East Coast -

East Coast was an American soul-funk band from N.Y.C. that released a 1973 self-titled album on Encounter Records.

Members: Gregory Johnson (keyboards), Gwen Guthrie (vocals), Larry Blackmon (drums), Pat Grant [Haras Fyre] (trombone), Michael Harris (percussion), Melvin Whay (bass), James Wheeler (alto saxophone)

Background

East Coast surfaced in New York City as a seven-piece group under drummer Larry Blackmon, a Harlem native who played on “You and I” and “Find the One Who Loves You,” two tracks from the 1972 Black Ivory album Don’t Turn Around.

Vocalist Gwen Guthrie came from Newark and sang in the Ebonettes, a high school girl group. She graduated from Newark State College and taught NYC first graders while moonlighting in the Matchmakers, a Tri-State club band with saxophonist James Wheeler and trombonist Pat Grant, a native of Parkway North in East Orange.

Blackmon recruited the three Matchmakers for East Coast, which also included bassist Melvin Whay, percussionist Michael Harris, and keyboardist Gregory Johnson. They linked with Encounter Records, the recent venture of Bernard Purdie.

East Coast

East Coast released their self-titled debut album in 1973 on Encounter Records.

The album blends New York soul-funk with organ-led brass arrangements and fuzz-wah guitar texture, performed by vocalist Gwen Guthrie, bassist Melvin Whay, drummer Larry Blackmon, percussionist Michael Harris, keyboardist Gregory Johnson, trombonist Pat Grant, and alto saxophonist James Wheeler. Auxiliary saxist Hikey Muldune plays the alto solo on “I Found You.” Producer Larry Clement wrote two tracks.

Guthrie places a full-throated vocal above the dense band texture on “I Found You,” entangles fuzz-wah and brass in extended form. “Keep On Trying” interlocks clipped figures with distorted wah-wah. “Miss Gigi” vamps with loose, extended solo space. Johnson uses Hammond B3 tremolo against the serrated guitar tone, while Grant and Wheeler punctuate the dense passages with brass and alto saxophone figures. East Coast closes with “You Can’t Let It Get You Down,” an epic Vietnam diatribe with extended section changes.

A1. “I Found You” (7:12) – Jones–Blackmon
A2. “Keep On Trying” (4:07) – Blackmon–Johnson
A3. “Miss Gigi” (5:14) – Guthrie

B1. “Any Thing You Have in Mind” (3:22) – Clement
B2. “Something Deep Inside” (2:30) – Johnson–Blackmon
B3. “I’ve Got to Reclaim You” (4:08) – Johnson–Blackmon
B4. “You Can’t Let It Get You Down” (7:08) – Clement

Clement oversaw the sessions for Crude Productions at the Record Plant, where staffer Jay Messina co-engineered East Coast in sequence with albums by Lou Reed, The Persuaders, Ten Wheel Drive, and Zulema.

East Coast appeared in a grey-framed gatefold designed by Steve Malinchoc with circular group pics by Chuck Stewart, the photographer of numerous Impulse! and Verve covers.

Postlude

In 1974, Larry Blackmon and Gregory Johnson formed the New York City Players, the springboard of Cameo.

Gwen Guthrie worked as a backing vocalist and songwriter, starting with 1974 credits behind Aretha Franklin and Margie Joseph. She collaborated with Patrick Grant on 1975 songs for Ben E. King, Linda Lewis, and Sister Sledge. In 1982, Guthrie launched her solo career on Island Records.

In 1979, an unrelated disco act named East Coast issued two singles and a self-titled album on RSO.

Discography: