First discovered while opening for the Grateful Dead, Long Island quartet Swampgas were taken under the wing of producer Artie Kornfeld and set about recording an LP. Due to financial difficulties the album was held up a year, and finally given a cursory release in 1972 (Buddah BDS 5102), by which time the disillusioned band has already broken up. A superb and little known album, produced by the group members and Artie Kornfeld and engineered by Shelly Yakus at A&R Studios, NYC. Consisting of eight long tracks, all but one are composed by Baird Hersey. A mixture of some fast numbers (Patato Strut, Don't), some melancholic ballads, two complex tracks (Eulogy, Trapped In The City) and a raga with sitar (Egg Shell). Baird Hersey was obviously influenced by Hendrix, but goes further than his influences and the guitars (electric and acoustic) are especially interesting. Kim Ornitz's voice sounds a bit like Henry Tree's vocalist. 01 - Potato Strut 02 - Don't 03 - The Waiting, E Train Blue 04 - Trapped In The City 05 - Eulogy 06 - Frolic Child 07 - Pala 08 - Egg Shells LINK
