Sanford Townsend Band ~ Smoke From A Distant Fire 1976 Pop Purrfection Version

Eddie Sanford and Johnny Townsend were keyboard players and vocalists who had been circling around each other for a short time working gigs together who decided to form a band and set about getting their writing chops. Townsend had been in the 60’s group Dead Sea Fruits and has session work with Jim Messina and Kenny Loggins under his belt. After recruiting the best session players they formed the Sanford Townsend Band and were invited to record their album at the famed Muscle Shoals studios along with legendary producers Jerry Wexler (Aretha Franklin) and Barry Beckett (Etta James). The catchy “Smoke From A Distant Fire“ was their first single and it peaked at #9 on the Hot100. Further waxings failed to attract enough attention and after two more albums the band folded up shop in 1979. They both remained in demand with Sanford backing Michael McDonald and Townsend who joined with Cher for her Black Rose experiment.