line up 1 (1969)

- Robert "Bobby" Gass-- keyboards

- Ken Haag -- rhythm guitar

- Tom Hall - trumpet

- Jim Hodder (RIP 1990) -- drums, percussion, vocals

- Bobby Pittman -- vocals, sax, percussion

- Joel Lassie Sachs -- bass

- John Sheldon -- lead guitar, dobro

- James Tatum -- vocals, tenor sax, percussion

  supporting musicians (1969)

- Robin McBride -- vibraphone

- The Bead Gang (Robbie Gass, Ken Haag, Jim Hodder, 

  Joel Sachs andJohn Sheldon)

- Blue Streak (John SHeldon)

- Robbie Gass and Friends

- The Buddy Miles Express (James Tatum)

- On Wings of Song (Robert Gass)

- Bobby Pittman / Jesse Cryor

- Steely Dan (Jim Hodder)

- The Vandals (Jim Hodder)

Genre: soul

Rating: *

Title: Easy RIdin'

Company: Mercury

Catalog: SR 61250
Year: 1969

Country/State: Boston, Massachusetts

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $40.00

The late Jim Hodder brought me to Freedom Express.  I've been a big fan of Hodder's work as Steely Dan's original drummer and the lead singer on a couple of my favorite Dan tunes. The non-LP single "Dallas" and the ballad "Midnite Cruiser" both come to mind.  Like most Steely Dan sidemen, Hodder's contributions have been lost amidst the focus on Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.  Regardless I've always been curious about his work outside of Steely Dan.  Lo and Behold I discovered Hodder had been a member of Boston's The Bead Game.  I happen to own copies of that short-lived band's two albums.  A bigger surprise was he was also a member of Freedom Express.

I'm still not entirely sure about the relationship between The Freedom Express and The Bead Gang.  Besides Hodder The Bead Game reflected keyboardist Robert "Bobby" Gass, rhythm guitarist Ken Haag, bassist Joel Lassie Sachs and lead guitarist John Sheldon.  The Freedom Express line-up featured all of The Bead Game members but added trumpet player Tom Hall and singers/sax players Bobby Pittman and James Tatum.  Anyhow, here's what producer Robin McBride's liner notes had to say about the band's 1969 "Easy Ridin'" LP:

"The Freedom Express comes roaring out of the dawning light of the Electric Flag, Sam & Dave, and The Buddy Miles band.  James Tatum, Bobby Pittman, and Tom Hall have performed with one or all of these groups and bring years of dues and seasoned music to the leadership of The Freedom Express.  After several years of listening to psychedelic chaos there is something about the driving honest power of the group's music that brings home the excitement of simplicity and strength.  Their performances are conceived to present music that hits one's soul, heart and mind all at the same time, and tells something about the way life is as well.  Some will call the music of The Freedom Express jazz.  Some will call it "soul" or rock music.  I call it marvelous, exciting music 'cause that's just what it is."

That leads me to believe this was essentially a trio of horn players (Hall, Pittman and Tatum) looking to attract a bigger audience with support from a rock band.

Produced by Robin McBride, 1969's "Easy Ridin'" featured a largely original collection of xxx   With Pittman and Tatum collaborating on the majority of the ten tracks, 

"Easy Ridin" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Gotta Get Your Lovin' (James Tatum) - 2:35 rating:**** stars

"Gotta Get Your Lovin' " wasn't exactly what I was expecting.  Complete with tasty Stax-styled horns and powered by Pittman and Tatum rugged vocals, it offered up a hardcore slice of James Brown styled funk.  Hard to sit still through this one.

2.) Who Can We Depend On? (Bobby Pittman - James Tatum) - 3:12 

3.) 7½ (instrumental) (Bobby Pittman - James Tatum - Ken Haag) - 4:30 rating *** stars

Spotlighting an extended Tom Hall trumpet solo and a couple of John Sheldon fuzz guitar solos the instrumental "7½" did a nice job of merging the band's funk, jazz and rock sounds together.

4.) I Just Started Livin' (Bobby Pittman - James Tatum) - 2:55 

5.) I Just Want To Be Me (Bobby Pittman) - 2:45 

6.) You Never Get Too Big (Doug Sahm) - 3:35

(side 2)
1.) Born To Be Wild (Mars Bonfire) - 4:59 

2.) Tomorrow Is Promised (To No One) (Bobby Pittman - James Tatum) - 2:20 

3.) Don't Bogart Me (E. Ingber - L. Wagner) -  3:20 

4.) The Pusher (Hoxt Axton) - 5:45

 © Scott R. Blackerby March 2026