ronstadt. The band's second album was also titled Swampwater, but this time was released by RCA. The album was recorded in Hollywood, California as well as in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. In Nashville, Swampwater utilized steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
ists, Curly Chalker
Curly Chalker
Harold Lee Chalker , better known as Curly Chalker, was an American country and jazz musician and pioneering pedal steel guitarist...
and Jimmy Day.
Swampwater can be heard on Larry Murray
Larry Murray
Vice Admiral Larry E. Murray, CMM, CD is a Canadian retired civil servant, retired Vice Admiral and former acting Chief of the Defence Staff.-Military career:...
's Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
debut album, Sweet Country Suite. After leaving Ronstadt, the band went to work with the singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Davy Guthrie is an American folk singer. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo often sings songs of protest against social injustice...
, touring the country and appearing with him at the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
.
Beland left the group to embark on a solo career, and was signed to Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
while on tour in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1972. The band continued on for a few months with Guthrie, but soon disbanded. Guilbeau went on to join the Flying Burrito Brothers, as well as a brief stint with the New Riders of the Purple Sage
New Riders of the Purple Sage
New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco, California in 1969, and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead. Their best known song is "Panama Red"...
. In 1980, Beland rejoined Guilbeau in the Flying Burrito Brothers. This re-union led to nine hit country singles in the 1980s.