Chances are you're never heard of Sweetwater. Here's their Wikipedia entry if you want to know more:
Let me give you a quick summary. The band put out their debut album in 1968. They were led by female vocalist Nancy Nivens. Many people likened them to the Jefferson Airplane, with Nivens sounding a bit like Grace Slick. Wikipedia calls their style "psychedelic folk."
Their appearance at Woodstock was their big break. They started to get some TV appearances, and it seemed like they were going to become a major band. But then, just a few months after Woodstock, Nivens was severely injured when a car that was hit by a drunk driver. She was in a coma for ten days and she almost died. Her vocal chords were damaged when she had a tracheotomy surgery to help save her life. Afterwards, she could still sing, but she lost much of her vocal range and things were never the same. She only sang a few songs on their next album. Without Nivens' vocals, the band struggled and broke up a couple of years later.
In my opinion, this tragic series of events explains why Sweetwater isn't better known. But they were a very good band, and luckily we have an excellent recording of them at their full power at Woodstock. So if you like the music of that era and want to try something new, given this a listen, or their debut album (which is simply called "Sweetwater").
Sweetwater was one of the first full band to play at Woodstock. (Richie Havens and a couple of folk musicians came before them.) As a result, although this is a soundboard recording, I think the recorders were still working some kinks out. I had to make some adjustments that I didn't have to make for other artists who appeared later in the festival. One thing is that the audience applause was very quiet. So I boosted that somewhat when I could.
This album is an hour and two minutes long.
01 talk (Sweetwater)
02 Motherless Child (Sweetwater)
03 talk (Sweetwater)
04 Look Out (Sweetwater)
05 talk (Sweetwater)
06 For Pete's Sake (Sweetwater)
07 talk (Sweetwater)
08 Day Song (Sweetwater)
09 talk (Sweetwater)
10 What's Wrong (Sweetwater)
11 talk (Sweetwater)
12 My Crystal Spider (Sweetwater)
13 Two Worlds (Sweetwater)
14 talk (Sweetwater)
15 Why Oh Why (Sweetwater)
16 Let the Sunshine In (Sweetwater)
17 Oh Happy Day (Sweetwater)
18 talk (Sweetwater)
The album cover is another one I made before my recent computer troubles. The photo is less than ideal, but I used it because it's from their Woodstock performance. If anyone has a better one, please let me know. Nancy Nivens is the one female shown.
Loved their albums so this is most welcome..excellent! Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteStuffy from Sweden
P.S. I don´t know if you are aware of it but Zippyshare has some unwanted pop-ups that now and then tries to block your computer and take it to not so nice places..! Mega and mediafire etc. are safer....D.S.
I'm glad someone appreciates this rather obscure band. Re: Zippyshare, try right clicking the download link and opening in a new window. I hear that gets past the crap.
DeleteI had completely forgotten about Sweetwater. I loved their first album. The second one wasn't as good but much of that I'm sure is due to Nanci's accident. I'll have to dig them out and play them again. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteAlways wanted to hear this. Thanks
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog, and was scanning through past entries when I came upon this one....I was quite a big fan of Sweetwater back in the day: I recall seeing them over an entire weekend (a benefit concert) at a small club in Torrance, California, called Blue Law. They were quite popular in the L.A. area at the time. An unusual -- at the time! -- mixed-race band with a lot of percussion and an amazing female lead singer. Because they opened for a lot of SoCal concerts I probably saw Sweetwater more than any other band in those days.
ReplyDeletecan you re-up this ???
ReplyDeleteFixed.
Deletemany thanks!
ReplyDelete