Aug 17, 2012 Playlist

Hippie Xmas

"Potlatch" by Redbone (1970)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Redbone  "Potlatch"  1970 (USA)
Redbone scored three pop hits in the 1970's and are best remembered as "the first Native American rock band", though there is much more to the story than that.   Founding brothers Pat & Lolly Vegas (born Vasquez) were actually mixed race Mexican-American-Indians, and the band's name is really a Cajun term for a mixed race person (though they were born and raised in California Redbone always displayed a strong affection for New Orleans styles and references).  But before founding the band (allegedly at the encouragement of Jimi Hendrix who was himself a quarter Cherokee), the Vegas boys had already written a hit for P.J. Proby, appeared on the Shindig! TV show and perhaps most amazingly of all -- in the mid-sixties they gave music lessons to young Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina, who went on to become the legendary rhythm section of Crazy Horse!  But what about Redbone's music?  A pretty amazingly eclectic mix of rock, funk, jazz, Cajun and not nearly as many "Indian" touches as you might expect.  In particular the late Lolly Vegas was a great unsung lead guitarist, playing ghostly jazzy figures through a rotating Leslie speaker:  I've never heard anybody else who sounds quite like him (though the closest in style might be Frank Zappa!)  Potlatch was Redbone's second album from 1970, and is among their finest LP's.
The only Redbone video I could find were their big hits:  "Come And Get Your Love" (sung by Lolly) and "The Witch Queen Of New Orleans" (sung by Pat).  And here's a real blast from the past:  the Vegas brothers on Shindig!
(N) = New Release
Artist Song Album Year (label) Country
Chuck Berry
Reelin' And Rockin' (live)
 		The London Chuck Berry Sessions
1972
USA
Dr. John
Wang Dang Doodle (Willie Dixon - live)
 		Mar Y Sol (various artists compilation)
1972
USA
Brian Auger's Oblivion Express
Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris - live)
 		Live Oblivion, Volume II
1974
UK
 
  
Redbone
Maggie
 		Potlatch
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1970
USA
Redbone
Perico / Fate
 		Message From A Drum
1971
USA
Redbone
Judgement Day / Without Reservation
 		Potlatch
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1970
USA
XIT
Reservation Of Education
 		Silent Warrior
1973
USA
 
  
The Bama Lamas
Sambuca
 		B-side 7" single (split release)
2010
USA
Bull
Everybody Wanna Do
 		This Is Bull
1970
USA
Black Oak Arkansas
Bump And Grind
 		X-Rated1975
USA
Balcone's Fault
You Can Do It
 		It's All Balcone's Fault
1977
USA
Dixie Dregs
Punk Sandwich
 		Night Of The Living Dregs
1979
USA
Tin Huey
Chinese Circus / Puppet Wipes
 		Contents Dislodged During Shipment
1979
USA
 
  
Bodacious D.F.
Drivin' Me Crazy
 		Bodacious D.F. 1973
USA
Green Lyte Sunday
My Own Time
 		Green Lyte Sunday
1970
USA
Bloodrock
Lucky In The Morning
 		Bloodrock 2
1970
USA
Jukka Tolonen
Elements
 		Tolonen!
1974
Finland
Heino
Treue Bergvagabunden
 		Seine Grossen Erfolge
c. 1970
Germany
Osmosis
Sunshine / Shadows
 		Osmosis
1970
USA
Herbie Mann
Bedouin
 		St. Thomas
1967
USA
 
 
Return To Forever
After The Cosmic Rain
 		Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy
1973
USA
Billy Cobham
Shabazz (live)
 		Shabazz (Recorded Live In Europe)
1975
Panama/USA
John Abercrombie
Lungs
 		Timeless
1975
USA
 
 
Tony Motolla with The Groovies (aka The Free Design)
Kites Are Fun (The Free Design)
 		Warm Wild Wonderful
1968
USA
Ted Heath & His Orchestra
Good Morning Starshine (Oliver)
 		The Big Ones
1970
UK
Claude Denjean & His Synthesizer
Na Na Hey Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) (Steam)
 		Moog!
1970
France/Canada
                 
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