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: *** (3 stars)

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 Stax-influenced soul numbers  Once I got over the surprise of discovering this was a straight-ahead soul album I was impressed by about half of the material and performances. With Pittman and Tatum responsible for penning the majority of the ten tracks, the pair also shared lead vocals throughout.  I'm guessing here, but based on the writing credits, exemplified by the opening of "I Just Started Livin'" I believe Pittman had the deeper, more rugged voice.  Tatum had the lighter, high-pitched voice. Perhaps not a perfect comparison, but tracks like "Gotta Get Your Lovin'", "I Just Started Livin'" and their cover of Doug Sahm's "You Never Get Too Big" all reminded me of prime Sam and Dave. That left The Bead Game members largely in the background.  Guitarist John Sheldon was the most prominent player, stepping in to provide occasional Steve Cropped-styed fills.  Somewhat atypical, the instrumental "7½" came the closest to blending soul, jazz and rock moves. It also provided one of the album highlights. At the other end of the spectrum were the group's steps to attract a rock audience - their cover of Fraternity of Man's counter culture classic "Don't Bogart Me", Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" and Hoyt Axton's "The Pusher" were worth hearing given they were so goofy and ill advised.  It's an interesting period piece and underscores that not everything the market tries to sell you is worth the investment.

"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's rugged vocals, it offered up a hardcore slice of Sam and Dave styled funk.  Hard to sit still through this one.

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

Built on a nifty horn riff, "Who Can We Depend On?" slowed things down with a pretty, highly commercial ballad.  Some tasty John Sheldon guitar (recalling the late Steve Cropper) didn't hurt.

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

Spotlighting an extended Tom Hall trumpet solo and a couple of awesome John Sheldon fuzz guitar solos the instrumental "7½" did a nice job of merging the band's funk, jazz and rock sounds together. If I played guitar, Sheldon's riff is one I'd want to learn.

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

"I Just Started Livin'" found the band dipping their toes into Otis Redding styled soul.  This one was a good example of how well Pittman and Tatum's voices blended. 

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

Another Sam and Dave-styled soul tune, :I Just Want To Be Me" gavce Sheldon a chance to cut loose of lead guitar.

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

As a big Doug Sahm fan, I have mixed feelings about their cover of "You Never Get To Big".  Right off the bat, their cover is nowhere is good as the original.  On the positive side, it's always nice to see someone covering the criminally overlooked Sahm's catalog.  By the way, recorded for the 1968 album "Honkey Blues", the original song title was "You Never Get Too Big And You Sure Don't Get Too Heavy, That You Don't Have To Stop And Pay Some Dues".  Easy to see why the shortened it.  = )

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

My expectations for this Steppenwolf cover were ...  well, low.  You could just see the marketing logic here - hey how to we appeal to young, white college kids?  Their horn powered covercertainly didn't improve on the original, but it wasn't a total washout.  

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

"Tomorrow Is Promised (To No One)" was one of the rawer, but more energetic performances.  It also pushed the horns closer to the spotlight.   

3.) Don't Bogart Me (Elliott Ingber - Lawrence Wagner) -  3:20 rating: ** stars

Most folks will known The Fraternity of Man original from the Easy Rider soundtrack. 

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

With Tatum on lead vocals, Sheldon's guitar solos provided the highlight on their cover of Axton's anti-drug "The Pusher".  

 © Scott R. Blackerby March 2026