Dennis Edmonton, drummer Jerry Edmonton and bass player Nick St Nicholas had all played together in Toronto ‘British Invasion’ band, Jack London & The Sparrows in 1965. When the group split from singer Jack London, they added new members, going through a succession of future Canadian music stars, even swapping members back and forth with the legendary Mynah Birds, before settling on permanent members John Kay and Goldy McJohn.
Soon, their new, high energy blues-rock style got them the attention of the Rolling Stones agent Jerry Brandt, who got them a prestige gig at Sybil Burton's hot nightclub Arthur in the summer of 1966. A deal with Columbia Records followed, with a single "Tomorrow's Ship" being the result. It failed to chart, as did the followup "Green Bottle Lover", and The Sparrow decamped for California, playing at every legendary venue with everyone you care to mention, to a fair amount of acclaim.
In June 1967, however, Dennis Edmonton announced his decision to go solo, changing his name to Mars Bonfire. This effectively fragmented the group, with St. Nicholas and new guitarist Michael Monarch joining members of the Hard Times as T.I.M.E...though Monarch soon left to join the other Sparrows in their new project Steppenwolf...who broke through with songs written by Mars Bonfire like "Born To Be Wild"....and were soon rejoined by St. Nicholas... and so it was that all the members of The Sparrow were involved in the phenomenal success of Steppenwolf! A twisty turny story, but, oh my, is the music worth it!
Twisted / Goin' To California/ Baby, Please Don't Go / Down Goes Your Love Life / Bright Lights, Big City / Can't Make Love By Yourself ./ Good Morning Little Schoolgirl / King Pin / Square Headed People / Chasin' Shadows /. Green bottle lover 12. Isn't It Strange / Tomorrow's Ship / Twisted / Goin' To Californin / (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man / The Pusher / Goin' Upstairs / Tighten Up Your Wig / Too Late
![BUDDY GUY - This Is Buddy Guy [Live], CD](images/product_images/thumbnail_images/1494_0.jpg)
