The Mojo Men
This San Francisco-based group—Jimmy Alaimo (vocals/guitar), Paul Curcio (guitar), Don Metchick (organ) and Dennis DeCarr (drums)—was signed to Autumn, the city's leading independent label, in 1965. Here they enjoyed a fruitful artistic relationship with producer Sly Stone, which spawned a minor US hit in Dance With Me. Jan Errico, from stablemates the Vejtables, replaced DeCarr in 1966 as the quartet switched outlets to Reprise Records. The following year they secured a US Top 40 hit with a charming version of Buffalo Springfield's Sit Down I Think I Love You, which was engineered and arranged by Van Dyke Parks. The group truncated its name to Mojo in 1968 and, now trimmed to a trio on Metchick's departure, completed the Mojo Magic album before breaking-up. Paul Curcio meanwhile founded the Pacific Recording Studio in San Mateo, where Santana recorded their early releases.