Mortimer

Mortimer evolved out of a later incarnation of the Teddy Boys, from Hyde Park, New York, who recorded a handful of singles for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22MGM%22">MGM</a> and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Cameo+Records%22">Cameo Records</a> in 1966 and 1967. They changed their name to Pinocchio & Puppets, for a two-sided instrumental single which was released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Mercury%22">Mercury</a> in 1967. The band -- Guy Masson (vocals, drums, percussion), Bob Ronga (vocals, guitar), Tom Smith (vocals, guitar), and Tony Van Benschoten (vocals, bass, guitar) -- then settled on the name Mortimer and signed a production deal with U.K. record producer Daniel Secunda (brother of <a href="spotify:artist:0GbqW5TJr7n4is453VOY4C">Procol Harum</a> manager Tony Secunda) and his B.B.& D. Productions, Inc. The group got a record deal with Phillips and cut a self-titled album, which was released in 1968. The record was originally recorded with Ronga's participation, but after he left the group, his parts were re-done and his image cropped from the album cover. The album didn't make much of a splash and the band soon moved to England, where they turned up at Apple Records in search of a contract. Given <a href="spotify:artist:7FIoB5PHdrMZVC3q2HE5MS">George Harrison</a>'s blessing when he heard the trio playing in the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Apple%22">Apple</a> offices, the band signed up and began work on an album. Produced by <a href="spotify:artist:0ZR2JHPBbN0YHzXh5BKxi5">Peter Asher</a>, and featuring a song given to them by <a href="spotify:artist:4STHEaNw4mPZ2tzheohgXB">Paul McCartney</a> ("On Our Way Home," which was later retitled "Two of Us" and released by <a href="spotify:artist:3WrFJ7ztbogyGnTHbHJFl2">the Beatles</a>), the record was slated to be released in 1969. Unfortunately for the trio, the record was shelved when Allen Klein took control of <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Apple%22">Apple</a> and began implementing cost-cutting measures. The group split soon afterward, and remained a mostly forgotten footnote in <a href="spotify:artist:3WrFJ7ztbogyGnTHbHJFl2">Beatles</a> history. Some light was shed on the band by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Cardinal%22">Cardinal</a>'s lovely cover of the 1968 album's "Singing in the Sunshine," then the blinds were fully opened by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rev-Ola%22">Rev-Ola</a>'s 2006 re-release of their first album. More than a decade later, their lost <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Apple%22">Apple</a> album was rescued from oblivion and released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22RPM+Records%22">RPM Records</a>. ~ Bryan Thomas, Rovi