YOUR SEATRAINS TONIGHT

Mike Hurst mentions that the most interesting album in his collection is by Seatrain. He says he got it in 1968 or 69 and praises the unbelievable recording technique. It could be one of two albums with the same title. The first was released on A&M in 1969, the second on Capitol in 1970. The A&M album is truly obscure, but the comment on the recording quality would make me think it¹s the Capitol one, which was produced by George Martin at AIR in London. This had a reasonable amount of attention at the time, with comparisons to The Band in early reviews. It is a stunning album, and appeared on CD too in 1990, though the CD was scruffily presented with the wrong track idents. I see that there’s a current 2-on-1 CD release where it’s coupled with its follow- up, Marblehead Messenger. The 1969 A&M release is also available on CD. The Capitol album includes an early cover of Little Feat’s I’m Willin’, (after their original, but before the more laid back version on Sailing Shoes). It’s taken at a hectic pace, and was the first place I ever heard the song. It just about equals Little Feat’s 1972 version. There’s a fabulous Goffin-King song, Creepin’ Midnight. There are long violin workouts from Richard Greene on Sally Goodin and OBS (Orange Blossom Special). If you like rock violin, you won’t find a better album. Drummer Larry Atamanuik has played with Emmylou Harris and Alison Krause more recently, and there is a further Band connection as he went on to play with Ronnie Hawkins. If Mike would like to see Seatrain in action, they appear on one of of the bonus tracks on the Festival Express DVD.

by Peter Viney
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