''Doug Sahm and Band'' is the debut solo album of American singer-songwriter Doug Sahm. In 1972, after leaving the Sir Douglas Quintet, Sahm moved to Austin, Texas. He was signed by

Jerry Wexler Jerry may refer to: Animals * Jerry (Grand National winner), racehorse, winner of the 1840 Grand National * Jerry (St Leger winner), racehorse, winner of 1824 St Leger Stakes Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Jerry'' (film), a 2006 Indian fil ...

to the newly opened country music division of

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

, and started the album sessions by October 1972. It featured appearances by Bob Dylan, Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman, Flaco Jimenez, David Bromberg and Kenny Kosek. The album garnered mixed reviews upon release and sold poorly. It was listed by ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' in Top LP's and Tapes at 125. The album was favored in later reviews.

Background

After a string of successful recordings in the late sixties, the Sir Douglas Quintet split in 1972. Doug Sahm, then based in San Francisco, decided to return to Texas and moved to

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

. The burgeoning alternative musical scene of the city included artists such as Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker. Venues frequented by Sahm included the Soap Creek Saloon and Armadillo World Headquarters. Interested in the development of

alternative country Alternative country, or alternative country rock (sometimes alt-country, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative), is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style ...

producer

started a Country & Western division in the label. Wexler signed Sahm among his acts.

Recording

Doug Sahm - Atlantic Records Publicity Portrait 1973(derivate)

Produced by Sahm, Wexler and Arif Mardin, the recording sessions took place during the first two weeks of October 1972, at the Atlantic Records recording studios on West 60th Street in New York. Guest musicians included Bob Dylan, Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman, Flaco Jiménez, David Bromberg and Kenny Kosek. Meanwhile,

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

visited the studio. " Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" opened the album. It included twin fiddles by Sahm and Ken Kosek, with the steel guitar of Charlie Owens, while Dylan contributed with harmony vocals. Dylan appeared again singing harmony in "It's Gonna Be Easy", written by Atwood Allen, while Allen and Sahm sung the lead. Then, a horn section composed by Newman,

Wayne Jackson Wayne Jackson may refer to: *Wayne Jackson (brigadier), List of Australian generals and brigadiers, senior Australian army officer *Wayne Jackson (footballer) (born 1944), Australian football player and former CEO of the Australian Football League ...

and Willie Bridges assist Sahm on the Blues number "Your Friends". In "Poison Love" the vocals of Sahm are complemented by Jimenez on the accordion with Augie Meyers on piano, Bromberg on dobro and Andy Statman on mandolin. The Dylan-written " Wallflower" was a lead collaboration between Sahm and Dylan. In "Dealer's Blues" the horn section led by Newman also featured Jack Walrath,

Martin Fierro Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

and Mel Martin. Kosek returned with Sahm with in the twin fiddles in the cover of Bob Wills' "

Faded Love "Faded Love" is a Western swing song written by Bob Wills, his father John Wills, and his brother, Billy Jack Wills. The tune is considered to be an exemplar of the Western swing fiddle component of American fiddle. The melody came from an 185 ...

". Dylan returned in "Blues, Stay Away From Me", also playing a guitar solo. T-Bone Walker's "Papa Ain't Salty" and Willie Nelson's "Me and Paul" follow. Newman returned in "Don't Turn Around", followed by the closing "I Get Off".

Release and reception

The album was released in January 1973. The singles were " Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" and "It's Gonna Be Easy". The album garnered mixed reviews and sold poorly, reaching 125 on ''Billboard''s Top LPs & Tapes. The ''

'' review was favorable, calling the LP "the ultimate in mellow country contemporary". The review remarked the importance of Dylan's support. Robert Hilburn of the '' Los Angeles Times'' wrote a mixed review, saying "There are some rather ordinary moments in the album, but there are some tracks ..that you just shouldn't do without". The '' Rolling Stone'' album guide declared that Sahm "faltered" on " forgettable album".

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

rated the album "B−", calling Sahm a "talent, not a genius", and opined that the accompanying artists "only inhibit dhim". Later reviews praised the album. AllMusic rated the album with five stars out of five, with critic

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...

concluded "this is music that is vividly, excitedly alive and captures Sahm at a peak. It's pretty much irresistible". The Vinyl District rated the album "A", and opined that it was "an instant classic—energetic, ecstatic, and in general the kind of LP guaranteed to put a smile on your face".

Track listing

Footnotes

References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{Doug Sahm Atlantic Records albums 1973 debut albums Doug Sahm albums Albums produced by Jerry Wexler Albums produced by Arif Mardin