Southwind (Self-Titled)
The 1968 self-titled debut by California based country rock group Southwind is a rather obscure little gem. The unique combination of country, psych, soul, funk, and just good old rock & roll turns this record into a stew of great listening, and really makes this record stand out.
The band’s origins can be traced back to Norman, Oklahoma, while members were attending the University of Oklahoma. Coming together first as a rockabilly-flavored band known as “The Disciples,” the group comprised John “Moon” Martin (guitar, vocals), Jim Pulte (bass, vocals), Phil Hope (organ), and Eric Dalton (drums). Soon after forming, the band scored an opportunity to play at several venues in Wisconsin to delighted audiences. In 1967, the band headed out for the musical promised land of Los Angeles, with The Disciples changing their name to the more contemporary-sounding “Southwind.” The newly-named band started incorporating psychedelic rock, country, blues, soul, and funk into their sound. After playing gigs in and around L.A. for a while, in 1968, Southwind were signed to the tiny MGM subsidiary Venture records, which was a label known for giving lesser-known soul/R&B acts a shot. Nevertheless, the band headed into the studio and laid down tracks for their debut.
The opening tune, the outstanding cover of Bob Dylan’s “You Been On My Mind,” is a blend of country-tinged pop with lush strings. The song features wonderfully beautiful and expressive vocals, and doesn’t sound too far from something an early Nitty Gritty Dirt Band may have cut. Next up is the rave-up soul flavored number “Get On Board The Train,” which asks the listener to get on board of the soul (love?) train before it takes off, undoubtedly leaving them behind in the dust. Track three is the rather dark “I’m Proud To Be,” and is a bit of a psychedelic mini-masterwork, containing very creepy sounding vocals and guitar playing. The last track on side one is also another stand-out, “Got To Get Myself Together,” a plaintive tune of love gone bad and the choice of finally moving on. To my ears, the best track on the album is on side two. “New Orleans (Mardi Gras)” is a song that was deserving of hit status, and was also recorded by Del Shannon for his “The Further Adventures Of Charles Westover” album. The song had the typical late ’60’s flower power sound, complete with very hallucinatory and vivid lyrics, and eerie and dissonant harpsichord and guitar work. The song gives off a definite “loss of glory and happiness of days gone by” vibe. This whole album is full of great tracks.
Southwind released this and a handful of singles before replacing organist Phil Hope with longtime pal Dugg (Fontaine) Brown as a full time member. The group left Venture records for the eccentric and now-legendary Blue Thumb label, releasing their second album “Ready To Ride” in 1970. Southwind’s final effort was the more blues-influenced “What A Strange Place To Land” album in 1971, and not long after the release, the group disbanded. John Martin (now going by his newly-adopted first name of “Moon”) went on to back artists such as Linda Ronstadt and later recorded several solo albums, all of which received little attention. Martin is probably best remembered for writing Robert Palmer’s huge hit “Bad Case Of Lovin’ You (Doctor, Doctor).” Jim Pulte made a couple of solo albums for United Artists, and virtually dropped out of radar. Little is known of the whereabouts of original organist Phil Hope or drummer Eric Dalton. Dugg (Fontaine) Brown has been in the music scene for years, and was at one time connected to music legends Del Shannon and Bob Seger. Brown still writes and records music today.
Sadly, no label to my knowledge has picked up this album to be reissued on CD. The two tracks provided for this review were recorded straight from my personal copy of the vinyl, so you may hear some pops and clicks in places. Search online auction sites such as eBay or scour your local record shops and thrifts in hopes of finding an original vinyl copy. I will say in full confidence that this is an album worthy of the reissue treatment, and it is definitely an album worthy of picking up if you can find it cheap enough. Not a disappointing moment on this record.
“You Been On My Mind”
Original | 1968 | Venture | search ebay ]
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Nice find! sold on this for sure.
Another GREAT review…LOVE LOVE the 2 songs provided! Thanks for introducing me to this band. Will definitely ck them out!
This was a favorite of Greg Shaw – it comes up a number of times in the Bomp book they put out a few years ago. Approach those Jim Pulte records with care, though – maybe if you find them in the dollar bin, but I was pretty disappointed.
I don’t know Matt, I have a copy of Pulte’s Out the Window – produced by Jesse Ed Davis, nonetheless – and I have grown quite fond of it. His vocals are a little eccentric and his songwriting hit-and-miss, sure, but overall it’s a pretty solid slice of red dirt rock and roll. I’m even tempted to call the title track a minor classic, in its own small way…
I thought this was a very well put together review and a great effort to dig up the information on such an obscure group. I loved the 2 tunes you posted. They leave you wanting to hear more.
Eric Dalton played with the Flying Burrito Brothers for some weeks in early 1972. There is a live double album with him called “Live in Amsterdam”, released by Ariola (Holland only). (Rick Roberts, Kenny Wertz, Byron Berline, Alan Munde, Roger Bush, Eric Dalton, Don Beck)
Moon Martin is a huge hit in France and across Europe. He has recorded many great albums as a solo artist and continues to record in Los Angeles. His songs are classic and his voice is amazing. Check him out. You won’t be sorry.
After a last tour with a version of the Flying Burrito Bros – Hot Burrito band in 1973 .. and a revived version of Southwind in the late 1970s .. Erik Dalton earned his philosophy and clinical psychology degrees from the University of Oklahoma. He attended learning institutions including the Menninger Foundation, Mueller College of Holistic Studies, Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Rolf® Institute of Structural Integration (1980s), and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Freedom From Pain Institute.
I saw them at the Eastown Theater in Detroit in 1970. They were touring with Savoy Brown and Renaissance. I do remember some of it and they were pretty good.
I have followed this band since the early days when they were the Disciples…they would swing down about 3 hours to Wichita Falls, Texas in 1965, and 1966 and play our high school dances…They were the best band by far BUT not rockabilly…played Bobby Bland, Dr. Feelgood and the Interns (Piano Red), Stones and Beatles and R&B…they cut at least 4 45s that I am aware of…the first on a private label out of Oklahoma, FOUNDATION…there was a single on Ivanhoe out of NYC and one on Feature (not the old Louisiana label)also saw one by them on a Flint, Michigan label and that is understandable if they played Wisconsin before moving to the West coast…haven’t been able to get my hands on that one…Jim Pulte was really the leader of the band and he grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, home of OU where these guys hooked up…sadly Jim passed a way in June 2012 at age 67 FYI…Mark
Eric Dalton is a friend, colleague, and personal inspiration, he went on from his drumming career to become an iconic teacher in the bodywork field, and is still going strong, teaching his work to thousands. He trained as a Rolfer (structural integration) in the 70’s, and then developed his own work, Myoskeletal Therapy, and is a treasure to our community. https://erikdalton.com/
I learned of this band after reading about the death of the late, lamented Moon Martin. (I have three of his LPs.) In checking out Southwind on Spotify, I see two releases, “Every Now and Then” (2004) and “First Contribution” (2005). The notes indicate it is Moon’s band, but I cannot find either album on any other website, and of course the band was not together at that time – were they?