The Mojo Men was an American rock band based in San Francisco. Formed in 1965, the group
underwent several name and personnel changes until their 1969 breakup. Their highest-charting Billboard Hot 100 single was a cover of Buffalo Springfield's "Sit Down, I Think I Love You", which peaked at number 36 in 1967.
One of the earliest San Francisco rock bands, the Mojo Men had local hits on the Autumn label with
"Dance With Me," "She's My Baby," and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Off the Hook" in the mid-'60s. Their early sides displayed a raunchy but thin approach taken from the mold of British Invasion groups like the Stones and Them. In 1966, after female drummer Jan Errico joined from the San Francisco folk-rock group the Vejtables, they moved to Reprise and pursued folky psychedelic pop directions, and had a Top 40 hit with a Baroque arrangement of Buffalo Springfield's "Sit Down I Think I Love You" in 1967.
Singer/bassist Jim Alaimo (né James Charles Alamio; 1938–1992), guitarist Paul Curcio, drummer Dennis DeCarr (Potokar), and keyboardist Don Metchick were bandmates in Florida who moved to San
Francisco in 1964 to form a new band. There they met Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone, then a record producer at Autumn Records for acts such as The Beau Brummels and The Vejtables. Stewart and the band recorded a few songs under the name Sly and the Mojo Men but Stewart, unsatisfied with the results, chose not to release them. He continued working with the band as a songwriter and producer on "Dance with Me" (1965), the Mojo Men's first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and "She's My Baby" (1966).
DeCarr (Potokar) left the group in 1966 and was replaced by drummer/vocalist Jan Errico, formerly of the Vejtables. The Mojo Men then moved from Autumn to Reprise Records, where the band's earlier
British Invasion-influenced garage rock style evolved into pop/folk rock. In 1967, the band released a Baroque cover version of Buffalo Springfield's "Sit Down, I Think I Love You". Written by Stephen Stills and arranged by Van Dyke Parks, the song became the Mojo Men's first and only top 40 single. Metchick left the band in 1968, and the remaining trio shortened their name to The Mojo, and then just Mojo, before they released their lone studio album, Mojo Magic, on GRT Records.
In their later days, they developed more intricate arrangements and harmonies that reflected the
influence of the Mamas & the Papas and Jefferson Airplane, although they weren't in the same league as those groups. Their many singles never fully displayed the band's considerable songwriting and vocal talents, and after changing their name to the Mojo and finally just Mojo, they disbanded in 1969.
The Mojo Men – Not Too Old To Start Cryin'
Label: Big Beat Records – CDWIKD 279
Series: Nuggets From The Golden State
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 2008
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Garage Rock, Psychedelic
TRACKS
01. Not Too Old To Start Cryin' (Second Version)
02. 'Til I Find You
03. Is Our Love Gone (Second Version)
04. Sure Of Your Love
05. Don't Leave Me Crying Like Before
06. You Didn't Even Say Goodbye
07. What Kind Of Man
08. Happiness Is You
09. Look Into My Eyes
10. What's The Answer
11. Free Ride
12. Times Like These
13. Another World
14. Give Me One More Chance
15. Don't Let It Happen To Me
16. Remember Me
17. Oh Lonesome Me
18. Not For Me
19. They May Be Right
20. She Cried
21. I've Had It
22. Is Our Love Gone (First Version)
23. Not Too Old To Start Cryin' (First Version)
24. There Goes My Mind
I have of course and some others from the band.
ReplyDeleteI would like to recommend another S. F. band originally from L. A. but settled in S. F. with their first two lps 71/72 ( also on cd but not cheap) and the are not that well known.
MORNING ! Floating Country West Coast with psychedelic touch ala Byrds, Crosby Stills...excellent !!!
Unfortunately had no success at all and are long forgotten today.