Lamb -

Lamb was an American soul-rock trio that released the 1970 album A Sign of Change on Fillmore Records, followed by the 1971–72 albums Bring Out the Sun and Cross Between on Warner Bros.

Members: Bob Swanson (banjo, guitar), Barbara Mauritz (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Rick Shlosser, Ed Bogus (viola), Bill Douglass (bass), Tom Salisbury, David Hayes

Background

Lamb was a San Francisco-based soul-rock trio led by Texas-born vocalist Barbara Mauritz and multi-instrumentalist Bob Swanson. Formed in the late 1960s, the group centered on Mauritz and Swanson’s collaborative songwriting, which blended elements of folk, jazz, gospel, and classical influences. Their arrangements ranged from minimal acoustic settings to dense, orchestrated passages. Lamb recorded three albums between 1970 and 1972: A Sign of Change on Fillmore Records, and Cross Between and Bring Out the Sun on Warner Bros.

A Sign of Change

Lamb debuted with A Sign of Change, released in 1970 on Bill Graham’s Fillmore label.

The album featured acoustic-based settings with occasional orchestral overlays, framing Mauritz’s expressive vocal delivery and abstract lyricism. The tone is sparse and experimental, with several tracks unfolding in long, open forms.

All seven tracks were written by Mauritz and Swanson, either together or individually. Bassist Bill Douglass co-wrote one track. Wind and string arrangements were handled by David Litwin. The trio core of Mauritz (vocals, guitar), Swanson (guitar), and Douglass (bass) was augmented by several classical instrumentalists.

The material shifts between folk-rooted phrasings and chamber-like textures, punctuated by extended vocal passages and elastic pacing. Tracks such as “Preacher’s Holiday” and “In Dreams” stretch past five minutes, combining narrative fragments with freeform structures.

A1. “Traveler’s Observation” (5:05) – Opens with voice and sparse guitar, unfolding in free meter
A2. “Adventures Of The Incredible Mr. Sandman” (2:35) – Shorter, impressionistic piece centered on voice
A3. “In Dreams” (5:35) – Slow-developing ballad with shifting chordal structure
A4. “Barbara’s Soul II” (5:10) – Co-written with bassist Bill Douglass; meditative pacing

B1. “The Odyssey Of Ehram Spickor” (3:11) – Narrative tone with sparse instrumental backing
B2. “Preacher’s Holiday” (7:54) – Extended form; blend of jazz phrasing and vocal improvisation
B3. “Where I’m Bound” (6:57) – Closing piece with contemplative delivery and cyclic motifs

The album was produced by David Rubinson. Additional players included Diva Goodfriend-Koven (flute), Robert Hubbard (English horn), Douglas Blumenstock (cello), and Ed Bogas (viola).

The cover shows an zoomed photo-negative (image-overlaid) saturated in luminous teal.

Cross Between

Lamb released their second album, Cross Between, in May 1971 on Warner Bros.

Compared to their debut, the album incorporated a fuller production with electric instrumentation and layered arrangements. While still rooted in the duo’s idiosyncratic writing, the album moved toward a denser and more textured sound.

Mauritz wrote five songs alone and co-wrote four with Swanson. One track, “Reach High,” was contributed by Jeffrey Cain and Jerry Corbett. Instrumentation expanded to include trumpet, viola, and pedal steel guitar, with appearances by Jerry Garcia on three tracks.

The album maintains a diverse palette, juxtaposing gospel-tinged passages with extended acoustic segments. Tracks like “Sleepwalkers” and “Milo and the Travelers” balance structured phrasing with subtle dissonance.

A1. “Flying” (2:35) – Light arrangement with banjo (Garcia) accenting vocal flow
A2. “Now’s Not The Time” (3:37) – Mid-tempo phrasing with shifting rhythmic pulse
A3. “Cross Between” (3:40) – Title track; layered instrumentation and compact form
A4. “Sleepwalkers” (5:41) – Longer structure; combines voice and expanded harmonic shifts
A5. “Reach High” (4:03) – External composition with electric textures and pedal steel

B1. “Ku” (4:57) – Gradual build with alternating vocal sections
B2. “While Waiting” (3:54) – Subdued vocal setting with sparse guitar
B3. “Flotation” (4:29) – Light rhythmic undercurrent with pedal steel accents
B4. “Milo And The Travelers” (6:12) – Closing track with broad instrumental scope

Mauritz and Swanson co-produced the album. Fred Catero and Walter Rapaport handled additional production roles. Contributors included Bill Atwood (trumpet), David Hayes (bass), and Ed Bogas (viola), among others. The album cover photography was done by Peter Olwyler.

Bring Out the Sun

Released later in 1971, Bring Out the Sun was co-credited to Barbara Mauritz and Lamb.

The album marked a shift toward more gospel-influenced material, particularly on side one. Swanson’s involvement was reduced, with Mauritz appearing solo on several tracks. This configuration reflected a move toward positioning Mauritz as a solo artist, though Lamb was still nominally active.

Mauritz wrote five songs alone and co-wrote three others with Swanson. He contributed one solo composition. The record continued the use of extended arrangements on tracks like “Salty” while balancing shorter interludes such as “Visions of Blackbirds.”

The musical tone leaned more toward contemporary gospel-rock, with some arrangements reflecting a denser rhythmic profile. The pacing varied from the slow-building “Salty” to more compact pieces like “The Vine.”

A1. “Old Fashioned Remedy” (4:23) – Opens the set with gospel inflection and prominent vocal phrasing
A2. “The Wish” (1:54) – Brief interlude with subdued delivery
A3. “Rap with Rhyme” (4:33) – Swanson-penned track; angular structure with minimal backing
A4. “River Boulevard” (3:09) – Mid-paced composition with lyric-driven movement
A5. “How Am I Gonna Manage?” (3:24) – Mauritz/Swanson co-write with layered vocals

B1. “Visions of Blackbirds” (1:50) – Short atmospheric segment
B2. “Salty” (8:22) – Longest track; expanded structure with slow-building cadence
B3. “The Vine” (3:04) – Balanced instrumentation and steady pacing
B4. “Live to Your Heart” (3:34) – Swanson-penned closer with open form

Postscript

After Lamb, Mauritz signed with Columbia and released a solo album, Music Box, in 1972. Though it did not lead to a sustained solo career, she remained active in writing and performing, contributing to film and commercial music projects. She died in San Francisco in 2014.

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