Tom Dowd produced 1972's self-titled debut from
Ramatam, a poor man's
Blind Faith featuring
Mike Pinera (co-author of
the Blues Image hit "Ride Captain Ride") on guitar and vocals and
Mitch Mitchell on drums. The "star" of this group was alleged to be April Lawton, who had the
Hendrix riffs down, to be sure.
Pinera and
Les Sampson's "Heart Song" is a high point: a jazzy vision of
Traffic's brand of Brit rock meeting that of the West Coast's
Quicksilver Messenger Service. The Tommy Sullivan/Lawton composition "What I Dream I Am" also almost gets it done -- it's a pretty tune with flutes, acoustic guitar work, and simple percussion from
Mitchell. By 1973 the group would be pared down to a power trio of Lawton, Sullivan, and Jimmy Walker on drums. ~ Joe Viglione