Lost Classics: The Lightnin' West Band

Back in 1981, there was no iTunes, no MP3’s, not even a compact disc. This was a year before MTV, and several years before a band could record an album in their garage on their computer with Pro Tools, send it off to Disc Makers and get 1000 copies for less than a buck a piece, and promote and sell the album on CD Baby and iTunes, YouTube, My Space and Facebook. In 1981, a band had to either have an investor or scrimp and save gig monet to release a vinyl LP. Such was the case with The Lightnin’ West Band in Spartanburg, SC.

During the early days of the 1980’s, as The Marshall Tucker Band was enjoying their greatest success ever, Spartanburg was filled with young bands hoping to duplicate the success of the Tuckers. Garfeel Ruff came very close with a major record deal on Capital Records, only to be under promoted when the label tossed all of their marketing cash behind The Knack (“My Sharona”).

Lightnin’ West had built a fine grass roots following in The Carolinas, and a good repertoire of original songs like “Mississippi Moon,” “Long Time,” and “Truck Drivin’ Cowboy.” They took up residence at The Andiron on Highway 29, just a stones throw from Westgate Mall. I saw the band there many times, and recall with fondness the night they allowed a bunch of wet behind the ears kids called The Silver Travis Band to open their show. I remember standing in back with Big Doug, the LWB sound man and running the lights as Silver Travis played. Strobe effects a plenty. Speaking of wet behind the ears. Buffalo was soaking wet.

Lightnin’ West cut an album, and their local popularity surged. I remember buying a copy. The cover was obviously playing on the Marshall Tucker western theme, and was done in what appeared to be crayon. The back cover featured the band photo along with individual shots of each musician. Stuart Swanlund on guitar; Buster Griffith on guitar; Terry Bratton on lead vocals; Tim Manning on keyboards; David “Ace” Allen on drums; and Dennis Solesbee on bass. The record was recorded at Ace’s studio and is credited as being on Allen Acres Records.

The band was caught up in a situation where almost every member was writing songs and going for a different sound. Dennis Solebee’s “Long Time” and “84” were straight Outlaw Country. “Uncle Dan” and “Mississippi Moon” were more straight Southern Rock, and Stuart’s “Cruisin” was a jazz fusion instrumental reminiscent of Larry Carlton.

Still, with no central theme, the album still sounded good to us fans. Sadly, the band would soon begin to crumble. Tim Manning was the first to leave. Many of us were very sad when Lightnin’ West called it quits. But in the wake of that end, a new band was formed with Allen, Swanlund, and Bratton adding Tim Lawter on bass, David Parker on keys and a second guitarist. The band was called Second Wind, and they were heading for a more pop-rock groove. With a much needed name change, White Wind began getting some national attention, and was very close to a deal with MCA when bad management decisions blew the whole deal sky high.

Stuart Swanlund was asked to join the restructuring Marshall Tucker Band in 1984, followed closely by Ace Allen and Tim Lawter. Stuart remains a member of MTB to this day. Buster Griffith played in several local bands before passing away a few years ago. Dennis Solesbee is still writing songs at his home in Moore, SC and performing. Last I heard Terry Bratton had a country band in North Carolina. Ace Allen spent several years with the MTB and later with The Southern Rock Allstars. Today he is a Real Estate executive in Spartanburg. Try as I might, I could never find any information of Tim Manning.

For many years Lightnin’ West held reunions around Christmas time in Spartanburg. For me, their sole album release and short lived career is a cherished memory of a Southern Rock band that could have and should have went all the way to the top.

Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.
Buffalo

Photo: Ace Allen, circa 2005 (Southern Rock Allstars)

           LP Cover courtesy Bands of Dixie

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