Customer Reviews

Cats on The Coast

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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When I was in college in Macon, Georgia in the 70's, I was lucky enough to see Chuck Leavell and Sea Level on any given weekend at a small off-campus bar, sometimes jamming with members of the Allman Brothers; I was delighted to finally find this CD after searching for it for several years (I lost my original LP to an unworthy boyfriend!).The influence of the Brothers Allman are definately apparent in Sea Level's music, and as someone who was lucky enough to see them numerous times in an intimate setting when my contemporaries were listening to Loverboy and Foghat, I can definately say that Chuck and his bandmates were ahead of their time!If you are new to this artist's music and only have the "greatest hits" CD, treat yourself to this recording as well. I may be biased, as all tracks have a memory for me, but I think you can make your own. Great music for brunch-I hope Chuck plays it for his guests as they dine at the Bed and Breakfast he runs in Georgia!

There is a certain southern instrumental sound that you get on Albums like Eat a Peach and the early Dregs albums. If you like that sound, go buy this album. I remember listening to this band open for George Benson at a club in Chicago. Benson was great as usual. But I remember these guys bringing the house down as a prelude.

Leavell is da man, and I don't mean to take anything away from him, but somebody should mention that in addition to some of the sharpest fusion instrumentals ever this album has two fine vocal songs by one of America's great songwriters, Randall Bramblett: "That's Your Secret" and "It Hurts When You want It So Bad."

The vocals are clear,the music is clear,the message was clear:grrreaat!The instrumentals are just as good as the other songs. I bought this on vinyl when it first came out,and waited for it to be remastered. And bought it again! j3

Other reviewers note an Allman Brothers influence. However, that doesn't give justice to the talents of this band. Randall Bramblett and Chuck Levell team up for a great mix of southern funk-rock-jazz - about the only way to describe this music. Randall's grossly underappreciated song-writing talents have since expanded to even greater heights; not to mention his considerable expertise on keyboards and reeds. Of course, Chuck has also soared as any Rolling Stones fan knows. (Not to give short shrift to the entire ensemble.) One would be well served to buy any and all Sea Level albums, or at least the Greatest Hits.

A continuing example of Chuck Leavel's great melodic jazz writing with a touch of the Allman Brothers for flavoring!!!

i've been looking for this artist and album/cd forever. i 've called radio stations, searched the web, and couldn't find out who did "thats your secret". i use to hear it on XRT 93.1 fm in chicago in the 70's but lost track of it. i'd ask people if they knew of it and only got blank stares. then driving through St Louis KSHE 95fm last month i heard "thats your secret" and was floored by its sound still, but alas i lost the signal before they said who it was. it made my day today to finally find this gem. its ordered and i can't wait for it's arrival