Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams)
Band members Related acts
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- Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams) -- vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion
backing musicians (1970) - Jesse Carr -- guitar - Paul Hornsby -- keyboards - Robert Popwell -- bass - Johnny Sadlin -- drums
backing musicians (1971) - Jesse Carr -- guitar - Stacey Goss -- trumpet - Jasper Guarino -- drums - Paul Hornsby -- keyboards - Robert Popwell -- bass - Sonny Royal -- sax, clarinet - Johnny Sadlin -- drums - Mike Stough -- trumpet
backing musicians (1978) - Jimmy Evans -- drums - Stacey Goss -- trumpet - Randy McCormick -- keyboards - Charles Rose -- trumpet - Sonny Royal -- sax, clarinet - Mike Stough -- trumpet - Harvey Thompson -- tenor sax - Travis Wammack -- guitar - Audie Watkins -- percussion - Bob Wray -- bass - Royal Yarbourgh -- banjo
backing musicians (1977) - Big Willie Broom -- blues - Maurice Cotton -- bass - Ronnie Eades -- sax - Stacey Goss -- trumpet - Sammy Harris -- drums - Clayton Ivy -- keyboards - Oswald Peters -- guitar - Court Pickett -- bass - Charles Rose -- trumpet - Oliver Sain -- sax, horns, keyboards - George Soule -- drums - Ronnie Starr -- percussion - Mike Stough -- trumpet - Harvey Thompson -- tenor sax - Audie Watkins -- percussion
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- Little Jerry
Williams (solo efforts)
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Genre: soul Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Total Destruction To Your Mind Company: Canyon Catalog: LP-7706 Year: 1970 Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve Available: 2 Catalog ID: 5954 Price: $100.00
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Yeah, Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams Jr.) is easily one of music's most talented, if erratic characters in popular music (there's a movie script buried in the twists and turns of his life). Over a career stretching back to the 1950s, he's seldom demonstrated that talent and general weirdness as on his 1970 album debut "Total Destruction To Your Mind". The cover photo showing Dogg posing in his underwear on the back of a garbage truck may have had a somewhat limiting impact on sales. Self-produced, the album aptly displayed Dogg's talents as a writer and performer. Extremely versatile, the title track and 'Synthetic World' rocked harder than most metal bands (backing from Johnny Sandlin and a couple of members of the pre-Allman Brothers band Hour Glass didn't hurt), while horn-propelled soul tracks such as 'If I Die Tomorrow (I've Lived Tonight)' and 'The Baby Is Mine' came close to matching Otis Redding's intensity. Dogg's bizarro factor was also readily visible. Anyone want to take a guess as what 'Dust Your Head Color Red' or 'Sal-a-Faster' were about? So what to make of this one? Well, it may have been intended as some sort of concept piece aimed at American society's prevailing hypocrisy, or perhaps it was just an opportunity for one really ticked off man to try to get some things off his chest. In the end it probably didn't really matter since the results were pretty awe inspiring. Hard to imagine any other soul act being willing to address societal issues as straightforwardly as Swamp ... 'Synthetic World' was simply years ahead of its time. The liner notes were also a hoot - 'I owe all my present success to a very dear person, someone who stuck by me when things were really bad, and has never made a motion to harm me or my talents in any way. A person whom I love, worship and admire beyond and shadow of a doubt - ME!!"
In an era where everything is hyped to the point of being meaningless, this is one of those rare exceptions where the hype is justified. A true overlooked soul classic. Well worth looking for.
"Total
Destruction To Your Mind" track listing:
1.) Total Destruction To Your Mind (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:34 rating: ***** stars One of soul's lost classic performances, Swamp seldom sounded as possessed as on 'Total Destruction To Your Mind', turning in a crazed, horn-propelled rocker. The lyric somehow managed to be thought provoking and completely nonsensical (kind of like his recording career) in the span of two and a half minutes. Always loved the last section where he apparently ran out of lyrics and steam and just started scatting. Even though it was a strange song, Canyon tapped it as the lead-off (and instantly obscure) single.
- 1970's 'Total Destruction To Your Mind' b/w 'Synthetic World' (Canyon catalog number #54) YouTube has a blazing clip from a July 2010 performance at Rotterdam's North Sea Jazz Festival. Shame that American audiences can't be bothered with Williams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTucxApdsMQ 2.) Synthetic World (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3:28 rating: ***** stars Kicked along by an instantly mesmerizing keyboard figure, 'Synthetic World' was a beautiful, breezy little number with some great lyrics that were half love story and half ecological warning. The performance was even more amazing when you recognize the song was recorded in 1970 ... This clip was also taken from North Sea Jazz Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVKpJ6F6TkU 3.) Dust Your Head Color Red (Gary Bonds - Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:48 rating: ** stars I don't have a clue what the clumsily titled 'Dust Your Head Color Red' was about ( "Sparkle your insides pink with pleasure ..." ) course Swamp Dogg may not have known either. Musically the song was a pedestrian blues-ballad. Not bad, but it simply could not compete with the rest of the album. 4.) Redneck (Joe South) - 2:47 rating: ***** stars As much as I loved the Joe South original, hearing Swamp Dogg cover 'Redneck' was a major treat. South's performance was great, but he just couldn't compete with someone on the receiving end of such treatment. If you're looking for a cutting edge commentary on racial intolerance, good luck finding a better performance. Shame the song faded out so early. 5.) If I Die Tomorrow (I've Lived Tonight) (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:50 rating: *** stars Sporting a great Steve Cropper-styled guitar figure, 'If I Die Tomorrow (I've Lived Tonight)' found Swamp trying to channel Otis Redding. Swamp's getting rowdy here and he gets it right when he sings 'feeling twisted' ! 6.) I Was Born
Blue (Dee Ervin - Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:58 rating:
***** stars
(side 1) 1.) Sal-a-Faster (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:48 rating: **** stars Side two started out with a wild slice of funk in 'Sal-a-Faster'. Great example of Dogg's nonsensical lyrics which managed to combine rabbits, getting trashed and self-promotion in under three minutes. 2.) The World Beyond (Bobby Goldsboro) - 3:39 rating: **** stars Set to an old school, blues vibe, 'The World Beyond' was one of the weirdest anti-nuclear Armageddon songs you've ever heard. Hard to believe it was written by Bobby Goldsboro. 3.) There Are Not My People (Joe South) - 2:36 rating: *** stars
The album's second Joe South cover, his version of 'There Are Not My People' was serviceable, but wasn't a major improvement on the original - though it was funny to hear him sing 'naked' as 'neekid'. Can;t say I understand the marketing arrangement, but the tune was released as a single by the small Roker label.
1971's 'These Are Not My People' b/w 'I Was Born Blue' (Roker catalog number 505)
4.) Everything You'll Ever Need (Gary Bonds - Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:51 rating: *** stars Co-written with Gary US Bonds, 'Everything You'll Ever Need' was probably the album's weakest track. A plodding mid-tempo number, there just wasn't much to this one. The song was released as a single in Brazil !!!
- 1971's 'Everything You'll Ever Need' b/w 'Synthetic World' (Canyon catalog number BCS 315) 5.) The Baby Is Mine (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:48 rating: *** stars Today a song like 'The Baby Is Mine' wouldn't even begin to raise an eyebrow, but in 1970 the story of an illegitimate father trying to retain access to his offspring was startling. Musically it was a nice, old school soul effort that faded out just as Swamp was starting to get steamed up. 6.) Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe (Gary Bonds - Jerry Williams Jr.) - 4:08 rating: ***** stars The second collaboration with Gary Bonds and one of Swamp's better known tracks, 'Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe' was a tasty Chicago-styled blues vamp. What saved the song from being forgettable were Swamp's hysterical lyrics describing a husband's worries and attempts to explain away potential marital indiscretions. Canyon tapped this one as the album's third single.
- 1971's 'Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe' b/w 'Sal-a-Faster' (Canyon catalog number #30)
Swamp Dogg's also on the web at: http://www.swampdogg.net/
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Genre: soul Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Rat On! Company: Elektra Catalog: EKS-74089 Year: 1971 Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 20 Price: $30.00
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I won't even hazard a guess as to how Jerry Williams Jr. ended up signed to Jac Holtman's Elektra Records (hardly a label known for it's large soul roster). There's just something about the thought of the label that signed The International String Band signing an act like Swamp Dogg that seems combustible. I actually bought a copy of Holzman's book "Follow the Music" and while it mentions virtually every act signed by Elektra, other than the album title appearing in the book's discography section, there's no mention of Swamp Dogg. Regardless, 1971's self-produced "Rat On!" served as an intriguing continuation of the man's ever eclectic catalog. In addition to producing, Williams was responsible writing most of the material, handling keyboards and all of the arrangements. As with his debut, musically the set was all over the spectrum including conventional soul moves ('If You Believe'), non-too subtle social criticism ('Remember, I Said Tomorrow' and 'God Bless America') and Williams' patented strangeness (of course what would you have expected given the wild cover ...). As for the theme, well I'd say this one was the unfairness of monogamy - 'Predicament # 2', 'Creeping Away', 'That Ain't My Wife', etc.
Elektra apparently had no idea what they'd signed up for and made virtually no effort to promote the album. Even if they had, it's hard to imagine the album selling very well with the bizarre cover photo of Swamp Dogg riding on the back of a rat. Elektra floated one instantly obscure single 'Creeping Away' before hastily dropping Williams from its recording roster.
"Rat On!" track listing: 1.) Do You Believe (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis) - 2:50 rating: *** stars I do believe in all of the subjects Swamp Dogg touched on ... Awesome horns. 2.) Predicament # 2 (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3:07 rating: **** stars Folks overlook the fact Williams had an amazing voice, perfect for mining the mysteries of interpersonal relationships. 'Predicament # 2' was the perfect example of how tough it must be to lead a double life. It may not be politically correct by a country mile, but stands as one of soul's best "cheatin' hearts" songs. 3.) Remember, I Said Tomorrow (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis) - 2:41 rating: **** stars Kicked along by an insidiously catchy little guitar riff, 'Remember, I Said Tomorrow' found Williams trotting out his less than subtle sense of activism. In less that three minutes he took on racial inequality, Vietnam, and social injustice. He did it with grace and a wicked sense of humor. One of the album highpoints. I'd suggest this was probably one of the songs that got him fired by Elektra ... 4.) Creeping Away (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds) - 2:51 rating: **** stars
'Creeping Away' was a near perfect soul vamp. "I got my bread in North Carolina and my butter up in Tennessee." Always wondered why Greyhound didn't tap this one as part of a promotional campaign for bus travel. Elsewhere Elektra tapped the tune as a quickly forgotten single
1971's 'Creeping Away' b/w 'Do You Believe' (Elektra catalog number EKS-45721)
5.) Got To Get a Message To You (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:08 rating: ** stars The
bad news is I never liked The Bee Gees original so William's cover didn't
have much a chance with my ears. The good news is his cover wasn't any
worse than the original. Not sure when or where it was recorded, but
YouTube has an extended, live performance of the song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1mmIGVU96A (side 2) 1.) God Bless America (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis) - 5:34 rating: **** stars The song title was apparently 'God Bless America (For What)', but Elektra refused to release it with the title, insisting it be shown with the abbreviated title. "Oh lord, is the the land of the free? And can someone please explain this word called equality? Tis the time for everyone for come to this country's aid And help repair the mess of this land that we've all made." Four decades later Williams lyrics are just as apt. One of the most amazing things he's ever written and recorded. YouTube has a clip of Williams playing a 2010 show at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Some forty years after it happened, he was still mad at Elektra for dropping him. To quote him: "They got me for my 'God Bless America (for What)'. That's when the record company said "we I don't need his little ugly ass no more." so they cut me loose." 2.) I Kissed Your Face (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds) - 3:51 rating: **** stars Beautiful melody, lovely lyrics and an amazing bass line. What wasn't there to love on this one? 3.) That Ain't My Wife (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds - Charles Whitehead) - 3:15 rating: **** stars Swamp Dogg discovers marital paybacks are hell. Pack those bags and get your butt out of this house ... As mentioned, few artists can do a cheatin' song as well as Swamp Dogg. 4.) She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye (Mickey Newbury - Douglas Gilmore) - 3:05 rating: ** stars 'A plodding, nondescript ballad, She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye' was the album's second disappointment. 5.) Do Our Thing Together (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis) - 4:07 rating: **** stars A call to arms across the generations ... The future can be a happy place and you'll be able to dance to it. Where do I sign up?
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Genre: soul Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Cuffed Collared & Tagged Company: Cream Catalog: CR-9009 Year: 1972 Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: sale copy does not have promo sticker on cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5035 Price: $25.00 Cost: $66.00
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Normally I wouldn't bother quoting liner notes, but in this case Swamp Dogg says it all:
"This album is by far the greatest piece of writing, arranging, producing and sequencing genius that I've ever encountered. Anyone who has heard the first two Swamp Dogg albums will possibly say impossible, but after listening to this one will make the cross-over to incredible. The only album that may possibly compare with this one, is the one that I'm contemplating doing in the late future.
What
you've just read is my trip and if you can't tolerate it, that's your
trip." By the time 1972's self-produced, "Cuffed, Collared & Tagged" was released Swamp Dogg's career seemed to be headed in the right direction. Signed by Al Bennett's L.A. based Cream label, he finally seemed to have found a label with some money and industry know-how behind him. Recorded in Muscle Shoals with all-star cast of area studio musicians, Dogg was credited with penning seven of the ten songs, as well as producing and arranging. Musically the album was pretty standard Dogg, offering up a mixture of topical commentary (a nice cover of John Prine's anti-Vietnam statements 'Sam Stone' and 'Don't It Make You Wanta Go Home' and the weird nuclear war survivor lyric on 'Complication #5' - note the flip side photo showing the Dogg in a gas mask) and personal insights ('Your Last Dirty Trick' and 'Knowing I'm Pleasing Me & You'). Not quite as consistent or enjoyable as his two previous albums, it's still worth owning, with one of the highlights being the soul flavored 'Lady Madonna'. His meltdown scat segment at the end simply has to be heard. And then there's the weird side of the man ... check out his oddball tribute to Sly Stone 'If It Hadn't Been For Sly'.
Cream tapped the album for one single: 'Sam Stone' b/w 'Knowing I'm Pleasing Me And You' (Cream catalog number 1021)
"Cuffed Collared & Tagged" track listing: 1.) Sam
Stone (John Prine) - 3:57 (side 1) 1.) Your
Last Dirty Trick (Jerry Williams Jr. - D. Hollinger) - 2:45
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Genre: soul Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Swamp Dogg's Greatest Hits? Company: Stone Dogg Catalog: 3002 Year: 1976 Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: small cut out notch lower edge Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5254 Price: $30.00
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I'm not exactly sure how 1976's "Swamp Dogg's Greatest Hits?" fit into Jerry Williams Jr.'s nightmarish discography. Based on the typically eccentric Swamp Dogg liner notes it appears that our man signed some sort of deal with Henry Stone's Miami-based T.K. label. Released on the Dogg's own Stone Dogg imprint, Stone apparently financed the recording sessions in Muscle Shoals and then use his T.K. organization to distribute the album (be sure to read Williams' thank you' comments to Stone). In spite of the wishful title, the ten tracks reflected all new original studio material. Typical Swamp Dogg material, tracks like 'Paradoxical (No Bugles)' (you could see women's rights group going ballistic) and 'Ebony and Jet' offered up a patented mix of old school soul and the man's unique mix of goofy humor ('Buzzard Love') and cutting social commentary ('Don't Try To Be My Man'). Judging by compositions like 'Eat the Goose (Before the Goose Eats You)' and the hysterical family crises 'Or Forever Hold Your Peace' the Dogg wasn't very happy with the way things were going. And naturally there wasn't any chance that commercial radio would touch something like 'Call Me Nigger' (which actually sported a though provoking lyric) or 'I've Never Been To Africa'. (Not that the album cover was a big plus in the marketing department - check out the tee shirt he's wearing.) Not his best album; not his worst, but as always different and entertaining.
"Swamp Dogg's Greatest Hits?" track listing: 1.) Paradoxical (No Bugles) (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:07 2.) Buzzard Love (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3:38 3.) Ebony and Jet (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:44 4.) Eat the Goose (Before the Goose Eats You) (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:52 5.) Don't Try To
Be My Man (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2:49 (side 1) 1.) Call Me Nigger (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 7:08 2.) I Can't Stand To Hear Her Say Please (Jerry Williams Jr. - Stan McKenney) - 3:20 3.) I'm Still In Love with You (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3:18 4.) Or Forever Hold Your Peace (Jerry Williams Jr. - Stan McKenney) - 2:23 5.) I've Never Been To Africa (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3:18
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Genre: soul Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Finally Caught Up with Myself Company: Musicor Catalog: MUS-2504 Year: 1977 Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened) Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4738 Price: $25.00
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Admittedly he's not for everyone and his albums can be frustratingly erratic, but that's one of the things that makes Jerry Williams (aka Swamp Dogg) so interesting and worth investigating. Self-produced (all arranged and conducted by the Dogg), this 1977 set is a fairly typical outing meaning it isn't his best effort, nor is it his worst. Credited to 'Swamp Dogg & Riders of the New Funk', "Finally Caught Up with Myself" differs a little from recent releases in that tracks such as 'My Heart Just Can't Stop Dancing', 'If You Gotta Do Wong (Do It Right)' and 'Slow, Slow Disco' mix Dogg's typical soul moves and patented sense of humor ('Trash') with a modest disco feel. For most soul acts the move towards disco equates to creative death, but to his credit Dogg manages to avoid that fate.
"I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In" track listing: 1.) Communications (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2.) My Heart Just Can't Stop Dancing (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3.) If You Gotta Do Wong (Do It Right) (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 4.) Trash (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 5.) Silly, Silly, Silly, Silly Me (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 6.) Slow, Slow
Disco (Jerry Williams Jr.) - (side 1) 1.) Communications (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2.) New Orleans My Home (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3.) Walking On Eggs (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 4.) All Around Friend (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 5.) Understanding California Women (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 6.) Embryo S.O.S. (Jerry Williams Jr.) -
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Genre: soul Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In Company: Takoma Catalog: TAK 7099 Year: 1981 Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: small promo stamp on front cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4313 Price: $25.00 Cost: $66.00
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His first release in four years, 1981's "I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In" found Swamp Dogg as eccentric as ever. It also found him recording for yet another label - this time the folk oriented Takoma Records. Self-produced, material such as 'Wine Woman & Rock and Roll','' and '' showcased a surprisingly rocki-sh sound. Mind you, the Dogg remained a soul artist at heart and the best tracks reflected those long standing roots. Highlights included his duet with Esther Phillips ('The Love We Got Ain't Worth Two Dead Flies') and the surprisingly confrontational 'California Is Drowning and I Live Down By the River'.
1.) Swamping Salutations (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2.) Wine Woman & Rock and Roll (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3.) Its' Just a Little Time Left (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 4.) The Love We Got Ain't Worth Two Dead Flies (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 5.) Low Friends In
High Places (Jerry Williams Jr.) - (side 1) 1.) A Hundred And ... (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 2.) Total Destruction To Your Mind Once Again (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis.) - 3.) California Is Drowning and I Live Down By the River (Jerry Williams Jr. - Yvonne Williams) - 4.) Sexy Sexy Sexy
# 3 (Jerry Williams Jr.) -
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Genre: soul Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: I Called for a Rope and They threw Me a Rock Company: SDGE Catalog: SDE-4003 Year: 1989 Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: was sealed; opened to tape once; still in shrink wrap Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4314 Price: $25.00
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Forget the fact Swamp Dogg is one of soul's most overlooked practioners, to say nothing of holding the title for being one of it's most eccentric performers - just witness the title of 1989's "I Called for a Rope and They threw Me a Rock". The Dogg also writes some of the funniest (most mean spirited) liner notes you'll ever read - the album's worth the admission price just for his self-scribed recent career overview and his comments on friends and foes. Moreover, the long layoff doesn't seem to have blunted our man. So what gets the Dogg's seal of approval this time around? Certainly the city of L.A. (gathering from the lyrics in "Come To L.A." he plans on retiring there), American's social and political systems ("We Need a Revolution" and "Shut Your Mouth"). Elsewhere, for better or worse Dogg seems to have discovered drum machines on the propulsive "Kiss Me Hit Me Touch Me".
"I Called for a Rope and They threw Me a Rock" track listing: (side 1) 1.) I'd Lie To You For Your Love (F. Miller - D/ Bellamy - H. Bellamy - J. Barry) - 2.) Come To L.A. (Swamp Dogg) - 3.) We Need A Revolution (Swamp Dogg) - 4.) Kiss Me Hit Me Touch Me (Swamp Dogg) -
(side 2) 1.) Myocardial Infarction (Heartbreak) (Swamp Dogg) - 2.) Shut Your Mouth (Swamp Dogg) - 3.) Happy Dog Day (Swamp Dogg) - 4.) Let The Goodtimes Roll (Leonard Lee - Shirley Goodman) - 5.) 1958 (Swamp Dogg) -
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