Sweet Marie - Stuck in Paradise 1971

The early '70s were intriguing times to be plying your trade amid the fauna and flora of Hawaii if you happened to be a rock band. It might've had something to do with the exotic climes and locales of the islands melding perfectly with the chemically enhanced strangeness and surreal vibes of the era (or maybe there was just something in the water?), but Hawaii played home to fiercely unique bands like Mu and expatriate psychedelic trailblazers like John Cippolina, as well as serving as an important pit-stop for Jimi Hendrix and other heavy, heady artists. Sweet Marie was yet another Hollywood combo who emigrated to the isle, and they quickly became one of the hottest bands on Oahu after having a nationally successful first album, buying a nightclub there, and packing it nightly. The trio continued their popularity and success with a second album, Sweet Marie, reissued here on Gear Fab in its original form. And it's not a bad album at all; in fact, it's a pretty strong, occasionally exciting effort. Sweet Marie's music was close in many ways to the bottom-heavy, groove-laden blues and rock amalgam of Buddy Miles Express (even Band of Gypsys on the version of Phil Ochs' "Changes") but with a cooler, more languid pace and darkly mystical undertones that closely recall their contemporary, Spirit, particularly in the harmonies. The album features some really superb melodic moments, as with "It Ain't Easy" and "I Want Your Woman," while "Do Do (Find Me a Way)" is fine, soul-tinged hard rock, and "Stella's Candy Store" amusingly innuendo-laden and jazzy. But Sweet Marie didn't have that distinctive spark that allowed their music to stand out or that ultimately separated them from their era. It certainly suffers in comparison to the extravagant, alien hybrid arrived at by Merrell Fankhauser and Jeff Cotton. And some of the ideas -- "Hortense the Hippie" (a rewrite of "Octopus' Garden"), in particular, and "Drum Solo" -- have aged less than gracefully. Nevertheless, it's a fine recording and one that would be well worth grabbing for fans of off-the-beaten-path '70s hard rock. AMG.

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Sweet Marie - One 1970

By the mid-'60s singer/guitarist Sonny Lathrop had made a minor name for himself as a member of Mickey and The Invaders and The Starfires (see separate entries).  Along with a wave of other California-based acts (Merrell Fankhauser, Jimi Hendrix, Quicksilver Messenger Service, etc.), the late-'60s found Lathrop living and working in Hawaii.  Teaming up with drummer Willy Bims and singer/bassist Prince Teddy, as Sweet Marie the trio began to attract local attention, eventually being signed by the small California-based Yard Bird label.

The band made their recording debut with the 1970 single "Remember Mary" b/w "Don't You Understand?" (Yard Bird catalog number YDB-70-1314), and seemed poised on the edge of success when Liberty Records acquired national distribution rights, reissuing the 45 (Liberty catalog number 56215).  Unfortunately, the single vanished without a trace.  In the meantime, Yard Bird financed an album.  Recorded in Honolulu, Hawaii 1970's self-produced "Sweet Marie 1" offered up a great slice of guitar-propelled rock.  Interestingly, splitting vocal chores, Lathrop and Teddy provided the band with the ability to handle  distinctively different styles.  With Teddy at the helm material such as "Remember Mary" and "If You Love Me" found the band working in a Hendrix-styled heavy rock arena.  While a less distinctive singer, Lathrop injected material such as "Standin' By the River" and "Don't You Understand" with a more conventional rock orientation.  Regardless of who was handling vocals, the material was peppered with some first rate guitar (check out the jazzy "Goin' Down the Road").  Now the bad news.  While they may have been one of the best bands in Hawaii, little on the album was particularly original or innovative.  It's a good, if somewhat pedestrian rock set that you're liable to like if you enjoy Hendrix.  As for dealers that are advertising it as being psych, or progressive ... nope!  Signed to a small label such as Yard Bird guaranteed limited sales, though the band apparently made enough money to buy a nightclub on the island of Oahu.

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