Now a highly regarded release among the collectors of early 70's U.S.
rock, Dryewater's Southpaw album was privately released to little
fanfare on the J.T.B. label in 1974. The North Carolina based four piece
pressed just 500 copies of the album (fewer still with actual covers!) and
the rarity value of this initial release has since increased as it's since
become known that the band destroyed the copies they failed to sell at
the time!
Maybe they had higher expectations for the album, and this is justifiable,
as in hindsight the ten original compositions show a very confident
release by an obviously proficient line up. Strong rhythm guitar work
forms the basis of most of the songs, but also evident is some melodic,
perhaps slightly progressive keyboard work, that both underpins the
occasional acid lead guitar solos and maintains the overall momentum
of each performance. With a tight rhythm section and strong vocals too,
this all makes for a rockin' rollercoaster ride. A fine example of the
harder West Coast sound of the time.
Check out the melodic Don't Let Her Sleep Too Long, the riff - h e a v y
track 2, and rolling rhythms of track10, Dryewater were certainly
overlooked at the timeA limited vinyl run released by Void Records in
1996 briefly led to a renewed interest in the band, but thankfully
Radioactive can now finally pull the album from obscurity as it makes its
digital debut here Track Listing:
1. Winterground
2. Trouble
3. Give Yourself Time To Live
4. Don't Let Her Sleep Too Long
5. Let Me Take You
6. Thunder
7. See Them Run
8. Revelation
9. Set Out On The River
10. After All
