Seatrain

Seatrain, a roots-fusion ensemble, arose after the Blues Project dissolved once its remaining New York members departed. Andy Kulberg, handling flute and bass, and drummer Roy Blumenfeld relocated to Marin County, California, assembling a new configuration that featured vocalist Jim Roberts, ex-Mystery Trend guitarist John Gregory, former Jim Kweskin Jug Band violinist Richard Greene, and saxophonist Don Kretmar. Although the sextet’s 1968 album Planned Obsolescence appeared under the Blues Project name to satisfy contractual terms, the group promptly adopted the Seatrain moniker for its 1969 self-titled debut, which spotlighted their singular fusion of rock, bluegrass, folk, and blues. Frequent lineup adjustments continued to disrupt the band, leading to a 1970 edition—still including Kulberg, Roberts, and Greene alongside keyboardist Lloyd Baskin, drummer Larry Atamanuik, and ex-Earth Opera guitarist Peter Rowan—that issued a second self-titled album and notched a minor hit with the single “13 Questions.” George Martin produced the follow-up Marblehead Messenger a year later. Greene and Rowan soon exited to join Muleskinner, while Roberts and Atamanuik also departed, the latter later resurfacing in Emmylou Harris’ Nash Ramblers. Kulberg and Baskin then enlisted guitarist Peter Walsh, keyboardist Bill Elliot, and drummer Julio Coronado for the final album, Watch, released in 1973.