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In 1968, Felix Pappalardi (producer of the YOUNGBLOODS and CREAM and founder/bassist of the rock group MOUNTAIN) changed the band’s name to BO GRUMPUS producing two albums; BEFORE THE WAR followed by a second one, HOME - after yet another band name change to JOLLIVER ARKANSAW. In 1971, Stookey invited Eddie to join bassist/producer Jim Mason, (FIREFALL/POCO,) to play guitar and co-produce his first solo album, PAULand. The sessions took place at the RECORD PLANT in New York City where John Lennon of the Beatles was also working on a solo album. This coincidence led to arguably the most important musical era of Eddie’s life. By the end of that year Ed had soloed, sung and produced Stookey's second solo effort, ONE NIGHT STAND, recorded live at Carnegie Hall and had joined John and Yoko on tour (including the historic 1971 performance at New York City's iconic Apollo Theater included on Lennon's 1998 retrospective ANTHOLOGY) which led to session work with Apple recording artist David Peel in 1972. Mottau’s first solo album, NO TURNING AROUND, on MCA Records, produced by Stookey, was released in 1973 featuring a wide range of guest artists including Pappalardi, Jimmy Nalls (soon to be one of the founding members of SEA LEVEL) and jazz baritone saxophonist, Gerry Mulligan. As testimony to its classic longevity and Eddie's global appeal, the album was re-released in Japan by MCA in 2001.
In 1975 Eddie became friends with drummer/singer Bob Drew and bassist Jimmy Clark who were playing in a local band called Homegrown, which had a short history. However, the musical connection between the three of them continued and in May of 1977, Eddie and Jimmy, along with several New Hampshire friends, drove to Blue Hill, Maine for a week of recording in Stookey’s Neworld Henhouse; a live-in-studio 'no frills' rendering called NO MOULDING which (UPDATE) has just been 're-re-released' and is currently downloadable digitally from Amazon. The off-again, on-again musical relationship of Bob and Eddie re-emerged in the early 80's with the formation of the five piece Eddie Mottau Band featuring Ed on guitar and vocals of course and Bob on drums , vocals and harmonica. In 2001, Jimmy Clark joined the two of them for the recording of the MOTTAU, DREW & CLARK debut album DANCE FOR LOVE for Neworld Multimedia. This “backyard testimony” of original ballads and ragtime tributes was co-produced and mastered by Jim Mason, who called the three of them “seasoned veterans who handle the deep-pocket, laid-back grooves of ‘Hop Scop’ to the beautifully tender ‘Fell in Love Again’ with grace and ease that comes only to musicians with years of experience.”
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