Earth Opera ( founder member Rowan later joined Seatrain ) was formed in Boston US in 1967 by singer, guitarist and songwriter Peter Rowan and David Grisman: piano, mandolin, cello etc. John Nagy played bass, Bill Stephenson played keyboards and Paul Dillon Drums
The band had the idea to combine elements from rock, folk, bluegrass, classical and jazz, and they succeeded in creating a unique sound; also with the help of Rowan´s high bright voice. Their lyrics were often critical of society. After having released two albums in 1968 and 1969 they split up.
Sea Train was formed in 1968 by bassist and flutist Andy Kulberg and Roy Blumenfield. They had played together in the legendary Blues Project. Due to contactical reasons their first recording were released in the name of The Blues Project. Later violin player Richard Greene joined the line-up
Having signed with AM Records they finally succeeded in getting an album released in their own. At that time the band had also been joined by guitarist and vocalist John Gregory, bassist Donald Kretmar and lyricist James T Roberts.
They split up shortly after, but Greene and Kulberg reformed soon after with Peter Rowan, Lloyd Baskin ( keyb + vocals), Larry Atamanuik ( drums ) with Robert still contributing lyrics.
They split up shortly after, but Greene and Kulberg reformed soon after with Peter Rowan, Lloyd Baskin ( keyb + vocals), Larry Atamanuik ( drums ) with Robert still contributing lyrics.
They released two highly acclaimed albums in 1971. In 1972 only Kulberg and Baskin were still there; and they reorganised the band one final time to do one more unsuccessful ( commercially and artistically ) album for Warner Brothers in 1973.
Band Members:
Peter Rowan: Born 1942. Composer, vocals, guitar. Rowan was a founder member of Earth Opera who later joined Seatrain to play on their legendart send and third albums
David Grisman: Born 1945. Multi-instrumentalist. Founder member of Earth Opera
John Nagy : Bassist in Earth Opera
Bill Stephenson: Keyboards in Earth Opera.
Paul Dillon: Bass. Drummer in Earth Opera
Andy Kulberg: Born 1944. Bass and flute. Founder member of Seatrain who is featured on all 4 albums.
Roy Blumenfeld: Born 1944. Drums. Founder member who is playing on the first 3 albums
Richard Greene: Born: 1945. Violin. Greene´s personal vioin-playing was essentail to the Sea Train sound. Plays on the first 3 albums.
John Gregory: Guitarist and vocals. Only present on the first Seatrain album
Donald Kretmar: Bassist. Only present on the first Seatrain album
James T (Jim) Roberts: Lyrics. Contributed to the first 3 albums
Lloyd Baskin: Keyboars and vocals. Plays on the 2nd , 3rd and 4th album
Larry Atamanuik: Drums. Plays on the 2nd and 3rd album
Peter Walsh: Guitar and vocals on last album
William Elliot: Keyboars on last album
Julio Coronado: Drums on last album
1. Projections ( Blues Project ) - Verve Forecast / FTS 3008 1966
Tracks:
1.
I Can't Keep From Crying / 2. Steve's Song / 3. You Can't Catch Me / 3. Two Trains Running / 4. Wake Me, Shake Me / 5. Cheryl's Going Home / 6. Flute Thing / 7. Caress Me Baby / 8. Fly Away
Rating : 6
2 Earth Opera - Elektra EKS 74016 - 1968
Tracks:
1. Red Sox Are Winning / 2. As It Is Before / 3. Dreamless / 4. To Care at All / 5. Home of the Brave / 6. Child Bride / 7. Close Your Eyes and Shut the Door / 8. Time and Again / 9. When You Were Full of Wonder / 10. Death by Fire
Rating : 7
3. The Great American Eagle Tragedy - Elektra EKS 74038 - 1969
Tracks:
1. Home to You / 2. Mad Lydia's Waltz / 3. Alfie Finney / 4. Sanctuary From the Law / 5. All Winter Long / 6. Great American Eagle Tragedy / 7. Roast Beef Love / 8. It's Love
Rating : 7
4. Planned Obsolescence - Verve FTS 3046 ( released as Blues Project) 1969
Tracks:
1. If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody / 2. Calypso / 3. Frank 'N' Curt: Incensed / 4. Turtle Dove / 5. Mojo Hannah / 6. Niartaes Hornpipe / 7. Endless Sleep / 8. She Raised Her Hand / 9. Dakota Recollection / 10. Gentle Dreams [*]
Rating :
5. Sea Train - AM Records SP 4171 - 1969
Tracks:
1. Sea Train / 2. Let the Duchess No / 3. Pudding Street / 4. Portrait of the Lady as a Young Artist / 5. As I Lay Losing / 6. Rondo / 7. Sweet Creek's Suite / 8. Outwear the Hills
Rating : 7
6. Sea Train - Capitol SP 4171 - 1970
Tracks:
1. I'm Willin' / 2. Song Of Job / 3. Broken Morning / 4. Home To You / 5. Out Where The Hills / 6. Waiting For Elijah / 7. 13 Questions / 8. Oh My Love / 9. Sally Goodin' / 10. Creepin' Midnight / 11. Orange Blossom Special
Rating : 7
7. Marblehead Messager - Capitol SMAS 829 1971
Tracks:
1. Gramercy / 2. State of Georgia's Mind / 3. Protestant Preacher / 4. Lonely's Not the Only Way to Go / 5. How Sweet Thy Song / 6. Marblehead Messenger / 7. London Song / 8. Mississippi Moon / 9. Losing All the Years / 10. Despair Tire
Rating : 7
8. Watch - Warner BS 2692 - 1973
Tracks:
1. Pack of Fools / 2. Freedom Is the Reason / 3. Bloodshot Eyes / 4. We Are Your Children Too / 5. Abbeville Fair / 6. North Coast / 7. Scratch / 8. Watching the River Flow / 9. Flute Train
Rating : 5
Essential Albums!
Original albums as listed and rated on “Rate Your Music” - August 25 - 2014
83 Projections - 1966
482 Seatrain - 1969
581 Great American Eagle Tragedy - 1969
789 Earth Opera - 1968
860 Planned Obsolescence - 1968
Check and Rate Here!
December 25 - "rateyourmusic.com"
My Suggestion For a 80 minutes (app.) Best Of Compilation:
1. Home to You ( Rowan ) Great American Eagle Tragedy
2. Alfie Finney ( Dillon) Great American Eagle Tragedy
3. All Winter Long ( Rowan ) Great American Eagle Tragedy
4. Great American Eagle Tragedy ( Rowan ) Great American Eagle Tragedy
5. Let The Duchess No ( Gregory/Roberts ) Sea Train 69
6. Rondo ( Gregory/Roberts ) Sea Train 69
7. Outwear the Hills ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Sea Train 69
8. I'm Willin´ ( George ) Sea Train 71
9. Song of Job ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Sea Train 71
10. Home to You ( Rowan ) Sea Train 71
11. Waiting for Elijah ( Rowan ) Sea Train 71
12. London Song ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Marblehead Messenger
13. Mississippi River ( Rowan ) Marblehead Messenger
14. Despair Tire ( Greene/Kulberg/Roberts ) Marblehead Messenger
15. Roast Beef Love ( Rowan ) Great American Eagle Tragedy
16. It's Love ( Rowan ) Great American Eagle Tragedy
17. Sea Train ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Sea Train 69
18. As I Lay Losing ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Sea Train 69
19. Out Where the Hills ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Sea Train 71
20. Creepin´ Midnight ( Goffin/King ) Sea Train 71
21. Gramercy ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Marblehead Messenger
22. The State of Georgias´s Mind ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Marblehead Messenger
23. Protestant Preacher ( Rowan ) Marblehead Messenger
24. Marblehead Messenger ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Marblehead Messenger
25. When You Were Full of Wonder ( Rowan ) Earth Opera
26. To Care at All ( Rowan ) Earth Opera
27. Close Your Eyes and Shut the Door ( Rowan ) Earth Opera
28. Dreamless ( Rowan ) Earth Opera
29. Pack of Fools ( Kulberg/Roberts ) Watch
30. Cheryl's Going Home ( Lind ) Projections
31. Fly Away ( Reed ) Projections
32. Steve's Song ( Katz ) Projections
LINKS:
The Official Peter Rowan Homepage
George Starosin's Sea Train Page
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