The Stray Gators | |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1971–1973; 1992 |
| Past members | Ben KeithJack NitzscheTim DrummondKenny ButtreyJohnny BarbataSpooner OldhamDanny Whitten |
The Stray Gators was the name given byNeil Young to his supporting musicians from 1971 to 1973 and who backed him on the albumsHarvest (1972) andTime Fades Away (1973).[1] It consisted ofJack Nitzsche (piano),Ben Keith (steel guitar),Tim Drummond (bass) andKenny Buttrey (drums); the latter replaced during theTime Fades Away tour byJohnny Barbata.
FormerCrazy Horse rhythm guitaristDanny Whitten briefly joined the group in 1972 but was fired by Young due to his poor performance during tour rehearsals, precipitating his death from an accidental overdose immediately thereafter.
While in Nashville to tape an episode ofThe Johnny Cash Show, Young was convinced to record some of his new tracks inElliot Mazer'sQuadrafonic Sound Studios.[2] Since it was a Saturday night, Mazer scrambled to find musicians who were not working that night and was able to bring in Drummond, Keith, and Buttrey. Over two nights they recorded four tracks that would end up onHarvest.
Young then used frequent collaborator Nitzsche to arrange and produce two tracks with an orchestra. He then brought the three Nashville musicians and Nitzsche to his ranch in California to record the three electric-guitar songs in his barn. At some point, he dubbed this new group The Stray Gators.
After the release ofHarvest, they appeared on the "War Song" single, credited to Young andGraham Nash. Outtakes from theHarvest sessions later appeared on theJourney Through the Past soundtrack andThe Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972. The band appears on theTonight's the Night song "Lookout Joe", which was recorded in late 1972, and with Neil Young on an early session recording ofJoni Mitchell's "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" that was eventually released onJoni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972–1975).
In 1973, they backed Young on hisTime Fades Away tour, though Buttrey was replaced mid-tour and on the albumTime Fades Away byJohn Barbata.[3] They ceased to operate as a unit after that tour, although Drummond and Keith continued to work individually with Young on subsequent projects. Thereafter, Nitzsche eschewed live performance in favor of a career as a prolific record producer and film scorer, culminating in the 1983Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Up Where We Belong". Although he was estranged from Young after castigating the singer-songwriter in a 1974 interview and commencing a relationship with his former partner, actressCarrie Snodgress, they reconciled by 1986.
Young reconvened The Stray Gators for his 1992Harvest Moon album, withSpooner Oldham replacing Nitzsche on keyboards.[4] Nitzsche, however, did arrange the strings on "Such a Woman", as he had done onHarvest.
