| | Sweetwater CD Sweetwater Discography of CDs
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Collector's Choice Sweetwater is the only Sweetwater album to feature Nanci Nevins on vocals throughout, and it's hard to get a grip on. Sometimes it's attractive Californian folk-pop-psych not too far removed from the Mamas & the Papas, as on "Through an Old Storybook"; sometimes it's trying for a rock-Baroque-classical-jazz fusion, although the material doesn't match the ambitions of the arrangements. Whether intentionally or otherwise, Nevins' vocals often recall those of Grace Slick, though she isn't as good. On "My Crystal Spider," they seem to be going for a far-out psychedelic sound; the ascending and descending bit of harsh electronics in the middle sounds uncomfortably close to effects employed, earlier and to more effective use, by the United States of America on "Hard Coming Love." When bands, even on their first album, make multiple comparisons to more renowned acts so inevitable that these form the bulk of a review, it's a good indication that the musicians were not in the same league as those they were trying to emulate. ~ Richie Unterberger
Sweetwater: R.G. Carlyle (vocals, guitar, bongos); Albert B. Moore (vocals, flute); Alex Del Zoppo (vocals, keyboards); Freddy Herrera (vocals, bass guitar); Nancy Nevins (vocals); August Burns (cello); Alan Malarowitz (drums); Pete Cobian (percussion).
Record Collector (magazine) (p.109) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[F]ull of driving psych, with unique flashes of jazz, folk and even classical influences....Breathtaking in scope and majestic in sound..." Sweetwater Music Review Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)   Vintage 60s rock!
Although I grew up when Sweetwater was around and have music by many of their contemporaries, I never hear Sweetwater until now. They were outstanding! Tremendous fusion of jazz, blues and rock, with incredible vocal power. After having purchased this, I will definitely look for more.
Submitted by mike (minneapolis, MN) 
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 Fabulous singer, great band concept, weak material
It's just too bad more on this album isn't as good as their take on the traditional "Motherless Child," which rocks and soars like a chamber-music version of Jefferson Airplane. Nanci Nevins' voice has the resonant power and beauty of Grace Slick's, and the instrumentation, which favors flute, cello, and harpsichord over more conventional rock accompaniment, is both driving and nimble.
That said, much of the rest of the album is interesting without always being compelling, mainly due to the weakness of the original material supplied by the band members. The focal point is lead vocalist Nevins, who alternately evokes folky archetypes like Pentangle's Jacqui McChee and the California pop blend of groups like the Sunshine Company and Fifth Dimension.
Tragically, her voice was impaired by a brain injury suffered in an automobile accident, and the subsequent Sweetwater albums in Collectors Choice's reissue series are diminished in proportion to the presence and power of her singing. This first album is still the pick of the litter, and despite the reservations expressed above stands as a lost psych-folk classic. If you liked CCM's reissue of the long-out-of-print album by Eclection, you will probably dig this one even more.
Submitted by ajscheiber (St. Paul, MN USA)
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Purchase Sweetwater CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Sweetwater Melon CD (1971) Remastered; Reissued
Sweetwater album
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That old cliché "you can't tell a book by its cover" may have been true for the Guess Who's Road Food LP, a repulsive album jacket and inner sleeve housing a gem like "Star Baby," but the lesser-known Sweetwater beat the Guess Who to the punch by three years with a watermelon on the front of the Melon LP, and its remains on the back. The music inside is unsettling, but not without merit; Fred Herrera's "Rejoice...The Smile of Man" plays like a less annoying "White Bird" two years after It's a Beautiful Day unleashed that FM staple. Herrera goes off key, but that adds to the charm. Nansi Nevins does not come up with a "White Rabbit" with "Don't Forget," but still manages to sound like Grace Slick on her songwriting contribution. It's the Jefferson Airplane's "Lather" by way of H.P Lovecraft. "Take It From the Splice, Boys" is Jethro Tull meets Santana while predicting the dawn of the Electric Light Orchestra, that mix not flowing well into the countryish "Naturally," which could be Nick Gravenites' version of Big Brother & the Holding Company. Flute, cello, conga, and acoustic guitar should all combine to make for a delicious musical feast, but there are only glimpses of possibilities on Melon, an album that is disjointed, and in desperate need of a song that can raise it to the next level. Wiley Brooks' production is clear and precise, and the feel of the band isn't bad at all; it's just that when they step up to the plate, they hit a few foul balls, and on some tunes, like "Don't Give a Hoot," they simply strike out. "Join the Band" is a real strange one; The Monkees did this much better with "Listen to the Band," the ...
| | Sweetwater Just For You CD (1970)
Sweetwater CD music
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The recording of Sweetwater's second album was hindered by Nanci Nevins' injuries in a serious car accident, which for a time rendered her incapable of performing with the band, although she does sing on much of Just for You. A more serious problem was an overall lack of strength or focus to the material, which covers a lot of bases of 1969-1970 album oriented rock without staking a markedly identifiable patch of its own. The eight-minute title track is indicative of the band's strengths and weaknesses, as the song mixes Latin-influenced percussive grooves, gospel, jazzy flute and violin, and a dreamy Nevins-sung opening passage without really arriving anywhere in particular. At times the music's loose flow is a little similar to the Californian hippie rock of It's a Beautiful Day, especially when Sweetwater uses violin. But ...
| | Al Stewart 24 Carrots CD (1980) Bonus Tracks
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"Here In Angola," "Pandora," and "Indian Summer" were originally released on the LP INDIAN SUMMER.
24 CARROTS is folk-rocker Al Stewart's 1980 album, recorded with Shot in the Dark. This reissue features five bonus tracks, "Here in Angola", "Indian Summer", "Pandora", "Delia's Gone", and "Princess Olivia".
The pun of the title of 24 Carrots -- the first overt signal of humor Al Stewart has displayed in years, possibly ever -- illustrates that a lot has changed since 1978's Time Passages. The loosening of his wit is perhaps the most evident, but the most significant is the departure of producer Alan Parsons, who collaborated with Stewart on his mid-'70s triptych of masterpieces. In truth, 24 Carrots isn't far removed from those high points, because he is indeed still writing at a remarkably consistent pace. No, this record isn't quite at the high standard of the previous three albums, but it does have a number of brilliant moments, from the opening "Running Man" through the silly but effective "Mondo Sinistro" and the gorgeous "Midnight Rocks." Though there are some songs that don't quite click (something that did not happen on the aforementioned trio), overall the record coheres nicely, thanks not just to the uniform classiness of Stewart's songs, but to his production with Chris Desmond. Although the production does hint at the antiseptic cleanliness that ...
| | Eric Andersen Avalanche CD (1969)
Sweetwater songs
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AVALANCHE (1968) is not the most prominent record in the canon of folk-rock chameleon Eric Andersen--it did not even make the transfer to CD until 2007. However, this unjustly overlooked record stands as a perfect example of Andersen's unique skill at pouring himself into an extraordinary numbers of the folk world's far-off corners, though never coming off as an insincere dabbler. AVALANCHE opens with the San Francisco-via-Buffalo singer channeling Dylan on "It's Coming and It Won't ...
| | Stephen Stills Right By You CD (Import) Import
Sweetwater album
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| | Doors Soft Parade CD (1969) Gold; Remastered
Sweetwater CD music
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Dismissed by the benighted as the Doors' "pop album," SOFT PARADE is one of the band's most adventurous recordings, utilizing strings and horns without resorting to schlocky over-production and moving far beyond their blues roots. Morrison was fully into his shaman phase by 1969, and his obsession with that image is reflected in the proselytizing air of "Tell All the People," and of course "Shaman's Blues." The album's biggest hit "Touch Me," while easily the group's most radio-friendly offering, is a pop classic that ranks among the great '60s AM radio tunes. "Wild Child" is a brief return to the blues-rock of yore, but the title track is a sophisticated, extended piece that moves through several different moods and textures, full of the elliptical, poetic lyrics that were Morrison's trademark.
The weakest studio album recorded with Jim Morrison in the group, partially because their experiments with brass and strings on about half the tracks weren't entirely successful. More to the point, though, this was their weakest set of material, low lights including filler like "Do It" and "Runnin' Blue," a strange bluegrass-soul blend that was a small hit. On the other hand, about half the record is quite good, especially the huge hit "Touch Me" (their most successful integration of orchestration), the vicious hard rock riffs of "Wild Child," the overlooked "Shaman's Blues," and the lengthy title track, a multi-part ...
| | Ani Difranco Not A Pretty Girl CD (1995)
Sweetwater music CDs
$8.59 
1995's NOT A PRETTY GIRL synthesizes elements of Ani DiFranco's six prior albums and is widely considered one of this wildly prolific Buffalo, New York-based singer/songwriter's finest efforts. Here, the folky acoustic starkness of ANI DIFRANCO and NOT SO SOFT meshes with songs that recall the detailed full-band arrangements of LIKE I SAID and OUT OF RANGE. DiFranco even remakes an earlier song, IMPERFECTLY's "Coming Up."
Lyrically, the album also refines topics previously covered. There's the abortion drama "Tiptoe," the sneering record-business diatribe "The Million You Never ...
| | Victor Mecyssne Personal Mercury CD (1998)
Sweetwater songs
$17.69
A ten-track side of Nashville blues that manages to blur the borderline into lounge jazz, late '50s coffeehouse, and more -- it's interesting to detect hints of such luminaries as Tennessee Ernie Ford, Otis Redding (though Mecyssne's voice doesn't compare), Elvis Costello, and Randy Newman (who seems likely to be the biggest influence of any in that list.) Given the pleasant, well-played music, and intriguing lyrics, it seems like Mecyssne could use a few voice lessons to bring him up to par with the material. ~ Steven McDonald
Victor first saw the light of day through a window in Nashville's Baptist Hospital. The year was 1952, cars had chrome bumpers and the automatic transmission was a new-fangled gizmo. His first public performance was a solo on "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" with the choir at Carroll Street Methodist Church - age 8. Next came piano lessons and the alto saxophone in junior high band. That stuff went out the window with the arrival of the Beatles and the Stones. Like every other adolescent boy in America, Victor got ...
| | Mick Roger Back On Earth CD (2002) (Import) Import; Germany
Sweetwater album
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| | Last Call Brawlers CD (2003)
Sweetwater CD music
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From Tucson, Arizona, The Last Call Brawlers deliver a fresh sound that takes cues from rockabilly and blues but without regard to any scene rule books. As infectious as small pox, as exciting as an inner-city riot, as enjoyable as mud-wrestling cheerleaders... you'll ...
| | Taxim Ecclesiophobia CD (2006)
Sweetwater music CDs
$13.95
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