Smoked Sugar -

Smoked Sugar was an American soul group that released a 1975 self-titled album on 20th Century Records.

Background

The group first recorded as Smoke Sugar Company for Teri De Records, an LA-based soul label. Label boss Len Jewell produced their two 1973/74 singles: “Save a Little Love for a Rainy Day” (b/w “Doin’ It”) and “The Girl I Can’t Forget (Is the Girl Who Forgot Me)” (b/w “It’s Been So Long”) — all co-written by L.J. Smith and James Conwell Jr.

Smoked Sugar (album)

Smoked Sugar released their self-titled album in 1975 on 20th Century Records.

The album opens with “I’ve Found Someone of My Own” by executive producer Frank F. Robinson, who co-wrote “Bump Me” and “Loving You Coming Out of a Brand New Bag” with James Curlings and Oliver Williams, the pair behind “Keeping Up Me Front.” Curlings also contributed “Don’t Let The Feeling Hit Me Again” and “It’s Funny Til I Crying.”

Smoked Sugar also contains songs by arranger Ray Jackson (“My Eyes Search a Lonely Room for You”) and Eddie Horan, who wrote “I Can’t Get Enough” and co-wrote “I’m a Winner” with producer Hadley Murrell. James Conwell co-wrote “I’m a Blues Singer, Guitar Banger” with Jack White.

A1. “I’ve Found Someone of My Own” (4:18)
A2. “My Eyes Search a Lonely Room for You” (4:07)
A3. “Bump Me” (2:55)
A4. “I’m a Blues Singer, Guitar Banger” (2:50)
A5. “Don’t Let the Feeling Hit Me Again” (3:40)

B1. “It’s Funny Til I Crying” (3:19)
B2. “Loving You Coming Out of a Brand New Bag” (2:56)
B3. “I Can’t Get Enough” (3:13)
B4. “I’m a Winner” (3:42)
B5. “Keeping Up My Front” (3:59)

Sessions occurred in Los Angeles with producer Hadley Murrell and engineers Angel Balestier and Dennis Sands. Murrell previously worked with Eddie & Ernie and produced the 1970 LP by Bliss, later producing material for Black Ice.

Ray Jackson arranged strings and horns on A1, A3, and B1 through B3; his prior arranging credits include titles by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Dyke and the Blazers, Bill Withers, and Stu Gardner. Other tracks feature strings by Bill Henderson, a prior arranger for Buzz Clifford and Alice Coltrane.

Cover photography was by Charles Cropsey. Liner photography and art direction were handled by Eddie Douglas.

The album spawned three singles. “Keeping Up My Front (Bumpity Bump)” first appeared as a 1974 7″ with “I’m a Blues Singer, Guitar Banger,” followed by a stereo/mono version. In 1975, a second promo single featured stereo and mono versions of “My Eyes Search a Lonely Room for You.”

Discography: