The biggest selling group for the Acta Records label was The American Breed.The band's first three singles didn't make much of an impression on the charts (even in their native Chicago!), but their fourth release was a song that became an instant pop classic ... the amazing, hook-laden, "Bend Me Shape Me". The band featured Al Ciner (guitar), Chuck Colbert (bass), Lee Graziano (drums), and Gary Loizzo (vocals, guitar). The single made #5 nationally and topped the charts in Chicago in early 1968. Interestingly, the song was pulled from the catalog of another great 60s pop band,The Outsiders'. The track provided the title of the group's second album.
The third album by the band is not as familiar to most collectors than its predecessor. But when you're a music-obsessed little kid growing up in the Bronx (and consequently Long Island), you don't ask about sales figures or status of a record. Your ears tell you what to think. And for me, 'Pumpkin Powder Scarlet and Green' was a very cool record. Nice harmonies, cool 1960s what-the-heck-does-THAT-mean lyrics, and the presence of some type of lyrical theme made it quite a curio. And yeah, years later I continue to love this little record. And since I couldn't find it on CD, there was only one thing left to do. Transfer the LP!
Eventually, the group moved toward a heavier soul sound, picked up a female singer, and changed its name to 'Ask Rufus'. Chaka Khan replaced that singer, and the band's name was shortened to 'Rufus'. As 'Rufus', they had several huge pop/soul hits for ABC.
Special thanks to http://www.bsnpubs.com/dot/acta.html for the info.
Acta 38006 (Stereo)
Pumpkin / Cool It (We're Not Alone) / Welcome, You're In Love / The Right To Cry / Ready, Willing And Able / Take Me If You Want Me / Powder / Scarlet / Anyway That You Want Me / Master Of My Fate / Music To Think By / Train On A One-Track Mind / I'm Gonna Make You Mine / Green
Very cool!
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