line-up 1 (1971-72)

- Kelly Bryan -- bass

- Slim Chance (aka Austin De Leon) -- rhythm guitar

- Dewey DeGrease (aka Greg Dewey) -- drums, percussion, vocals

- Anna Rizzo -- vocals

- Vic Smith -- lead guitar, vocals 

- Richard Sussman -- keyboards, bass

- Blood, Sweat and Tears (Richard Sussman)

- Bodacious DF (Greg Dewey and Vic Smith)

- Country Joe and the Fish (Greg Dewey)

- Eggs Over Easy (Austin De Leon)

- Elephant's Memory (Richard Sussman)

- Mad River (Greg Dewey)

- The Masked Marauders (Anna Rizzo and Vic Smith)

- The Reptile Brothers (Greg Dewey)

- Stoneground (Anna Rizzo)

- Richard Sussman (solo efforts)

- The Richard Sussman Quintet (Richard Sussman)

- Jens Wendelbloe & His New York Big Band (Richard Sussman)

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Grootna

Company: Columbia

Catalog: C 31033

Year: 1971

Country/State: Berkeley, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4339

Price: $30.00

Cost: $66.00

This one caught my eye due to the colorful cover and the fact the producer was none other than the late Marty Balin (of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship fame).  

That said, here's another one I can't say I know much about.  The line-up consisted of bassist Kelly Bryan, rhythm guitarist Slim Chance (aka Austin De Leon), former Country Joe and the Fish/Mad River drummer Greg Dewey (aka Dewey DeGrease), former Masked Marauders singer Anna Rizzo, lead guitarist Vic Smith and keyboard player Richard Sussman (who had previously played with Elephant's Memory).  The group came together in 1971 cutting their  chops on Berkeley, California's thriving music scene.  They apparently played anywhere they could get hired and with help from promoter Bill Graham who signed on as their manager, caught the attention of Columbia Records which signed them to a recording contract in 1971.  

Produced by Marty Balin, 1971's "Grootna"  featured a rather colorless set of West Coast-styled rock with occasional nods to Blood, Sweat & Tears styled horn-rock.  The band sported three lead singers in DeGrease, Rizzo and Smith.  Rizzo's bluesy voice was easily the best of the lot which explains why the focus was on her performances.  She was certainly talented, but on tracks such as 'Going To Canada', 'Waitin' for My Ship' and 'Full Time Woman' her sharp delivery bore a passing resemblance to Janis Joplin.  That was a good thing if you liked Joplin.  Not so much if you weren't a fan.  Neither DeGrease or Smith got a lot of spotlight time, but judging by the bar boogie track 'Road Fever' and 'I She It' that  was a good thing.  Exemplified by tracks such as the lead off rocker 'I'm Funky' and 'That's What You Get' the performances were professional, but with the exception of their cover of Bob Neuwirth's Customs (In It All Over) nothing here really caught fire.  Again, Rizzo was a capable singer, particularly when she wasn't trying too hard. Unfortunately in too many cases performances like their cover of Bessie Smith 'Young Woman's Blues' and 'Your Grandmother Loves You' just didn't register with me.  In contrast Smith was an overlooked guitarist, his leads on 'That's What You Get' and 'Customs (In It All Over)' were quite enjoyable.  Shame he didn't get more space on the album.

With the album and both singles tanking Columbia rapidly lost interest in the band and by mid-1972 they were history.  Along with producer Balin, Dewey and Smith continued their partnership in Bodacious DF.  

"Grootna" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) I'm Funky   (Jack O'Hara - Al Silverman) - 5:27 rating: *** stars

Looking at a photo of this group of West Coast hippies the song title always makes me smile ...  Admittedly you weren't gonna mistakes these folks for Sly and the Family Stone, but I guess the song's apparently autobiographical lyrics make it kind of funky in a lame sort of a West Coast hippy fashion.  It was certainly more commercial than most of the album with the horns sticking to the background.  Keyboardist Sussman, guitarist Smith and bassist Bryan all got a moment in the spotlight.  Kelly's growling bass line was sweet.  There's a live version of the song where Rizzo says the song title is actually 'I'm Funky (But I'm Clean).'  

2.) Road Fever   (Greg Dewey - Vic Smith) - 5:18 rating: ** stars

With DeGrease and Smith sharing lead vocals (neither was as impressive as Rizzo), 'Road Fever' was a pedestrian slice of bar boogie.  The only thing saving it from oblivion was a bit of nice slide guitar from Smith.

3.) Going to Canada   (Austin De Leon - Al Silverman - David Henry) - 4:17 rating: ** stars

Powered by some nice Sussman barrelhouse piano, 'Going to Canada' was a Joplin-esque blues ballad.  Professional, but far from original you've heard dozens of songs that sounded similar.  

4.) Waitin' for My Ship   (Al Silverman - Austin De Leon) - 5:06 rating: ** stars

Musically it wasn't anything special, but at least the bluesy ballad  'Waitin' for My Ship' showcased Rizzo's voice in the best light.  The refrain was nice and through most of the tune she didn't try to over-sing.  Okay, the horns remained problematic.  Odd choice for the leadoff single given the tune wasn't particularly commercial.

- 1972's 'Waitin' For My Ship' b/w 'That's What You Get' (Columbia catalog number 4-45538)

(side 2)
1.) That's What You Get  (Al Silverman - Anna Rizzo - Vic Smith) - 4:26 rating: *** stars

One of the album's most conventional rocker, 'That's What You Get' was  a good platform for hearing Rizzo's strengths and weaknesses.  She was good when not pushing the vocal envelop; less enjoyable when powering up.

2.) Full Time Woman   (Alice Stuart) - 4:28 rating: ** stars

Several of the band members had played on Alice Stuart's 1970 album "Full Time Woman" so I guess it wasn't a surprise to find the band cover one of Stuart's songs.  Personally I found this one to be a bland and forgettable ballad.  Rizzo didn't seem particularly comfortable on the song.  It was also another odd choice as a single.

- 1971's 'Full Time Woman' b/w 'Is It All Over' (Columbia catalog number 4-45461)

3.) Young Woman's Blues   (Bessie Smith) - 3:35 rating: ** stars

I'm not a big blues fan so their cover of Bessie Smith's 'Young Woman's Blues' was wasted on me.  It certainly sounded authentic, but so what?

4.) Customs (In It All Over)   (Bob Neuwirth) - 3:45 rating: **** stars

The album's standout performance, their cover of Bob Neuwirth's 'Customs (In It All Over)' was tuneful and focused.  Rizzo sounded good, avoiding her penchant for over-singing while the rest of the band sounded tight.  This should have been the single.

5.) Your Grandmother Loves You / I She It   (Al Silverman - Austin De Leon - David Henry) - 5:40 rating: ** star

'Your Grandmother Loves You' actually has some appealing elements, but the arrangement was just too lose and the addition of the BS&T horns didn't help.  When the song transitioned into the 'I She It' section (with one of the guys handling vocals), it lost all appeal.

© Scott R. Blackerby July 2024