The Siegel-Schwall Band (led by pianist Corky Siegel and guitarist Jim Schwall) was part of the "blues revival" Chicago scene of the mid 1960s but the blues was prominent only on the first albums, Siegel-Schwall Band (Vanguard, released in december 1966), Say (Vanguard, 1967), that featured original material, and Shake (Vanguard, 1968), that collected leftovers from various sessions. Relocated to San Francisco, the band had become part of the acid-rock scene and increasingly relied on improvisation. In 1968 they performed with the San Francisco Symphonic Orchestra, a performance documented by Three Pieces For Blues Band And Orchestra (DG, 1973).

After a line-up change, the band released the live and studio album Siegel-Schwall (Vanguard, 1970) and then Sleepy Hollow (Wooden Nickel, 1972) and 953 West (Wooden Nickel, 1973), ending their career with RIP (Wooden Nickel, 1973), a collection of covers.