Wednesday, May 14, 2008

THE SANFORD - TOWNSEND BAND / THE SANFORD - TOWNSEND BAND

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1976 on Warner Bros. Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320 Kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Jerry Wexler & Barry Beckett
Engineered By: Greg Hamm, Steve Melton, Jerry Masters
Recorded & Mixed At: Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield Alabama, May 1976
Album Cover: Raul Vega
TRACK LISTING:
Smoke From A Distant Fire
Moolah Moo Mazuma ( Sin City Wahh-Oo)
Oriental Gate (No Chance Of Changing My Mind)
Shake It To The Right
Squire James
Does It Have To Be You
Lou
Sunshine In My Heart Again
In For The Night
Rainbows Colored In Blue
THE PLAYERS:
Ed Sanford - Keyboards, Vocals
John Townsend - Lead Vocals, Keyboards
Otis Hale - Guitarzan, Woodwinds
Roger Johnson - Guitars and Humor
Jerry Rightmer - Basser
Jim Varley - Drummist
Guests:
Barry Beckett - Keyboards
Tom Roady - Percussion
Kenny Loggins -Vocals
George Hawkins & Billy Townsend - Backing Vocals
Ted Wex - Basso Profundo
Jon Clark - Woodwinds
All Titles Written & Arranged By: The Sanford Townsend Band
WEBSITE(S):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanford_&_Townsend
REVIEWS:
Even better than I remember, October 16, 2006
By D. Rhodes "drescueman" (New Jersey)
Sanford and Townsend blew me away thirty years ago with this album. Their performance at the Bottom Line in NYC was even better. Their voice, harmonies, and music are simply incredible. Since my turntable went kaput, I've been unable to enjoy this incredible album. Squire James has become a staple in my household for Halloween music. Now we can enjoy those days all over again. Just sit back, kick back, and get ready to rock n' roll with rock n' soul music!
=================================
Sanford & Townsend, "Smoke from a Distant Fire" album, September 27, 2005
By Anne Casebeer (Middle of the USA)
This title song for this album may have been a one hit wonder, but what fabulous music it is in its entirety. I wore out two cassettes a number of years ago, and was having trouble finding it on disc. The vocals are rivaled by the lyrics, the harmony as good as the accompanyment. What a bluesy, jazzy, sexy, sound! I'm so glad I found a copy.
BIOGRAPHY:
By Jason Ankeny
Best remembered for their ubiquitous 1977 pop hit "Smoke from a Distant Fire," blue-eyed soul duo Sanford & Townsend reunited Ed Sanford and John Townsend, who previously teamed in the Montgomery, AL-based Warner Bros. act the Heart. Despite a series of opening gigs in support of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the group's lone LP attracted little notice and after the Heart dissolved, both Sanford and Townsend migrated to Los Angeles, where the latter signed on with the group Feather and scored a chart hit with the White Whale label single "Friends." After renewing ties in L.A., Sanford and Townsend began writing songs, most notably placing their "Peacemaker" on Loggins & Messina's 1976 effort Native Sons; with engineer Alex Kazanegras, they cut a demo tape that eventually made its way to the legendary producer Jerry Wexler, and on his recommendation Warner Bros. extended a contract offer. After decamping to the famed Muscle Shoals Recording Studio, Sanford & Townsend issued their Wexler-produced eponymous debut in 1976. The record fared poorly on its initial release, but when "Smoke from a Distant Fire" cracked the Top Ten on the pop charts in the fall of 1977, the LP was re-released, this time titled after its smash hit. In addition to a lengthy stint opening for Fleetwood Mac on their epic Rumours tour, Sanford & Townsend also supported Smoke from a Distant Fire via gigs with Southern rockers the Marshall Tucker Band. Their second album, Duo-Glide, nevertheless failed to repeat its predecessor's success, and when 1979's Nail Me to the Wall met a similarly dismal fate, Warner Bros. terminated the duo's contract. Both Sanford and Townsend then returned to session careers. Sanford later co-authored Michael McDonald's 1982 pop classic "I Keep Forgettin'," while Townsend resurfaced following an extended creative hiatus with a 2003 solo release, The Road Leads Home.
CONTACT:
READ THIS for more information on this album.

Tom

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