Sweet Smoke

Last updated
Sweet Smoke
Sweet Smoke 1970 Postcard.jpg
Promotional Postcard for Sweet Smoke (top row: Jay, Jeffery, Mike, Andy, Rochus - bottom row: Steve, Marvin, Nico)
Background information
Origin Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active1967 (1967)–1974 (1974)
LabelsEMI International
Past members
  • Andy Dershin
  • Jay Dorfman
  • Marvin Kaminovitz
  • Michael Fontana
  • Steve Rosenstein
  • Jeffrey Dershin
  • Rochus Kuhn
  • Rick Greenberg
  • John Classi
  • Martin Rosenberg
Website sweetsmokeband.com

Sweet Smoke was an American rock band formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 1968. The group moved to Europe in 1969, living in Germany, and performing in Germany, the Netherlands and France until 1974 when the band split up. Initially, some members stayed in Europe, some went to India, but most of the band returned to the United States. Although originating in the U.S., Sweet Smoke is often referred to as a Krautrock band. [1] Noted for their buoyant rhythms, inventive improvisations and complex musical structures, in interviews, the group says their music was influenced by Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, John Coltrane and The Beatles. [2] [3]

Contents

History

After their first performances in the U.S. and the Caribbean, the group moved to Germany and formed a commune in a farm house in the village of Hüthum, outside the city of Emmerich, about a kilometer (0.62 miles) from the border with the Netherlands. The group became well known in the region on and off the stage for their mixture of spirited musical performances combined with their interests in Eastern and Psychedelic philosophies. [4] The original members when they arrived in Germany were Andy Dershin (bass guitar), Michael Fontana (tenor saxophone, alto recorder, vocals, percussion), Jay Dorfman (drums, percussion), Marvin Kaminowitz (lead guitar, vocals) and Victor Sacco (guitar). Victor would soon be replaced by Steve Rosenstein (rhythm guitar, vocals). In 1970 the group was approached by EMI, and they recorded their first LP, Just a Poke with German record producer Konrad "Conny” Plank.

Sweet Smoke in 1974 with their Ford Transit van (from left to right: John, Rick, Andy, Enid, Marvin, Marty, Howie, Diane) Sweet Smoke with their van.jpg
Sweet Smoke in 1974 with their Ford Transit van (from left to right: John, Rick, Andy, Enid, Marvin, Marty, Howie, Diane)

After recording Just a Poke, Sweet Smoke took a year off to travel. Most of the group drove the band's Ford Transit van overland to India for a spiritual journey in connection with the socio-spiritual group Ananda Marga. The group first learned of the success of Just a Poke, after meeting German tourists in Nepal. They returned to Europe, signed a new recording contract with EMI, and added Jeffrey Dershin (piano, percussion, vocals) as a full-time member. The group recorded their second LP Darkness to Light at EMI studios in the Netherlands in 1973. Later in 1973, Jeffery Dershin returned home to assume his role as a father, Michael Fontana left the group to return to India, and Steve Rosenstein was replaced by Rick Greenberg, aka Rick Rasa (rhythm guitar, sitar, vocals). [2]

Near the end of 1974, the group broke up for the final time. They played their last performance in the concert hall of the music conservatory Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. The concert was recorded by EMI and became the group's last LP, Sweet Smoke Live .

Personnel

Line-up Just a Poke (1970)

Line-up Darkness to Light (1973)

Line-up Sweet Smoke Live (1974)

Discography

Albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can (band)</span> German experimental rock band

Can were a German experimental rock band formed in Cologne in 1968 by Holger Czukay, Irmin Schmidt (keyboards), Michael Karoli (guitar), and Jaki Liebezeit (drums). They featured several vocalists, including the American Malcolm Mooney (1968–70) and the Japanese Damo Suzuki (1970–73). They have been hailed as pioneers of the German krautrock scene.

<i>Neu! 2</i> 1973 studio album by Neu!

Neu! 2 is the second studio album by the krautrock band Neu!. It was recorded in January 1973 and mixed in February 1973, both at Windrose-Dumont-Time Studios in Hamburg, West Germany, and released in 1973 by Brain Records. It was reissued by Astralwerks in the US and by Grönland in the UK and Europe on 29 May 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shadows</span> English instrumental rock group

The Shadows were an English instrumental rock group, who dominated the British popular music charts in the pre-Beatles era from the late 1950s to the early 1960s. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard from 1958 to 1968, and have joined him for several reunion tours.

Marvin, Welch & Farrar were a 1970s British and Australian popular music group formed by Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch, both members of The Shadows – as a change of direction manoeuvre during 1970 to 1973 – and John Farrar. The distinction was that while The Shadows were famous for their instrumental work, Marvin Welch & Farrar were a trio, vocal harmony group. They have been favourably compared to USA folk close harmony group Crosby Stills Nash and Young and The Hollies.

<i>Faust IV</i> 1973 studio album by Faust

Faust IV is the fourth studio album by the German krautrock group Faust, released in 1973. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, where it is referred to as a "krautrock classic". This was the last album by the first incarnation of the band, they returned in 1994 with the release of Rien featuring a different line-up.

<i>First Offense</i> 1983 studio album by Corey Hart

First Offense is the debut studio album by Canadian recording artist Corey Hart, released in 1983. It includes the hit single "Sunglasses at Night" and the ballad "It Ain't Enough". Hart was subsequently nominated for four Juno Awards and a Grammy Award for "Best New Artist".

<i>Coming Out</i> (album) 1976 studio album by The Manhattan Transfer

Coming Out is the third album by The Manhattan Transfer, released August 19, 1976, on Atlantic Records.

<i>Pastiche</i> (album) 1978 studio album by the Manhattan Transfer

Pastiche is an album by the Manhattan Transfer, released in 1978 by Atlantic Records. This was the last studio album the Manhattan Transfer recorded with Laurel Massé, who because of a car accident in early 1979 decided to end her association with the group. The album was re-issued on CD with Rhino as distributor in 1994.

<i>Just a Poke</i> 1970 studio album by Sweet Smoke

Just a Poke is the first album by the band Sweet Smoke, released in 1970, engineered by Conny Plank. The song "Baby Night" displays the band's progressive jazz fusion style at the time. The song can be divided into three main sections, the highlights being the instrumental sections.

<i>Darkness to Light</i> 1973 studio album by Sweet Smoke

Darkness to Light is an album released by the band Sweet Smoke in 1973. The album exhibits the use of acoustic guitars, 12 string guitars and flute more than their first album Just A Poke.

<i>Sweet Smoke Live</i> 1974 live album by Sweet Smoke

Sweet Smoke Live is the third release from the progressive jazz rock band Sweet Smoke. Released in 1974, it was their second record to feature only two tracks, the first being their debut effort Just a Poke. It showcases the band's live talents with extended jamming, the guitar solos are the showcase. It was recorded live in Berlin, Musikhochschule. The last track is actually two songs that were combined during the LP engineering. The tracks were later listed separately when three additional tracks were added to the 2001 CD re-release. After the 1997 CD re-issue had already used a different cover than the original LP, the cover for the 2001 re-release was changed again, re-using the typographical design of the LP cover.

<i>Musik von Harmonia</i> 1974 studio album by Harmonia

Musik von Harmonia is the debut album from the influential German krautrock group Harmonia, released in January 1974 by Brain Records. Formed by the addition of Neu! guitarist Michael Rother to Cluster, they recorded the album from June to November 1973 in Cluster's Forst recording studio. It was self-produced by the group using a primitive mixer and three tape recorders.

<i>Born to Laugh at Tornadoes</i> 1983 studio album by Was (Not Was)

Born to Laugh at Tornadoes is a 1983 album by the art-funk band Was. Rolling Stone declared it "conceptually, the best album of the year" shortly after its release. Despite the glowing reviews, Tornadoes made little commercial impact in a year dominated by Michael Jackson's Thriller and Prince's 1999.

<i>Planet P Project</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Planet P Project

Planet P Project, first released as Planet P, is an album released in 1983 by the group Planet P Project led by Tony Carey. The cassette and CD editions have two bonus tracks not found on the LP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Karrer</span> German guitarist and composer (1947–2024)

Christoph Karrer was a German guitarist and composer who also played saxophone, violin and oud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skinny Minnie</span>

"Skinny Minnie" is a 1958 song co-written and recorded by Bill Haley and his Comets. The song was released as a Decca single which became a Top 40 chart hit in the U.S., peaking at #22 on the Billboard chart.

<i>Shades of Rock</i> 1970 studio album by The Shadows

Shades of Rock is the eighth rock album by British instrumental group The Shadows, released in 1970 through Columbia (EMI).

<i>Heads</i> (Bob James album) 1977 studio album by Bob James

Heads is the fifth album by the jazz musician Bob James, released in October 1977. It was his first album released on his newly formed Tappan Zee label, which was distributed by Columbia Records. All of his Tappan Zee albums are distributed by E1 Music. The album reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Some Skunk Funk</i> 2005 live album by Randy Brecker with Michael Brecker

Some Skunk Funk is an live album by Randy Brecker with Michael Brecker. It was recorded on November 11, 2003, at the Forum in Leverkusen, Germany and was released in November 2005.

<i>Woodstock – Back to the Garden: 50th Anniversary Experience</i> 2019 live album by various artists

Woodstock – Back to the Garden: 50th Anniversary Experience is a live album by various artists, packaged as a box set of ten compact discs. Released by Rhino Records during the summer leading up to the fiftieth anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, it contains selections from every performance at the music festival, which took place on August 15–18, 1969, in Bethel, New York. The discs also include stage announcements and miscellaneous audio material. The package contains essays by producer Andy Zax and Jesse Jarnow, details about the performers and notable festival figures, and photographs. This box set is a compilation derived from its limited edition parent box set. A smaller three-CD or five-LP sampler was also released.

References

  1. ↑ Encyclopedia of Krautrock, Kosmische Musik
  2. 1 2 "Retrophobic interview with Michael Paris and Rick Rasa (in Italian)".
  3. ↑ "ROCKTIMES - LP-Review / Sweet Smoke - Just A Poke". www.rocktimes.de.
  4. ↑ From Now to Now, the Autobiography of Marlis Jermutus
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.