Record Collection revisited: Sea Level “Best Of Sea Level”

The band Sea Level is an interesting one.  The name is a parody on keyboardist Chuck Leavell’s last name.  Leavell is known for his work on B3, as well as acoustic and electric piano.  He’s played with the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, the Black Crowes, and the Rolling Stones before.

This band was an Allman Brothers offshoot which had success after the first breakup of the Allman’s in 1976.  Chuck Leavell on keys was joined by Jaimoe (one of the drummers for the Allman Brothers), along with Lamar Williams on bass (a friend of Jaimoe’s also in the Allman Brothers).  Other members rotated around and included (at various points in the band’s career), Davis Causey and Jimmy Nalls on guitars, Joe English on drums, and David Earle Johnson on percussion and congas.

The band did employ a horn section for many of their songs, particularly on this album.  The horn section included:

Charlie Brent           alto & baritone saxophones

Tony DeGrady         tenor saxophone

Ed Dowling              Trumpet

Rodney Lafon           Trumpet

John Robert Smith     tenor saxophone

This band had an interesting sound.  They crossed boundaries between boogie rock, jazz fusion and R&B.  The sound is unique, and pleasing to the ear.  Guitar and keyboards are the dominant forces between Leavell, Nalls and Causey.  Many tunes are instrumental, but there were some written with lyrics as well including what is probably their most well-known track, “Tear Down This Wall” sung by Leavell with backing vocals by master guitarist and songwriter, Tommy Talton who (along with songwriting partner Scott Boyer), has a connection to the Allman Brothers. 

The music is syncopated and has a definite groove along with it’s polished aura and is played by musicians who can really deliver.  It’s maybe a good introduction to fusion jazz because though it’s complex, it isn’t really jarring or bewildering like some of the more well known fusion bands that have been mentioned in this blog before (i.e. Return To Forever or Weather Report).  The album is worth a listen even if people may dismiss a “greatest hits” album as just being something repackaged from a band’s car

Since this band had a relatively brief lifespan, this is a significant recording.  It’s an innovative sound, especially when it comes to the so often cliché and oxymoron term of “southern boogie rock” that was so prevalent in the 1970s.  Here are the songs on the record.

1. Rain In Spain
2. Shake A Leg
3. Tidal Wave
4. Nothing Matters But The Fever
5. That's Your Secret
6. It Hurts To Want It So Bad
7. Storm Warning
8. Midnight Pass
9. King Grand
10. Living In A Dream
11. This Could Be The Worst
12. Tear Down This Wall
13. Canine Man
14. Twenty Miles From Nowhere