Sea Level- Any Fans?

I searched but couldn't find any recent threads that discuss this band. I am a big fan of this relatively unknown group. The musicianship is excellent and Chuck Leavell is one of my favorite keyboard players. It would be interesting to hear other members take on this group and what their favorites are of the 5 releases. I own the first four releases on cd on the Capricorn label. They were also issued as two/fers on the Real Gone label. I also own the Best Of, which is a great overview. The one title I don't own is Ball Room. Opinions on this title would be welcome. It was their fifth and last album.

 

I still own their first two LPs and play them regularly. They didn’t seem unknown back in the day, but that was when I was in college, and so that probably influences my opinion.

JohnK

 

Back in the 80s when I collected vinyl I had their first two albums and really liked them. I got rid of all my vinyl in '99. Haven't thought of the band in years. Thanks for the thread since it reminded me of them. I'll have to check and see what's available by them on CD.

 

Really good stuff. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Chuck Levell’s work with the Stones does not do him justice.

 

My only connection to Sea Level is that I interviewed Chuck Leavell many years ago, but about environmental issues.

 

Well hey, you still got to talk to members of the Allman Brothers.

 

Randall Bramlet and Chuck Leavell are omnipresent around here and play quite often in my home town of Athens, Ga.. I've become a fan the honest way... seeing them live.

They always have some great players with them. I have to admit though, one of the reasons I always make these shows is because they always play a bunch of Stones and Allman Brothers covers.

I also saw these guys play with Widespread Panic a few years ago... another one of my favorite bands.

 

Great band and I saw them a couple of times. I remember one show where Leavell had two grand pianos set up on opposite sides of the stage and kept going back and forth. A little distracting and I felt sorry for the roadies.

 

Yup, he's a very nice, soft-spoken guy with Southern charm galore.

 

Have debut and one with "Thats Your Secret" on vinyl. Good stuff...especially debut. Oh yeah...have an anthology CD too.

 

Totally agree. I don't really think their music lends itself to allowing him to use his talent to it's fullest. Definitely a big Stones fan, though. Just seems like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

 

I'm a huge Sea Level fan! Have most of their albums on vinyl and all of them on CD. I saw them twice in the Boston area at small clubs and the shows were incredible! Still think Jimmy Nalls was such an outstanding guitarist. To see a third of the then Allman Brothers Band in a small venue was unbelievable. The best versions of Statesboro Blues and Hot 'Lanta I've ever heard were at the first show and Jimmy was killer on the slide! I was asked by the Paradise staff several times to stop standing on my chair and screaming with joy .

https://www.guitars101.com/forums/f...ise-theater-boston-mass-late-show-653189.html

 

Wow Bill. Very jealous. Those shows must have been unbelievable. When I have a little more time I will listen to the full concert. What year was that? Agree with you about Jimmy Nalls. Who else did he play with?

 

Picked up their first album last year and the instrumentals are nice mellow fusion. Haven't yet got around to hearing their later albums.

 

And also, he was coming in when they were becoming a nostalgia act. Yes, guys like Nicky Hopkins we’re hired guns as well, but Nicky was clearly allowed to be Nicky.

 

IMO, Randall Bramblett is another unrecognized true American artiste !
He has many CD's/albums and I cannot pick a favorite.
He was a standard bearer for Steve Winwood tours in the past.

 

Went down to Toronto in the late seventies to see them at the ElMo.
Got there just in time to see the dude removing `Tonight - Sea Level'
from the marquee. We went home. Never did find out what the deal
was. That aside - I've always been an ardent fan.

 

Thanks! The Capital Theater show was from February of '77. Jimmy Nalls was mostly a session player and he released two solo albums. The last was released right before he passed from Parkinson's. I have the Ain’t No Stranger CD from 1999 and its a great album. The Jimmy Nalls Project looks like it's only available as a download. He also played for a short while with the Nighthawks.

I contacted Jimmy awhile back letting him know that I loved his work with Sea Level and to wish him well. He sent a nice response saying that he really appreciated the kind words.

Jimmy Nalls - Wikipedia
Jimmy Nalls - Ain't No Stranger
Jimmy Nalls Official Website - Welcome
THE JIMMY NALLS PROJECT

 

They seem to fade in memory. A reminder always returns. Sea Level had a lot of hype during the late 70's with FM radio support.

In hindsight, it seems unbelievable that a combination of Southern rock, which was dying, and fusion, which had passed peak, could reach the mainstream. Despite the odds stacked against its they made a real go. Somebody else would be better equipped to share a more thorough explanation, but wasn't the Capricorn Records situation the biggest obstacle to bigger success?

 

Mama shake a leg!

 

I've got the first two and play them regularly. Pretty well know in my circle of friends, We're all big Allman Brothers fans

 

Very sad, but I will definitely check out his album from 99. That was very thoughtful of you to send him well wishes. It's a horrible disease. I didn't check Discogs, but does Chuck Leavell have any solo albums to your knowledge?

 

And did you know about his trees ?

 

Probably 6 different releases...check Amazon

 

sea level CD's, other than the best of are ridiculously hard to find, and when you do you have to take out a home equity loan to buy one.

and they are all very very good.