Kingfish - Kingfish (1976)

Kingfish is an American rock band led by Matthew Kelly, a musician, singer, and songwriter who plays guitar and harmonica. Kelly co-founded Kingfish in 1973 with New Riders of the Purple Sage bass player Dave Torbert and fellow San Francisco Bay Area musicians Robbie Hoddinott, Chris Herold, and Mick Ward. However, Ward died in a car accident later that year, and was soon replaced by Barry Flast, another keyboardist from San Francisco.

In 1974, Kingfish became more well known, and signed their first record contract, after Grateful Dead member Bob Weir, a long-time friend of Kelly's, joined the band. (Kelly had previously been a guest musician on the Grateful Dead album Wake of the Flood.) Weir toured with Kingfish and was a band member on their first two albums, “Kingfish” and “Live 'n' Kickin'”. When the Dead started touring again in 1976, Weir left Kingfish, along with Hoddinott and Herold, who were then replaced by Barry Flast, Michael O'Neill and Dave Perper. (Kelly later appeared on the Grateful Dead albums Shakedown Street and The Closing of Winterland, and on Weir's album Bobby and the Midnites. In 1995 he became a founding member of Weir's band Ratdog.)

The lineup of the band continued to change, with Kelly and Torbert remaining at the core. Then, in 1979 Torbert and Kelly parted ways and Torbert formed a new lineup with Danny "Rio" DeGennaro and Michael O'Neill on guitars and sharing lead vocals. Also part of that lineup were drummer Steve Shive and Ralph Liberto. Dave Torbert died of a heart attack in 1982.

“Kingfish” is their self-titled first album, recorded and released in 1976. It is not to be confused with the band's fourth album, which is also called “Kingfish”.

When they recorded their debut album, the lineup of Kingfish included Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir. Weir was a member of the band from 1974 to 1976, and left the group shortly after the album's release. Kingfish includes "Lazy Lightnin'" and "Supplication", a jazzy song combination sung by Weir that quickly found its way into the Grateful Dead repertoire.

Besides Weir, Kingfish features original band members Matthew Kelly on guitar and harmonica, Dave Torbert on bass, Robbie Hoddinott on guitar, and Chris Herold on drums.

Track listing

01.  "Lazy Lightnin'"   (John Perry Barlow, Bob Weir)  - 3:02
02.  "Supplication"   (Barlow, Weir)  - 2:56
03.  "Wild Northland"   (Tom Hovey, Dave Torbert)  - 2:24
04.  "Asia Minor"   (John Carter, Tim Gilbert, Hovey, Scott Quigley)  - 3:32
05.  "Home to Dixie"   (Barlow, John Cutler, Matt Kelly, Weir)  - 3:52
06.  "Jump for Joy"   (Carter, Gilbert)  - 3:49
07.  "Good-Bye Yer Honor"   (Hovey, Kelly, Torbert)  - 2:56
08.  "Big Iron"   (Marty Robbins)  - 4:30
09.  "This Time"   (Kelly, Torbert)  - 4:23
10.  "Hypnotize"   (Kelly, Torbert)  - 4:35
11. " Bye and Bye"   (trad., arr. Barlow, Weir)  - 4:03

Kingfish
Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
Dave Torbert – bass, vocals
Robby Hoddinott – lead guitar, slide guitar
Chris Herold – drums, percussion

Additional personnel
Steve Evans – bass
Barry Flast – piano, vocals
Pablo Green – percussion
Anna Rizzo – vocals
Jim Sanchez – drums
J.D. Sharp – string symphonizer

Production
Producer – Dan Healy, Bob Weir
Production assistants – Richard Hundgren, Dean Layman
Arrangement – Kingfish
Recording – Dan Healy, Kingfish
Engineer – Rob Taylor
Mastering – George Horn
Cover painting – Philip Garris
Trident logo – James A. Nelson III
Photography – Bob Marks

Notes
Genre: Rock
Length: 40:07
Label:  Round Records

© 1976