Alamo -

Alamo was an American hard-rock band from Memphis that released a 1971 album on Atlantic.

Members: Larry Raspberry (guitar), Richard Rosebrough (drums), Larry Davis [aka Larry Changes] (bass), Ken Woodley (keyboards, vocals)

Background

Alamo formed in Memphis, Tennessee in late 1970 when ex-Gentry guitarist Larry Raspberry teamed with bassist Larry Davis, ex-Jokers drummer Richard Rosebrough, and recent Paris Pilot keyboardist Ken Woodley.

Raspberry sings lead on “Keep On Dancing,” the Gentrys’ 1965 US No. 4 hit. He played on their two mid-Sixties MGM albums and produced “There’s Reasons Why” by The Scandal. Woodley recorded a 1969 album for HIP Records with Paris Pilot.

Alamo (the album)

Alamo released their singular album in May 1971 on Atlantic. It contains eight tracks that merge hard rock with elements of blues, psychedelia, and early symphonic rock.

Guitarist Larry Raspberry alternates fuzz-toned leads and wah-inflected passages. Keyboardist Ken Woodley balances rhythmic comping with sustained organ lines against the rhythmic backdrop of bassist Larry Davis and drummer Richard Rosebrough. Woodley composed six tracks and co-wrote one each with Davis (“The World We Seek”) and Raspberry (“Happiness Is Free”).

“Got to Find Another Way” sets out with distorted guitar and overdriven Hammond organ. Tracks such as “Soft and Gentle” adopt a dirge-like tempo with extended instrumental sections, recalling the riff-based approach of bands like Bloodrock. “The World We Seek” and “Question Raised” incorporate vocal harmonies and modal shifts while “All New People” and “Get the Feelin’” take a bluesier approach with layered keyboard textures and steady rhythmic underpinning.

A1. “Got to Find Another Way” (4:36)
A2. “Soft and Gentle” (6:59)
A3. “The World We Seek” (3:36)
A4. “Question Raised” (4:43)

B1. “Been Some Changes” (3:34)
B2. “All New People” (4:49)
B3. “Get the Feelin'” (6:01)
B4. “Happiness Is Free” (4:18)

Alamo self-produced the album in December 1970 at Ardent Studios in Memphis, where Rosebrough engineered Alamo amid titles by Tony Joe White, The River City Street Band, and ex-Gentry’s keyboardist Terry Manning.

Raspberry illustrated the cover, which depicts the facade of the Alamo, the 18th-century Spanish mission in San Antonio that became a symbol of Texan resistance during the 1836 battle for independence from Mexico.

Aftermath

Despite strong musicianship and a solid production team, Atlantic shelved full promotion, and the band dissolved soon after release.

Larry Raspberry cut the 1972 Atlantic single “Considerations” and played on albums by Don Nix and Jimmy Buffet. He also fronted The Highsteppers, a Memphis blues-rock band with his wife, Carol Raspberry.

Richard Rosebrough drummed on Say What You Mean, the 1973 Ardent Records release by The Hot Dogs, produced by Terry Manning. Rosebrough and Woodley both worked on subsequent titles by Big Star and their two key members, Alex Chilton and Chris Bell.

Alamo has since gained cult status among connoisseurs of early American heavy rock with vintage Hammond‑guitar interplay.

Discography: