Bloodrock

Bloodrock was an American hard rock band based in Fort Worth, Texas, that had success in the 1970s.[1] The band emerged from the Fort Worth club and music scene during the early to mid-1970s.

Bloodrock
OriginFort Worth, Texas, United States
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, psychedelic rock (early), progressive rock (later)
Years active1969–1975, 2005
Past membersNick Taylor
Ed Grundy
Jim Rutledge
Dean Parks
Lee Pickens
Stevie Hill
Rick Cobb
Warren Ham
Randy Reader
Derek Brunson Faulk
Chris Taylor

Early career

Bloodrock initially formed in Fort Worth in 1963, under the name the Naturals. This first lineup featured Jim Rutledge – drums/vocals, Nick Taylor (1946–2010) – guitar/vocals, Ed Grundy – bass/vocals, and Dean Parks – guitar. They released their first single in 1965 "Hey Girl" b/w "I Want You" (Rebel MME 1003). Shortly thereafter they changed their name to Crowd + 1 and released three more singles: "Mary Ann Regrets” b/w "Whatcha Tryin’ to Do to Me" (BOX 6604), "Don’t Hold Back" b/w "Try," and "Circles" b/w “Most Peculiar Things."

In 1967, Parks left Crowd +1 to become the musical director for The Sonny & Cher Show (the beginning of a long career as a session musician). He was replaced by Lee Pickens on guitar. It was also at this time that Stevie Hill joined the group on keyboards and vocals. They continued as Crowd + 1 until 1969 when they changed their name to Bloodrock, conceived by Grand Funk Railroad manager/producer Terry Knight. They also recorded their first album under Knight, Bloodrock (Capitol ST-435). The album, released in March 1970, peaked at 160 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 1970, Rutledge moved from behind the drum set to take on lead vocal duties exclusively. Rick Cobb took over the percussive duties and added his voice to the group as well. This lineup recorded their next four albums: Bloodrock 2 (ST-491), Bloodrock 3 (ST-765), Bloodrock USA (SMAS 645), and Bloodrock Live (SVBB-11038).

Bloodrock opened for Grand Funk on the 1970 tour.

Bloodrock 2 and "D.O.A."

Bloodrock 2 was their most successful album peaking at number 21 on the Billboard Pop Album Chart in 1971, mostly on the strength of their single "D.O.A.", which reached number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on March 6, 1971. "D.O.A." also gave the band considerable regional exposure throughout the Southwest and West, particularly in Texas and Southern California. "D.O.A." was probably the band's most well-known and well-remembered single. However, some radio stations would not play the song because of the use of sirens. The concern was that the siren sound would confuse motorists. The motivation for writing this song was explained in 2005 by guitarist Lee Pickens. “When I was 17, I wanted to be an airline pilot,” Pickens said. “I had just gotten out of this airplane with a friend of mine, at this little airport, and I watched him take off. He went about 200 feet in the air, rolled and crashed.” The band decided to write a song around the incident and include it on their second album.[2]

Style and personnel change

In 1972 Lee Pickens left to form the Lee Pickens Group (LPG) and released the album LPG in 1973 on Capitol Records. Jim Rutledge also left Bloodrock in 1972, later releasing a solo album in 1976 on Capitol Records titled Hooray for Good Times. Bloodrock replaced Rutledge on vocals and guitar with Warren Ham on vocals, flute and saxophone. Stevie Hill on keyboards adjusted to Ham's presence by shifting his own style. These changes to personnel and style moved the hard rock sound of the band in a lighter direction, more toward progressive rock, pop and jazz, alienating some fans.[3] The subsequent album, Passage was the last time Bloodrock visited the charts. It peaked at number 104 on the Billboard 200 in 1972.

1973 brought another personnel change: Rick Cobb vacated the drums to be replaced by Randy Reader. This line up recorded one album: Whirlwind Tongues (1974).

The end of the road for Bloodrock came in 1975. Randy Reader left the group and an album, Unspoken Words, remained unreleased until 2000, when it was included as part of the CD release Triptych (along with Passage and Whirlwind Tongues). Unspoken Words featured Bill Ham (Warren's Brother) and Matt Betton.

2005 reunion concert

A reunion concert featuring all five members of the original lineup (Jim Rutledge, Lee Pickens, Ed Grundy, Nick Taylor, and Stevie Hill), plus Chris Taylor (Nick's son) in place of drummer Rick Cobb III from the classic six-member lineup, was held on March 12, 2005, in Fort Worth, for the benefit of their keyboardist Stevie Hill, to help with medical costs related to his combating leukemia. The reunion concert was filmed and released on DVD.

Nick Taylor (born Doyle Taylor in Texas on October 29, 1946) died on March 10, 2010 after a car accident in Cleburne, Texas, at age age 63.[4]

Stevie Hill died on September 12, 2013, from leukemia.

Music

Bloodrock's music has been categorized primarily as hard rock.[1] Bloodrock's 1970 self-titled debut album was described in the context of hard rock and early heavy metal by AllMusic's Donald A. Guarisco.[5] Bloodrock 2 was not as morbid and heavy, and more of a chart success,[6] while Bloodrock 3 and Bloodrock U.S.A. saw the band introduce progressive rock elements.[6][7] The band's 1972 personnel changes shifted them toward prog rock, jazz and pop music.[3]

Discography

Studio albums

Other releases
  • 2000 - Unspoken Words (as part of the Triptych compilation)
  • 2013 - Bloodrock 2013 (by Jim Rutledge & John Nitzinger)

Live albums
Year Title Format Label Catalogno Remark
1972Bloodrock Live2 LP's, double-play 8-track, double-play cassetteCAPITOLSVBB 11038
2007Another Amazing Adventure: The Bloodrock Reunion ConcertCDPRIVATE PRESSING

Compilations
Year Title Format Label Catalogno Remark
1975Bloodrock 'n' RollLP, 8-Track, Cassette(1989)CAPITOLSM 11417U.S. Compilation
1976Bloodrock - HitroadLPSOUNDS SUPERBSPR 80536Dutch compilation
1989D.O.A.CassetteCAPITOL SPECIAL PRODUCTS4XL 57214U.S. Budget Compilation
2000Triptych2 CD'sONE WAY525 437 2Passage, Whirlwind Tongues & Unspoken Words
2007Two Originals - Passage & Whirlwind TonguesCDMASONMR 56461Import

Singles
Year Title Format Label Catalogno Remark
1970Gotta Find A Way / Fatback7"singleCAPITOLST 2736
1971D.O.A. / Children's Heritage7"singleCAPITOLST 3009
1971D.O.A. / D.O.A.7"singleCAPITOLPRO 27637Promo
1971A Certain Kind / A Certain Kind7"singleCAPITOLSPRO 6187Promo
1971A Certain Kind / You Gotta Roll7"singleCAPITOLST 3089
1971D.O.A. / Castle Of Thoughts7"singleCAPITOLST 3399
1971Lucky In The Morning ~ Children's Heritage / Jessica ~ Dier Not A Lover7"EP?TKR 052Thailand
1971Jessica / You Gotta Roll7"singleCAPITOLST 3161
1971Jessica / Jessica7"singleCAPITOLP 3161Promo
1972Rock & Roll Candy Man /Don't Eat The Children7"singleCAPITOLST 3227
1972Erosion / Castle Of Thoughts7"singleCAPITOLST 3320
1972Erosion/Erosion7"singleCAPITOL?Promo
1972Help Is On The Way / Interview7"singleCAPITOLPRO 6579Promo
1972Passage: Help Is On The Way ~ The Power / Scottsman ~ Life Blood7"EP?IT 015Thailand
1972American Burn ~ Don't Eat The Children / Crazy 'bout You Babe ~ It's A Sad World7"EP?M 048Thailand
1973Help Is On The Way / Thank You Daniel Elssberg7"singleCAPITOLST 3451
1973Thank You Daniel Elssberg / Voices7"singleCAPITOLST 3770
1974D.O.A. / Lucky In The Morning7"singleCAPITOLCR 2741Japan
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References
  1. Ruhlmann, William. "Bloodrock". Allmusic.
  2. Wheeler, Lisa. “Grapevine: I Remember . . . Bloodrock Reunite”. Goldmine 31 (18 March 2005): 10, 51.
  3. Jasinski, Lawrence J. (2012). Handbook of Texas Music. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 0876112971.
  4. "In Memory of Doyle "Nick" Taylor 1946-2010". cpcleburne.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  5. Guarisco, Donald A. "Bloodrock - Bloodrock". Allmusic.
  6. Guarisco, Donald A. "Bloodrock - Bloodrock 3". Allmusic.
  7. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Bloodrock - Bloodrock U.S.A." Allmusic.
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