Crazy Elephant
A studio group created by Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz (see Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus), the mastermind producers behind such bubblegum confections as the Ohio Expressand the 1910 Fruitgum Company, Crazy Elephant were signed to Bell Records in 1969. With Robert Spencer, a former member of the Cadillacs (Speedoo and Gloria) singing lead, the ‘group’ landed a transatlantic Top 20 hit with the soul-inflected bubblegum-pop Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’. The song was penned by Joey Levine and Ritchie Cordell, who had written Tommy James And The Shondells’ international hit, Mony Mony. The promoted line-up of the group comprised Hal King (lead vocals), Larry Laufer (vocals/organ), Ronnie Bretone (bass), Bob Avery (drums) and Jethro (pretty much anything he could lay his hands on). Their follow-up Sunshine Red Wine featured King's gutsy vocal and the classic formula of organ, rasping saxophones, handclaps and throbbing beat. Although Crazy Elephant released a number of subsequent singles (including one on which the newly formed 10cc participated), they never had another hit. Likewise, their only album failed to chart.