Judgement Day and Chant : 13th Hour
From Potlatch [Epic, 1970]
With six releases on a major and some moderately successful singles, I was surprised I had never heard of Redbone, especially since they have the added distinction of being one of the few commercially successful all Native American rock/pop groups in… well… history. Described as a blend of cajun funk and Latin soul, I was curious to hear how Redbone’s Native American heritage manifested in the music. Turns out, it all comes together quite nicely.
Potlatch is Redbone’s second album. It is a thoroughly enjoyable collection of down & dirty funk rock, some midtempo ballads (with lyrics of a specifically Indian perspective), and a touch of experimentation with traditional Native American music. The song-writing and musicianship is very strong throughout. Brothers Lolly [guitar, vox] and Pat [bass, vox] Vegas, and, guitarist Tony Bellamy were veterans of L.A.’s Sunset Strip, having played there professionally throughout the 60’s. And, to further add to the “why haven’t I heard of these guys?” feeling, they were accomplished session musicians having supported the likes of: Elvis Presley, Sonny & Cher, Dobie Gray, Odetta, John Lee Hooker, Everly Brothers, and more.
The most informative links I could find are here and here.
I had a hard time picking selections from this one; it’s a solid record. Hope you enjoy.
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I remember being about 11, and thinking "Come and get your Love" was the best thing ever on AM radio.
Really interesting post. "Come and Get Your Love" and "Witch Queen of New Orleans" were the only things I'd ever heard by this group. It sounds like this earlier album foregrounded the Native American influence better than those better known songs did. I especially like this "Chant: 13th Hour." Thanks for digging this up!