Sanford Townsend Band

Best remembered for their ubiquitous 1977 pop hit "Smoke from a Distant Fire," blue-eyed soul duo Sanford & Townsend reunited Ed Sanford and <a href="spotify:artist:4SkVXsQEZcDXM0iaqqQYSR">John Townsend</a>, who previously teamed in the Montgomery, AL-based Warner Bros. act <a href="spotify:artist:2WwNKIJdqQCAXgFWgu4Hwg">the Heart</a>. Despite a series of opening gigs in support of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the group's lone LP attracted little notice and after <a href="spotify:artist:2WwNKIJdqQCAXgFWgu4Hwg">the Heart</a> dissolved, both Sanford and <a href="spotify:artist:4SkVXsQEZcDXM0iaqqQYSR">Townsend</a> migrated to Los Angeles, where the latter signed on with the group <a href="spotify:artist:6EpP6hotIUXgqv2Qyw0gO7">Feather</a> and scored a chart hit with the White Whale label single "Friends." After renewing ties in L.A., Sanford and <a href="spotify:artist:4SkVXsQEZcDXM0iaqqQYSR">Townsend</a> began writing songs, most notably placing their "Peacemaker" on <a href="spotify:artist:7emRV8AluG3d4e5T0DZiK9">Loggins & Messina</a>'s 1976 effort Native Sons; with engineer Alex Kazanegras, they cut a demo tape that eventually made its way to the legendary producer <a href="spotify:artist:67yXeG7xPSVu9PtzHJ5AS8">Jerry Wexler</a>, and on his recommendation Warner Bros. extended a contract offer. After decamping to the famed Muscle Shoals Recording Studio, Sanford & Townsend issued their <a href="spotify:artist:67yXeG7xPSVu9PtzHJ5AS8">Wexler</a>-produced eponymous debut in 1976. The record fared poorly on its initial release, but when "Smoke from a Distant Fire" cracked the Top Ten on the pop charts in the fall of 1977, the LP was re-released, this time titled after its smash hit. In addition to a lengthy stint opening for <a href="spotify:artist:08GQAI4eElDnROBrJRGE0X">Fleetwood Mac</a> on their epic Rumours tour, Sanford & Townsend also supported Smoke from a Distant Fire via gigs with Southern rockers <a href="spotify:artist:59QxeZBL6k9L4oJBGSyukd">the Marshall Tucker Band</a>. Their second album, Duo-Glide, nevertheless failed to repeat its predecessor's success, and when 1979's Nail Me to the Wall met a similarly dismal fate, Warner Bros. terminated the duo's contract. Both Sanford and <a href="spotify:artist:4SkVXsQEZcDXM0iaqqQYSR">Townsend</a> then returned to session careers. Sanford later co-authored <a href="spotify:artist:24hJWbo98sH84tb0nkeaqy">Michael McDonald</a>'s 1982 pop classic "I Keep Forgettin'," while <a href="spotify:artist:4SkVXsQEZcDXM0iaqqQYSR">Townsend</a> resurfaced following an extended creative hiatus with a 2003 solo release, The Road Leads Home. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi