Mother Earth (American band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 in California, United States |
| Founder | Tracy Nelson |
| Defunct | 1977 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Tracy Nelson, Andy McMahon, John "Toad" Andrews, Travis Rivers (manager and producer) |
| Products | Music albums |
| Parent | Mercury Records, Reprise Records, Columbia Records |
Mother Earth was a blues rock group from the United States, established in 1967 in California, with vocalist Tracy Nelson at the forefront. Nelson, who hailed from Madison, Wisconsin, initially pursued a solo career before assembling Mother Earth after moving to San Francisco. The band gained recognition by performing at notable locations such as the Avalon Ballroom and the Fillmore Auditorium during the late 1960s and contributed to the soundtrack of the 1968 film Revolution. They were signed by Mercury Records and produced four albums under this label. Their 1968 release Living with the Animals featured guitarist Mike Bloomfield, while Boz Scaggs appeared on their 1969 album Make A Joyful Noise. The ensemble's musical style was a fusion of blues with elements drawn from gospel, R&B, jazz, country, and psychedelic genres. After releasing their first album, Mother Earth moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to a rural farm near Nashville, Tennessee. The principal members consisted of Nelson, keyboardist Andy McMahon, and guitarist John "Toad" Andrews. Managed and produced by Travis Rivers, Nelson was instrumental in promoting up-and-coming songwriters like John Hiatt, Steve Young, and Eric Kaz. Their interpretation of Young's "Seven Bridges Road" came nearly ten years before the version made famous by the Eagles. Following two albums with Reprise Records and one with Columbia Records, Mother Earth persisted as Nelson’s touring band but stopped recording new material. The group ultimately disbanded in early 1977. Meanwhile, Nelson resumed her solo endeavors starting in 1974, releasing records through labels such as Atlantic Records, MCA Records, and Flying Fish Records.
Members
1967: Tracy Nelson, Powell St. John, George Rains, Wayne Talbert, Ira Kamin, Jance Garfat
1968: Tracy Nelson, Powell St. John, John Andrews, Bob Arthur, George Rains, Luis Gasca, Mark Naftalin
1969: Tracy Nelson, Powell St.John, John Andrews, Bob Arthur, Boz Scaggs, Lonnie Castille, Clayborne Cotton
1970: Tracy Nelson, John Andrews, Andy McMahon, Bob Cardwell, David Zettner, Karl Himmel, James Day
1971: Tracy Nelson, John Andrews, Andy McMahon, Bob Cardwell, Karl Himmel, Tim Drummond
- Tracy Nelson
- Powell St. John
- Wayne Talbert
- Ira Kamin
- John Andrews
- Bob Arthur
- Mark Naftalin
- George Rains
- Boz Scaggs
- Ronald Stallings
- Lonnie Castille
- Clayborne Cotton
- Bob Cardwell
- Karl Himmel
- Andrew McMahon
- David Zettner
- James Clayton Day (Jimmie Day)
- Tim Drummond
- Jack Lee
- Steve Mendell
- Jerry Carrigan
- Beau Dollar
- Luis Gasca
Discography
- Living with the Animals (Mercury Records, 1968) Reached No. 144 on U.S. charts
- Mother Earth Presents Tracy Nelson Country (Mercury Records, 1969) – Solo project by Tracy Nelson including contributions from some band members
- Make A Joyful Noise (Mercury Records, 1969) Peaked at No. 95 in the U.S.
- Satisfied (Mercury Records, 1970)
- Bring Me Home (Reprise Records, 1971) Charted at No. 199 in the United States
- Tracy Nelson/Mother Earth (Reprise Records, 1972) Achieved No. 205 on U.S. charts
- Poor Man's Paradise (Columbia Records, 1973) Attained No. 210 in the U.S. rankings