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Seatrain was an American jazz rock/roots rock band based initially in Marin County, California, and later in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Seatrain was formed in 1969, subsequently drawing some members from the Blues Project when it broke up. Seatrain recorded four albums and disbanded in 1973.

Band history

Flutist/bassist Andy Kulberg and drummer Roy Blumenfeld of Blues Project formed the band with Jim Roberts, ex-Mystery Trend guitarist John Gregory, former Blue Grass Boy and 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 late 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 By then, Blumenfeld, Gregory, and Kretmar had been replaced by drummer Larry Atamanuik, keyboardist Lloyd Baskin, and Earth Opera guitarist and former Blue Grass Boy Peter Rowan.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 in 1971, and #25 in Canada.

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 1971 follow-up album, The Marblehead Messenger. In September Seatrain toured Great Britain for the first time, usually performing as a support act for Traffic. 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 Elliott, and drummer Julio Coronado, but released only one more album, 1973's Watch.

Line-ups

Source:

1968–1969

• John Gregory – guitars, vocals
• Don Kretmar – saxophone, bass
• Richard Greene – violin
• Andy Kulberg – bass, flute
• Roy Blumenfeld – drums
• Jim Roberts – lyricist

1969

• Don Kretmar – saxophone, bass
• Richard Greene – violin
• Andy Kulberg – bass, flute
• Jim Roberts – lyricist
• Red Shepherd – vocals
• Teddy Irwin – guitars
• Bobby Moses – drums

1969

• Don Kretmar – saxophone, bass
• Richard Greene – violin
• Andy Kulberg – bass, flute
• Red Shepherd – vocals
• Elliot Randall – guitars
• Billy Williams – drums

1969–1972

• Richard Greene – violin
• Andy Kulberg – bass, flute
• Peter Rowan – guitars, vocals
• Lloyd Baskin – keyboards, vocals
• Larry Atamanuik – drums

1972–1973

• Andy Kulberg – bass, vocals, flute
• Lloyd Baskin – keyboards, vocals
• Peter Walsh – guitars
• Bill Elliott – keyboards
• Julio Coronado – drums

Discography

• Sea Train (1969)
• Seatrain (1970) (#36 Canada)
• The Marblehead Messenger (1971)
• Watch (1973)

References

1. Seatrain Allmusic Retrieved 28 September 2024
2. "Seatrain - Biography". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
3. "Biography: Seatrain". Billboard website. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
4. "The Blues Project / Seatrain". Jhendrix110.tripod.com. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
5. "RPM Top 100 Singles - May 15, 1971" (PDF).
6. Crouse, Tim (November 25, 1971). "Album Review: Marblehead Messenger". Rolling Stone website. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
7. "British Dates For Traffic". Sounds. Spotlight Publications. 28 August 1971. p. 1.
8. Gary S. Hartman. "Seatrain". Classicwebs.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
9. "RPM Top 100 Albums - May 15, 1971" (PDF).

External links

• Seatrain Discography
• Album Reviews (The Blues Project and Seatrain)
• Fan site detailing the band at various stages of its existence.
• Seatrain discography at Discogs
• Seatrain at IMDb

• American jazz ensembles
• Marblehead, Massachusetts
• A&M Records artists
• Capitol Records artists
• Warner Records artists