Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams)


Band members               Related acts

- Big Willie Broom -- blues (1977)

- Jesse Carr -- guitar (1970, 71)

- Maurice Cotton -- bass (1977)

- Ronnie Eades -- sax (1977)

- Stacey Goss -- trumpet (1971, 77)

- Jasper Guarino -- drums (1971)

- Sammy Harris -- drums (1977)

- Paul Hornsby -- keyboards (1970)

- Clayton Ivy -- keyboards (1977)

- Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams) -- vocals, keyboards,

  synthesizers, percussion

- Oswald Peters -- guitar (1977)

- Court Pickett -- bass (1977)

- Robert Popwell -- bass (1970-71)

- Charles Rose -- trumpet (1977)

- Sonny Royal -- sax, clarinet (1971)

- Johnny Sadlin -- drums (1970)

- Oliver Sain -- sax, horns, keyboards (1977)

- George Soule -- drums (1977)

- Ronnie Starr -- percussion (1977)

- Mike Strough -- trumpet (1971, 77)

- Harvey Thompson -- tenor sax (1977)

- Audie Watkins -- percussion (1977)

   

 

 

- Jerry Williams (solo efforts)

 

 


 

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Total Destruction To Your Mind

Company: Canyon

Catalog: LP-7706

Year: 1970

Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: WUSA stamped on cover and back; gatefold sleeve 

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4745

Price: $60.00

Cost: $66.00

 

 

Yeah, Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams Jr.) is one of music's more talented and erratic characters.  As demonstrated by the bizarre cover photo (Dogg posing in his underwear on the back of a garbage truck), all of those characteristics are showcased on his brilliant 1970 debut "Total Destruction To Your Mind".  Self-produced the album aptly displayed Dogg's talents as a writer and performer. Extremely versatile, the title track and 'Synthetic World' rocked harder than most white bands (he was backed by a couple of members of the pre-Allman Brothers band Hour Glass), while horn-propelled soul tracks such as 'If I Die Tomorrow (I've Lived Tonight)' and 'The Baby Is Mine' came close to matching Otis Redding's intensity. Dogg's bizarre factor was also readily visible.  Anyone want to take a guess as what 'Dust Your Head Color Red' or 'Sal-a-Faster' are about?   The liner notes were also a hoot - 'I owe all my present success to a very dear person, someone who stuck by me when things were really bad, and has never made a motion to harm me or my talents in any way.  A person whom I love, worship and admire beyond and shadow of a doubt - ME!!"  Elsewhere Canyon tapped the album for three singles:

 

- 1970's 'Total Destruction To Your Mind' b/w 'Synthetic World' (Canyon catalog number )
- 1971's 'These Are Not My People' b/w 'I Was Born Blue' (Canyon catalog number )

- 1971's 'Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe' b/w 'Sal-a-Faster' (Canyon catalog number #30)

 

"Total Destruction To Your Mind" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Total Destruction To Your Mind   (Jerry Williams) - 2:34

2.) Synthetic World   (Jerry Williams) - 3:28

3.) Dust Your Head Color Red   (Gary Bonds - Jerry Williams) - 2:48

4.) Redneck   (Joe South) - 2:47

5.) If I Die Tomorrow (I've Lived Tonight)   (Jerry Williams) - 2:50

6.) I Was Born Blue   (Dee Ervin - Jerry Williams) - 2:58

(side 1)

1.) Sal-a-Faster   (Jerry Williams) - 2:48

2.) The World Beyond   (Bobby Goldsborne) - 3:39

3.) There Are Not My People   (Joe South) - 2:36

4.) Everything You'll Ever Need   (Gary Bonds - Jerry Williams) - 2:51

5.) The Baby Is Mine   (Jerry Williams) - 2:48

6.) Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe   (Gary Bonds - Jerry Williams) - 4:08

 

 

 

 


Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Rat On!

Company: Elektra

Catalog: EKS-74089

Year: 1971

Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: cutout hole top right; white label radio station copy

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 20

Price: $25.00

 

I won't even hazard a guess as to how Jerry Williams Jr. ended up signed to Elektra Records (hardly a label known for it's large soul roster).  Regardless, 1971's self-produced "Rat On!" served as an intriguing continuation of the man's ever eclectic catalog.  In addition to producing, Williams was responsible writing most of the material, handling keyboards and all of the arrangements.  As with his debut, musically the set was all over the spectrum including conventional soul moves ('If You Believe'), non-too subtle social criticism ('Remember, I Said Tomorrow' and 'God Bless America') and Williams' patented strangeness (of course what would you have expected given the wild cover ...).  As for the theme, well I'd say this one was the unfairness of monogamy -  'Predicament # 2', 'Creeping Away', 'That Ain't My Wife', etc.   Elsewhere Elektra tapped the album for a quickly forgotten single 'Creeping Away' b/w 'Do You Believe' (Elektra catalog number 45721) before hastily dropping Williams from its recording roster.

 

"Rat On!" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) If You Believe   (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis) - 2:50

2.) Predicament # 2   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 3:07

3.) Remember, I Said Tomorrow   (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis) - 2:41

4.) Creeping Away   (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds) - 2:51

5.) Got To Get a Message To You  (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:08

(side 1)

1.) God Bless America   (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis) - 5:34

2.) I Kissed Your Face   (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds) - 3:51

3.) That Ain't My Wife   (Jerry Williams Jr. - Gary Bonds - Charles Whitehead) - 3:15

4.) She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye   (Mickey Newbury - Douglas Gilmore) - 3:05

5.) Do Our Thing Together   (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis) - 4:07

 

 


Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Cuffed Collared & Tagged

Company: Cream

Catalog: CR-9009

Year: 1972

Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: sale copy does not have promo sticker on cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5035

Price: $25.00

Cost: $66.00

 

Normally I wouldn't bother quoting liner notes, but in this case Swamp Dogg says it all:

 

"This album is by far the greatest piece of writing, arranging, producing and sequencing genius that I've ever encountered. Anyone who has heard the first two Swamp Dogg albums will possibly say impossible, but after listening to this one will make the cross-over to incredible. The only album that may possibly compare with this one, is the one that I'm contemplating doing in the late future.


Everything that is necessary to make a hit album I have; ego, talent, originality, humor and I am dynamic, articulate, defiant, altruistic, considerate, warm, wonderful & humble. My reputation speaks for itself, having either written, produced or both, hit records for Gene Pitney, Z.Z. Hill, Freddie North, Doris Duke, Wilson Picket, Arthur Conley, Lulu, Stoneground, Johnny Paycheck, Conway Twitty, Dee Dee Warwick, Little Richard, Whispers, Gary Bonds, Joe Tex, Donnie Elbert, Lightning Slim, Irma Thomas, John Rowles, Tommy Overstreet, and Loretta Lynn, just to scratch the surface.


I have also been a Grammy nominee for the last two years. I'm also a Cancer (July 12) and twenty nine years in the world.

What you've just read is my trip and if you can't tolerate it, that's your trip."

By the time 1972's self-produced, "Cuffed, Collared & Tagged"  was released Swamp Dogg's career seemed to be headed in the right direction.   Signed by Al Bennett's L.A. based Cream label, he finally seemed to have found a label with some money and industry know-how behind him.  Recorded in Muscle Shoals with all-star cast of area studio musicians, Dogg was credited with penning seven of the ten songs, as well as producing and arranging.  Musically the album was pretty standard Dogg, offering up a mixture of topical commentary (a nice cover of John Prine's anti-Vietnam statements 'Sam Stone' and 'Don't It Make You Wanta Go Home' and the weird nuclear war survivor lyric on 'Complication #5' - note the flip side photo showing the Dogg in a gas mask) and personal insights ('Your Last Dirty Trick' and 'Knowing I'm Pleasing Me & You').  Not quite as consistent or enjoyable as his two previous albums, it's still worth owning, with one of the highlights being the soul flavored 'Lady Madonna'.  His meltdown scat segment at the end simply has to be heard.  And then there's the weird side of the man ...  check out his oddball tribute to Sly Stone 'If It Hadn't Been For Sly'.

 

Cream tapped the album for one single: 'Sam Stone' b/w 'Knowing I'm Pleasing Me And You' (Cream catalog number 1021)

 

"Cuffed Collared & Tagged" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Sam Stone   (John Prine) - 3:57
2.) Complication No. 5   (Jerry Williams Jr. - T. Davis) - 3:00
3.) Lady Madonna   (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 3:50
4.) You Say You Trust Your Mother
   (Jerry Williams Jr. - T. Davis)  - 2:36
5.) If It Hadn't Been For Sly
   (Jerry Williams Jr.)  - 4:00

(side 1)

1.) Your Last Dirty Trick   (Jerry Williams Jr. - D. Hollinger) - 2:45
2.) Knowing I'm Pleasing Me & You   (Jerry Williams Jr. - C. Whitehead)  - 2:35
3.) In My Resume   (Jerry Williams Jr. - T. Davis) - 2:33
4.) Captain Of Your Ship   (Jerry Williams Jr. - D. Hollinger)  - 1:53
5.) Don't It Make You Wanta Go Home   (Joe South) - 7:55

 

 


Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Finally Caught Up with Myself

Company: Musicor

Catalog: MUS-2504

Year: 1977

Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened)

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4738

Price: $25.00

 

 

Admittedly he's not for everyone and his albums can be frustratingly erratic, but that's one of the things that makes Jerry Williams (aka Swamp Dogg) so interesting and worth investigating.  Self-produced (all arranged and conducted by the Dogg), this 1977 set is a fairly typical outing meaning it isn't his best effort, nor is it his worst.  Credited to 'Swamp Dogg & Riders of the New Funk', "Finally Caught Up with Myself" differs a little from recent releases in that tracks such as 'My Heart Just Can't Stop Dancing', 'If You Gotta Do Wong (Do It Right)' and 'Slow, Slow Disco' mix Dogg's typical soul moves and patented sense of humor ('Trash') with a modest disco feel.  For most soul acts the move towards disco equates to creative death, but to his credit Dogg manages to avoid that fate.

 

"I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Communications   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

2.) My Heart Just Can't Stop Dancing   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

3.) If You Gotta Do Wong (Do It Right)   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

4.) Trash   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

5.) Silly, Silly, Silly, Silly Me   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

6.) Slow, Slow Disco   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

(side 1)

1.) Communications   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

2.) New Orleans My Home   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

3.) Walking On Eggs   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

4.) All Around Friend   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

5.) Understanding California Women   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

6.) Embryo S.O.S.   (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

 

 



Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In

Company: Takoma

Catalog: TAK 7099

Year: 1981

Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: small promo stamp on front cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4313

Price: $25.00

Cost: $66.00

 

His first release in four years, 1981's "I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In" found Swamp Dogg as eccentric as ever.  It also found him recording for yet another label - this time the folk oriented Takoma Records.  Self-produced, material such as 'Wine Woman & Rock and Roll','' and '' showcased a surprisingly rocki-sh sound.  Mind you, the Dogg remained a soul artist at heart and the best tracks reflected those long standing roots.  Highlights included his duet with Esther Phillips ('The Love We Got Ain't Worth Two Dead Flies') and the surprisingly confrontational 'California Is Drowning and I Live Down By the River'.


"I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Swamping Salutations  (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

2.) Wine Woman & Rock and Roll  (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

3.) Its' Just a Little Time Left  (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

4.) The Love We Got Ain't Worth Two Dead Flies  (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

5.) Low Friends In High Places  (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

(side 1)

1.) A Hundred And ...  (Jerry Williams Jr.) - 

2.) Total Destruction To Your Mind Once Again  (Jerry Williams Jr. - Troy Davis.) - 

3.) California Is Drowning and I Live Down By the River  (Jerry Williams Jr. - Yvonne Williams) -

4.) Sexy Sexy Sexy # 3  (Jerry Williams Jr.) -  

 

 


Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  I Called for a Rope and They threw Me a Rock

Company: SDGE

Catalog: SDE-4003

Year: 1989

Country/State: Portsmouth, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: was sealed; opened to tape once; still in shrink wrap

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4314

Price: $25.00

 

Forget the fact the Dogg is one of soul's most overlooked practioners, to say nothing of holding the title for being one of it's most eccentric performers  - just witness the title of 1989's "I Called for a Rope and They threw Me a Rock".  The Dogg also writes some of the funniest (most mean spirited) liner notes you'll ever read - the album's worth the admission price just for his self-scribed recent career overview and his comments on friends and foes.  Moreover, the long layoff doesn't seem to have blunted our man.  So what get's the Dogg's seal of approval this time around?  Certainly the city of L.A. (gathering from the lyrics in "Come To L.A." he plans on retiring there), American's social and political systems ("We Need a Revolution" and "Shut Your Mouth").  Elsewhere, for better or worse Dogg seems to have discovered drum machines on the propulsive "Kiss Me Hit Me Touch Me".

 

"I Called for a Rope and They threw Me a Rock" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) I'd Lie To You For Your Love   (F. Miller - D/ Bellamy - H. Bellamy - J. Barry) - 

2.) Come To L.A.   (Swamp Dogg) - 

3.) We Need A Revolution    (Swamp Dogg) - 

4.) Kiss Me Hit Me Touch Me    (Swamp Dogg) - 

 

(side 2)

1.) Myocardial Infarction (Heartbreak)   (Swamp Dogg) - 

2.) Shut Your Mouth    (Swamp Dogg) - 

3.) Happy Dog Day    (Swamp Dogg) - 

4.) Let The Goodtimes Roll    (Leonard Lee - Shirley Goodman) -

5.) 1958    (Swamp Dogg) - 

 

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