Roots and Branches (1972 album)
| Roots and Branches | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by The Dillards | ||||
| Released | May 17, 1972 | |||
| Genre | Progressive bluegrass | |||
| Label | Anthem | |||
| Producer | Richard Podolor | |||
| The Dillards chronology | ||||
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Roots and Branches is the sixth album by bluegrass group The Dillards, and their only for Anthem Records.
1970 found The Dillards parting ways with Elektra Records once again after two critically, although not commercially, successful albums that found them exploring a style that would come to be known as country-rock. They were quickly signed by White Whale Records, with whom they would cut two singles before the label was folded following the dissolution of its flagship act, The Turtles. Seeking to establish a new image, Ted Feigin and Lee Lassiff (who owned White Whale) launched Anthem Records which would have its product distributed by United Artists Records. The Dillards and Liz Damon's Orient Express were brought over from their former label, and subsequently would be the only two artists to have albums issued on Anthem.
In late 1970, The Dillards began work on what would become the Roots and Branches album. Although not much information is available about the sessions, it is known (according to a press release issued with promo copies of the album) that the recording process lasted nearly 18 months, with the album going to market in May 1972. To emphasize the rock elements of the band's sound, Richard Podolor was brought in to produce and Bill Cooper handled the engineering duties. The team was one of the hottest in the business at the time, working together on recordings by Blues Image, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf and Three Dog Night. This change in musical direction (along with the toll that the long hours of recording was taking on his marriage) would influence Herb Pedersen's departure in 1971. He would shortly thereafter join Country Gazette. He was replaced by Billy Ray Latham who was fresh out of The Doug Dillard Expedition. It was around this time that long-time bassist Mitch Jayne began considering an exit from the group as well. He had little to do with the album in progress aside from contributing backing vocals and had no part in the songwriting as he had on previous albums.
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