Vinyl Vault: Sea Level, “Cats on the Coast”

The second album from the band Sea Level, entitled "Cats on the Coast,” will be the next Vinyl Vault feature. The album was released in 1977 on Capricorn Records.

Sea Level was an offshoot of the Allman Brothers Band and featured Chuck Leavell on keyboards, Jai Johnny Johnson on drums and percussion and Lamar Williams on bass; all players with the Allman Brothers. Sea Level also included Randall Bramblett on keyboards, saxes, percussion and vocals, Davis Causey on guitar and backing vocals, Jimmy Nalls on guitar and backing vocals and George Weaver on drums.

On paper, this might seem like another southern boogie band, but in reality, the band incorporated some significant jazz influences to go along with the blues-rock sensibility carried over from the Allman Brothers. Virtuoso playing and clever arrangements were Sea Level characteristics.

Sea Level never achieved widespread commercial success and, as a result, this band, and this album in particular, can be considered hidden gems.

If you’re not familiar with Sea Level, you’ll want to tune in to hear your new favorite band and if you know Sea Level, you’ll want to tune in because you know it’s good stuff.

Join host Geoff Anderson for some Sea Level on the next Vinyl Vault, on Tuesday, October 21 at 8:30 p.m. on KUVO JAZZ.