The Rowan Brothers - Panama Red - 5/28/1976 - Winterland (Official)

The Rowan Brothers - Panama Red
Recorded Live: 5/28/1976 - Winterland - San Francisco, CA
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Personnel:
Chris Rowan - guitar, piano, vocals
Lorin Rowan - guitar, piano, vocals
Peter Rowan - guitar, mandolin, vocals
Dudley Trucks - drums
Bill Elliott - piano, keyboards
Joe Carroll - bass
Summary:
Taken from the archives of the late promoter, Bill Graham, this recording of the Rowan Brothers is from a period when the group was firing on all cylinders. The setlist is a variety platter of music, including a slew of material from the band's soon-to-be (at the time) Asylum release, entitled Sibling Rivalry.
Opening with "Calle Music," the group offers up memorable versions of "Ooh My Love," "Pretty Senorita," " King's Men," and "Tired Hands," as well as their own version of "Panama Red" and "Land Of The Navajo" (written by older brother Peter for the New Riders Of The Purple Sage and Old & In The Way, respectively). Called back for an encore, they close the show with the upbeat and infectious, "Ya Ba Da Ba."
The group emerged in 1971, opening for the Grateful Dead during the closing of the Fillmore West. Chris & Lorin Rowan had worked with their older brother, acclaimed musician Peter Rowan, and musician/producer David Grisman, performing a unique blend of rock, country, bluegrass, and pop music. Peter Rowan and Grisman had formed two key bands, Boston's Earth Opera (1967- 1978) and the San Francisco-based Seatrain (1969-1973) which released two critically acclaimed albums and a hit single called "13 Questions."
It was the elder Rowan and Grisman who decided to take Lorin and Chris into the studio and develop the songs they had been writing. The two became the object of a bidding war between Columbia Records prexy Clive Davis and Asylum Records CEO, David Geffen. Davis won out and the duo released a critically acclaimed debut on Columbia. Eventually, Peter Rowan left Seatrain to work with Grisman and members of the Grateful Dead in a bluegrass revival act called Old & The Way. While a part of that project, he also joined his two younger brothers.
The group faced a crisis, when, shortly after the debut LP was released, Clive Davis was bounced from Columbia. The label, knowing they were his pet project, essentially ignored the Rowans, who fortunately got dropped and then quickly picked up by Geffen for Asylum. As a trio, they released a few more discs but nothing that would tip the scales from a commercial standpoint.
Peter would remain an on-again, off-again member, but as a recording entity, after a handful of albums on Asylum, they returned to the duo format of Chris & Lorin. The duo and its band still reside in San Francisco and have had considerable success as songwriters. Their material has been recorded by acts such as Jefferson Starship and bluegrass icon Ricky Skaggs, who won a Grammy for his album that included a cover of the Rowans' "Soldier Of The Cross."

[@markhunter9451]

This is great. My first show was the Rowan Bros. at Winterland. They opened for It's a Beautiful Day and Hot Tuna. The Rowan Bros. were wearing jackets with small flashing red lights. I am not sure of the year, but it was around 1972 or 1973. Superb show for sure. The stage was on the right hand side of the arena, before it was later moved to the far end. It rained heavily that evening and driving back to the East Bay on the flooded freeways was crazy. What a long strange trip it has been....

[@1Tantalus]

thank you so much! i thought remembered stages on both locations but thought i was just going crazy. i remember that rainy night ....all the way home to Walnut Creek.

[@elliottkolker4321]

I'm from Missouri, was into bluegrass, and loved the song 'Panama Red" the first ime I heard it on the new New Riders' album. But I had no idea it was written by Peter Rowan. I vaguely I remembered Peter's name listed on the album as a member of Earth Opera and composer of the title track "The Great American Eagle Tragedy," reason I bought the album. But had never heard of the Rowan Brothers before I moved to Stinson Beach in 1979. One of the first persons I met was Peter's younger brother, Lorin. We Grokked immediately. I didn't know of their story until Lorin told me of being signed by Clive Davis at Columbia. He said Davis had planned an major tour of the centerpiece of he planned to promote their recently recorded debut album. Unfortunately while the album was being pressed to be released the day they began the tour Davis was overthown at Columbia. Although the label was contractually obligated to promote a tour, but they downgrade and ignored it as much as they could without violating the contract. Five years later he as still working on his music, recruiting musicians for a band to get back in the game. He still had the sound system he salvaged from the tour that Columbia considered part of a buy-out. He had a few other odds and sods.His pride and joy was his jacket with small red flashing lights which he said he rarely wore. PS, because I moved to Stinson and lived in my van, Lorin would ask me to help him break-down and transport the bands equipment, including he sound system where he lived three blocks away. I had plenty of experience packing vans and was able to get it all in one moved. He was so impressed he hired me as a roadie for his new band. I did it for nearly two years, Eventually,we just stored it in the band. They gigged around the Bay Area an average of three weekends a month. Because it was The Rowan Brothers System, I also roadied a few gigs for Peter when he needed the system for a gig.

[@markswindell2449]

I was at that show. 72 sounds right. I remember commenting to the person next to me, "Whoa... their suits are made out of electricity." Nudie suits, too, I think.

[@BipolarBear107]

I watched Peter Rowan sing this at Rockygrass last night and I am so so so honored to smoke a bowl in the presence of this man and song in the real life.

[@kennethskaggs2832]

What an American Icon ! Peter has written some great tunes and, his legacy continues to soar ! He was a Blue Grass Boy and has played with some of the greatest Musicians that American has to offer ! Thank you Mr. Rowan.

[@DannyBill71]

Best version of one of my favorite tunes

[@thomasobrien9757]

All we knew back then was Alcapulco Gold t hen Panama Red, How far weve come. Thanks to all good heads shining the Light, Giving Thanks. Hail Merry Juana, Gracias a Dios. Shes legal in Vermont

[@82lube]

Too Cool, Love the Classics

[@williamfleaher5834]

✝

[@MultiRusty111]

Made famous also by The New Riders of the Purple Sage,written by Peter Rowan

[@DriftinAndDreamin]

ONLY 8,272 VIEWS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?..........

[@lesbrinkley7350]

If they opened for the Dead at that show, I was there.