ARTIST: THE AMERICAN BREED
FORMAT: 7" 45 RPM
TITLE: "STEP OUT OF YOUR MIND" & "SAME OLD THING"
YEAR: 1967
LABEL: ACTA RECORDS
The American Breed's "Step Out of Your Mind" was released as a single in 1967, a year prior to the band's biggest hit "Bend Me, Shape Me." Interestingly enough, "Step Out Of Your Mind" was recycled for that release as the B-side -- and that seems to be where it belongs. There's no question "Bend Me, Shape Me" is the better pop single. Still, "Step Out of Your Mind" surprised me with its lyrics. While they're a bit corny they ride the late 60's line of psychedelia/teenage ennui well. Honestly, though, the lyrics are a bit on-the-nose for a project about my mom's life, mental illness, and dementia.
"You gotta get out of your head
You gotta step out of your mind
You gotta be able to bend your brain
If you want to get on in this world
And you've got to be just a little insane
If you want to get on in this world"
While I'm no expert on 60's pop bands, one thing that struck me about The American Breed was that one of the four core members, Charles Colbert, Jr., was black. While there are rock bands of the period with both black and white members (e.g. The Jimi Hendrix Experience), I can't think of any in the chart-topping world (please let me know of other examples). Beyond the rarity of a not-all-white band 60's pop rock band, Colbert's presence is significant because he makes visible the occlusion of black influence on just about every record of the era.
Cover of Pumpkin, Powder, Scarlet & Green LP
Of course, I had to find out more about Colbert. Prior to joining The American Breed, Colbert was active in the Chicago doo-wop and soul scenes as a member of The Trinidads and The Daylighters. After The American Breed he's had a varied career, starting the funk band Rufus (which later featured Chaka Khan), producing records, and singing backup on Peabo Bryson's "Feel the Fire" among other things. I find myself drawn, specifically, to Colbert's work in the Daylighters.
The first of those tracks, "Cool Breeze," was recorded prior to Colbert's tenure with the group and written by Gerald Sims. The second track, "Oh Mom," was written by Colbert, and, I believe, backed by Gary and The Knight Lites who Colbert helped found and would eventually become The American Breed. Colbert's influence on the Daylighters sound is tangible, shifting the group away from the crooning and harmonies of doo-wop to the driving beat and raspy vocals of rock and soul. It's as if he and The Knight Lites were using the Daylighters to prototype their band's sound.
My mom wasn't much of a doo-wop fan. I think it was just a tad before her time. But, like most metro-Detroiters and kids of her generation, she was obsessed with Motown, which energized the doo-wop sound with denser instrumentation and faster beats. I think that's why she would've preferred Colbert's version of the Daylighters. And maybe, like for me now, it was Colbert's contributions that made The American Breed connect.
Postscript
You might've noticed "Oh Mom" has a subtitle: "Teach Me How To Uncle Willie." If you're like me, then you have no idea what this dance is. Well, watch as this half-in-the-bag guy -- who may or may not actually be named Willie and an Uncle -- demonstrates.