Mother Earth (American band)

Tracy Nelson (n. 1944, USA), cantante folk con un album alle spalle, e Robert Powell St. John, cantante e armonicista già con Janis Joplin e Austin, all'inizio dei '60, formano i Mother Earth nel 1967, sono con loro Mark Naftalin (ex Butterfield Blues Band), Bob Arthur, John "Toad" Andrews e George Rains. Completa l'organico una sezione fiati guidata da Martin Fierro. Il gruppo originario del Texas, si trasferisce presto a San Fancisco e si fa notare con tre brani inclusi nella colonna sonora di Revolution, uno dei primi film dedicati alla nuova scena giovanile californiana. Ottenuto un contratto con la Mercury, i Mother Earth incidono una serie di album dove mescolano dignitosamente blues, cajun, country, rock e soul, con le voci della Nelson e di St.John in bella evidenza. LIVING WITH THE ANIMALS (Mercury 1968, USA) è forse la prova più ispirata, orientata verso il blues e forte dell'apporto strumentale di Mike Bloomfield, Barry Goldberg e Spencer Perskin; i dischi successivi sono buone prove di country rock a base di dobro, bottleneck e fiddle. In MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE (Mercury 1969 USA) è emblematica la partizione fra una city side e una country side mentre in BRING ME HOME (Reprise 1971 USA) affiorano componenti soul che ben si adattano alla voce della Nelson. Poi il gruppo procede a numerosi e consistenti cambi d'organico, sino a che della formazione originaria non rimangono che la Nelson e "Toad" Andrews. I Mother Earth si sciolgono al principio dei '70; Tracy Nelson continuerà come solista, con incerti risultati.

Mother Earth was an eclectic American blues rock band formed in 1967 in California, fronted by singer Tracy Nelson.
Nelson, who hailed from Madison, Wisconsin, began her career as a solo artist, but formed the Mother Earth ensemble after moving to San Francisco. The group performed at the Avalon Ballroom and Fillmore Auditorium in the late 1960s, and was included on the soundtrack to the 1968 film Revolution. The group signed to Mercury Records, recording four albums. Mike Bloomfield played guitar on their 1968 release Living with the Animals and Boz Scaggs was a member of the group on their 1969 release Make A Joyful Noise. In addition to blues, the early incarnation of the group displayed influences from gospel, r&b, jazz, country and even a touch of psychedelia. After the first album, Mother Earth moved their base of operations from the Bay Area to a farm outside of Nashville, Tennessee. The nucleus of the band solidified around Nelson, keyboardist Andy McMahon and guitarist John "Toad" Andrews. Their manager and producer was Travis Rivers. Nelson was an astute judge of up-and-coming songwriters and was an early supporter of then largely unknown names like John Hiatt, Steve Young, and Eric Kaz. Mother Earth's version of Young's "Seven Bridges Road" predates the Eagles' cover by about nine years. After two LPs with Reprise Records and one with Columbia Records the ensemble continued to tour as Nelson's backup band but did not record anymore. They finally called it quits in early 1977. Tracy Nelson meanwhile began recording as a solo artist in 1974, issuing LPs on Atlantic Records, MCA Records, Adelphi Records, Flying Fish Records, and others.

Members

1967: Tracy Nelson, Powell St. John, George Rains, Wayne Talbert, Ira Kamin, Jance Garfat.
1968: Tracy Nelson, Powell St. John, John Andrews, Bob Arthur, George Rains, Mark Naftalin.
1969: Tracy Nelson, Powell St.John, John Andrews, Bob Arthur, Boz Scaggs, Lonnie Castille.
1970: Tracy Nelson, John Andrews, Andy McMahon, Bob Cardwell, David Zettner, Karl Himmel, James Day.
1971: Tracy Nelson, John Andrews, Andy McMahon, Bob Cardwell, Karl Himmel, Tim Drummond.

Tracy Nelson
Powell St. John
Wayne Talbert (early member prior to first album)
Ira Kamin (early member prior to first album)
John Andrews
Bob Arthur
Mark Naftalin
George Rains
Boz Scaggs
Ronald Stallings
Lonnie Castille
Clayborne Cotton
Johnny Gimble (not actually a member, but a frequent contributor on albums)
Bob Cardwell
Karl Himmel
Andrew McMahon
David Zettner
James Clayton Day (Jimmie Day)
Tim Drummond
Jack Lee
Steve Mendell
Jerry Carrigan
Beau Dollar

Discography

Living with the Animals (Mercury Records, 1968) U.S. #144
Mother Earth Presents Tracy Nelson Country (Mercury Records, 1969) - Tracy Nelson's solo album, recorded with the participation of some members of the band.
Make A Joyful Noise (Mercury Records, 1969) U.S. #95
Satisfied (Mercury Records, 1970)
Bring Me Home (Reprise Records, 1971) U.S. #199
Tracy Nelson/Mother Earth (Reprise Records, 1972) U.S. #205
Poor Man's Paradise (Columbia Records, 1973) U.S. #210